Tag: Best Memphis Burger Fest

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Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Burger Fest Founder Calls It Quits

CREDIT: Frank Chin

Frank Chin

Seth Agranov

Seth Agranov, founder of the Best Memphis Burger Fest, announced today that he is walking away from the festival, due, in part, to declining attendance and increasing time demands. He says he hopes someone will take over the festival.

From the statement:

Over the past six years, Burger Fest has become a passion and a love affair of mine. I’ve put everything into it and in return, it’s paid me back with a renewed faith and admiration for this great city, a love for the people in it and amazement at my own abilities to make a difference, even on a small scale.  …

I started Burger Fest with a goal in mind and a dream of what it one day could be. As a fundraiser and cooking competition, it has far surpassed all my goals. As for my dream, it remains just that for now. I am content knowing I never said, “what if I …” or “I wish I had…” ….

I will miss it like nothing else, but I feel strongly that the time to walk away is now. I have no regrets. On the contrary, I have a heart overflowing with love for the people, organizations and teams associated with Burger Fest and those that helped me reach all my festival goals. Maybe I did live my dream? Nonetheless, I am proud to step off this ride knowing that what I may have created very quickly grew into something way bigger than me. I owe everything to you all – my family, my friends, my sponsors, my teams, my Burger Squad, my Memphis. …

The amazing thing about giving is that it becomes addictive. I can never stop giving back to the city that has given me so much. I’d like to remain involved with Memphis Paws and continue to be a part of the local food scene. I still think the best is yet to come. I’m also happy to make all my resources available to anyone interested in continuing Best Memphis Burger Fest. I really hope someone does.

Dr. Seuss said, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Today, I am smiling!

To you all and for all you’ve done – I am forever grateful. The unknown is exciting. I look forward to sharing it with you.

Respectfully,

Seth Agranov
President, Memphis Paws, Inc.
Founder & Director, Best Memphis Burger Fest

Categories
Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Crafts & Drafts, etc.

• A few years back, my niece had some time after whipping up a batch of Spam Musubi for a family gathering, so she crocheted everybody a hat. I about fell over because I have always wanted to be CRAFTSY. Always.

It’s not meant to be, alas, but I find some comfort in the Funlolas and babycreeps of the world and the upcoming Crafts & Drafts.

Y’all know the drill: tons of local crafts (think soaps and jewelry and ceramics and food stuffs and stuff you never knew you needed) paired with local beer. A perfect match to be sure.

Happening November 11th in the Crosstown area. And vendor applications are now being accepted through August 15th.

* The Best Memphis Burger Fest is set to return October 7th, and this year will include a burger-bobbing contest. We have no idea what that is, but it sounds like good, messy fun. Star & Micey are set to perform.

UPDATE ON BURGER BOBBING: From a Burger Fest rep: “It’s sort of like bobbing for apples – but in place of apples are inflatable burgers and instead of water, the burgers are submerged in ketchup.”

• A new location of French Truck opened in the Crosstown Concourse a few weeks back, and now it’s got its breakfast and toast menu up and running, served until 2 p.m. seven days a week.

(It’s taken a long time for Memphis to catch up with toast, and before you scoff, read this, the greatest story on the toast trend ever told.)

Featured on the menu is a waffle sandwich with egg, prosciutto, and goat cheese; a sweet quinoa bowl with strawberries, ricotta, and candied hazelnuts; avocado toast; and the B.N.B. toast with bacon, Nutella, and basil.

French Truck in Crosstown is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• I’m pretty much an iced coffee freak, and one of the best I’ve ever had is the Thai Iced Coffee at the newly open Edge Alley.

The Thai iced coffee has both condensed milk and coconut milk, so this may have to be a special treat for me. Also indulgent is the biscuit-centered menu.

The biscuit was dense hearty thing, but oh-so-flaky and stuffed to perfection with egg, avocado, and cheese.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

* You know what is opened? Margaritas on Second across from the Peabody in the old Kooky Canuck space.

One word to sum it all up: colorful.

 •Some new folks are in charge of the Dixon’s Park + Cherry.  Kristi and Kevin Bush of CFY Catering have taken over the spot from Acre’s Wally Joe and Andrew Adams.

Justin Fox Burks

The Prosciutto and peach sandwich served on a croissant sounds dang good, as does the veggie sandwich with lemon hummus. Park + Cherry also a good selection of coffee drinks and I heard tale of a cookie-dough stuffed cookie sandwich.

• And and and, you can now buy sauce and rub at Williams-Sonoma created by BBQ master and all-around legend Melissa Cookston.

PLUS, UberEATS is now delivering Corky’s.

Categories
Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Another Best Memphis Burger Fest in the Books

The 5th Annual Best Memphis Burger Fest took place on Sunday, Aug 28. Over 40 teams competed in Bloody Marys and various burger categories, and also provided samples to the general public. The event was a fundraiser for Memphis Paws, a local non-profit dedicated to generating support for animal care and rescue organizations around Memphis. In addition to cooking burgers, the event also included a Kids Zone, a pickle eating contest, a slider eating contest, live music, food trucks, and a corn hole tournament.

The winners were:

BLOODY MARY
1 – SMOKEMASTERS
2 – GAME OF BONES
3 – COWBOYARDEE

VEGGIE BURGER
1 – MEAT IN THE MIDDLE
2 – SUNS OUT BUNS OUT
3 – GAME OF BONES

SPECIALTY BURGER
1 – COWBOYARDEE
2 – PAT HARRISON’S HAMBURGER KING
3 – PIRATES OF THE GRILLIBBEAN

BEST MEMPHIS BURGER – CLASSIC CHEESEBURGER
1 – LBOE (Last Burger on Earth)
2 – MEAT IN THE MIDDLE
3 – SLIDER INN

GRAND CHAMPION – LBOE

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