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Memphis takes its barbecue seriouslyBarbecue meets the blues in MemphisBy Phyllis Steinberg
The best place to stay in Memphis is downtown because most of the area attractions are in this area. I stayed at the Peabody Hotel, which is elegant and in the heart of the downtown area and walked to the Beale Street entertainment district, the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, as well as a shopping center, which is adjacent to the hotel. The Peabody is the social and business hub of Memphis. It’s grand lobby is the living room of Memphis. This is the place to spot famous faces, enjoy afternoon tea, watch the famous Peabody ducks, who arrive at 11 a.m., marching to their fanfare on a red carpet to the fountain. At 5 p.m. they return to their penthouse palace, via the red carpet.
There is a downtown trolley system that makes stops along many of the major attractions in Memphis and the National Civil Rights Museum is one of its stops. Photos by Phyllis Steinberg For more information about Memphis, call 800-873-6282 or
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Memphis residents proudly call their city the Pork BBQ
capital of the world, but don’t expect any of the proprietors of their more than
100 BBQ restaurants to give you even a hint on what ingredients are contained in
their specialty sauces.
In fact, the owner of Neely’s Bar-B-Que
Restaurant said his chefs don’t even have the complete recipe for his special
sauce which he proudly says has more than 48 ingredients. Neely’s which started
out with a little cash borrowed from friends has grown into a nationwide
industry with franchise restaurants at airports and an on-line sale of products.
The restaurant has an extensive menu of barbecue and is worth a visit if you are
in Memphis. 
But you really can’t talk about ribs in Memphis without
mentioning Rendezvous, in the alley, downstairs in downtown Memphis. In 1948,
Charlie Vergos cleaned out a basement below his diner, discovered a coal chute,
and started a legend. The coal chute gave him a vent for his talent over a
grill, and allowed him to expand from ham and cheese sandwiches to ribs. Today,
his son runs the business and the place is always packed so you may have to
wait, but if you want to try these world famous ribs, this is the place. 
All
of the restaurants in Memphis serve their distinct types of ribs, but my all
time favorite in Memphis are those served at the Blues City Café located right
on Beale Street, in the heart of the entertainment district. Chef Bonnie Mac is
getting on in years but he still comes in to supervise the staff and guard his
special recipe. These melt-in-your-mouth ribs fall off the bone and are a rib
lovers delight.
But there’s to Memphis than just eating ribs. The city is
chocked full of things to do and see. Memphis is the home of the blues and the
birthplace of rock and roll as well a superstar Elvis Presley. There are tours
to Graceland, Presley’s 14-acre estate which includes a tour of his home, trophy
building and Meditation garden where he is buried. There are also tours of
Elvis’s two custom airplanes and the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum and a
memorabilia museum called Sincerely Elvis. 
If you would like to explore how Memphis became the
birthplace of the blues and rock and roll, start your musical journey and the
Memphis Rock n Soul Museum, where there is a complete history and plenty of
music by legends, such as Otis Redding and B.B. King. There is an audio tour
with juke boxes located throughout the museum. Just push and play your favorite
tune as you explore the music that began in Memphis and was heard around the
world.
There are also tours to Sun Studio, Stax
Museum of American Soul Music which further explore the history of music in the
region, but you have to walk along Beale Street and visit the numerous musical
hot spots to feel the beat of this Memphis sound.
Food lovers will also want to dine at Chez Philippe, the
Mobil 4-Star French restaurant at The Peabody. When you want a meal that you
want to savor in style, this classic French restaurant is the best. Master Chef
Jose Gutierrez combines Southern cuisine with the South of France. Every taste
from my starter to dessert was a tasting sensation.
No trip to Memphis would be complete without a visit to the
National Civil Rights Museum. This historical significant museum depicts the
history of the civil rights movement and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. In fact, the museum is housed in the Lorraine Hotel, the place where
Dr. King gave his last speech before his assassination. Across the street in the
boarding house where his assassin fired the gun, is part of the museum and the
murder scene has been reconstructed.