I didn't think Japanese cuisine could be grilled any better than what the chefs create at Shogun Japanese Steakhouse on Germantown Pkwy; that is, until I tried Stix Friday night.

My meal began with a flaky, succulent spring roll that absorbed the delicious sweet and sour sauce like a Californian sunbather. The rolls were followed up by a small salad with a bowl-scraping ginger sauce, plus a hearty onion soup that was a great balance to the wintry temperatures we've been having lately.

Finally, our animated chef arrives to prepare a culinary masterpiece, mixed with a little flair and customer participation. He twirled his cooking instruments in the air like they were batons, all after lighting the grill on fire in an eye-popping show that gave us a fiery glimpse into Japanese culture. On the sizzling grill, our chef cranked out the orders. I had the teriyaki chicken over fried rice with vegetables. It is a must try if you haven't already.

Saturday, September 15 is Give Kids The World Pancake Day at Perkins Restaurants.

Customers can receive a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes.  While there, making a donation to Give Kids The World benefits children with life-threatening illnesses by giving them the chance to experience a cost-free family vacation in central Florida.

It's all part of Perkins' "Full Tummy Full Heart" campaign.

So, I have this friend named Hope. We met in kindergarten at YMCA Camp. Then we ended up on the same soccer team in first grade. We played soccer for many years and eventually started going to the same schools in sixth grade and graduated from White Station together. In all of our years together I do not remember us ever eating bbq. Maybe a trip or two to Gridley's because my dad was paying, but eh.

Hope moved away for college and now only comes to visit Memphis once or twice a year. She rarely misses Memphis in May, so she is in town now. Over the past few years she has fallen in love with Leonard's. All she ever talks about is Leonard's. Leonard's Leonard's Leonard's. So yesterday, I took the monkeys (Satchel, 10, and Jiro, 8) to Leonard's to have dinner with Hope... Read More