A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of sharing lunch at Hog + Hominy with my newest friend, John Minervini, creator of The Fork, the coolest new site for Memphis foodies and beyond. John launched The Fork as a way to help people enhance their dining experiences in the city. Our food scene is exploding (seriously, it seems like a new restaurant is popping up every few weeks), so his site is a way to help everyone stay connected. I met John last year at the Jack Binion Tunica re-opening and instantly fell in love with him (gorgeous w/a personality to match), so when we were FINALLY able to meet back up, I was game when he suggested Hog + Hominy. Hog + Hominy is an Italian restaurant with southern roots. Voted one of GQ’s 12 Most Outstanding Restaurants in 2013, the restaurant had been on my radar since they opened in 2011, but for some reason, I’d yet to make a visit. Why, or why did I wait?? Ok so, first things first. After John and I caught up, the first dish we tried was the Gumbo (chicken confit, tasso, benton’s conutry ham, green onions, chicken skins), which had a smoky, slightly buttery broth. I’ve yet to meet a gumbo I didn’t like, but this one was different bc of the chicken skins, which added a bit of texture to the dish without being overpowering. Next up was The Alforno (squash, zucchini, tomato, cornbread, parmesan) + Arugula Salad (w/fennel, lemon vinaigrette, + fresh parmesan). Remember when I wrote about craving tomatoes? This definitely satisfied it. The veggies are baked but still retain their crunch, and there was a very slight sweetness to the sauce. I literally could have had this and been done. But then… We had the Vito Pizza (tomato sauce, leeks, garlic, veal sausage, goat cheese). YALL. SO. FRIGGIN. GOOD. First of all, I’m a fan of anything with goat cheese on it. It’s a little unexpected on a pizza, BUT, BUT, BUT, the creaminess combined with the saltiness of the sausage is to die for. To say we devoured that pizza is an understatement. But wait, there’s more… It was Elvis’ 80th birthday, so we were treated to a nice twist on their Peanut Butter Pie (vanilla wafer crust, vanilla pudding, bananas, whipped cream, peanut brittle, bacon). There was a layer of banana mixed into the creamy goodness, and then it was topped with peanut brittle + bacon crumbles. Like, you haven’t lived until you’ve had bacon topped sweetness. We were happy and full when we left Hog + Hominy, and I’m planning for a return trip really soon. I like how open and airy the space is, that we can see into the kitchen while they work (which is always neat to me), and that their staff was nice and knowledgeable about the food in a real way. Hog + Hominy 707 W Brookhaven Circle Memphis, TN 38117 Lunch Hours | 11am – 2pm, closed Monday lunch Dinner Hours | Bar Opens at 4pm. Dinner Service 5pm to 10pm Sunday Funday Hours | 11am – 10pm Late Night Hours | Full dinner menu available Friday & Saturday until midnight with nightly specials. Be sure to visit www.thefork.me/ and like them on FB to stay up to date with John! Home File | J. Crew Accent Pieces Editorial | Street Knits