SWEET GUY:
Memphis chocolatier Philip Rix will sweeten this year’s Grammy Awards.
On Monday, performers from Bonnie Raitt to Robin Thicke to Justin Bieber will perform at the 2016 Grammys, and they all have this in common: They’ll have Phillip Ashley Chocolates in their swag bags at the end of the night.
The self-taught Memphis chocolatier, who has a shop at 798 Cooper St., has been running full steam — which for him, means more hands on deck as everything is handmade — to fulfill an order of:
6, 170 23 -karat gold salted caramel pecan praline candies
1,000 assorted chocolates for tasting in the celebrity lounge during rehea rsa ls a nd prepro-duction
200 chocolates for the media room on Grammy night
30 chocolate gift towers for dressing rooms
It’s been a red-letter year for Phillip Rix, and it’s only just started. Horchow and Neiman Marcus recently started carrying his chocolates. Among those offered are the conversation hearts — a box of assorted chocolates with sayings such as “Be Mine” and “XOXO” on them, like the old-fashioned pasty valentine hearts.
The 23 - karat gold Grammy candy won’t be available for general purchase — and at $80 per piece, might not be in huge demand — but Rix has a similar praline chocolate available online at phillipashleychocolates.com or at the gallery. Hours are Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Call 901-207-6259 for more information.
There’s a video of the gold-coated chocolate online with this column.
IS IT MEAT?
Well, I guess it is. While Memphis Meats is not the only company growing meat from cells instead of slaughtering animals, it is the only one with the city’s name attached to it.
Why the name? One of the principals, Will Clem, is part of the family that owns the barbecue restaurant Baby Jack’s. What are your thoughts on this? Would you eat meat grown in a lab from cells? If you’re a vegetarian for humane reasons instead of health concer ns , would this change the game for you?
COMING UP
On Feb. 17, join Elk Cove’s Todd Stewart and Kurt Johnson and Beaux Freres for a five-course, six-wine dinner featuring Oregon wines at Porcellino’s, 711 W. Brookhaven Circle. The event starts at 6 p.m. and dinner is at 6:30; reservations are required and tickets are $75 plus tax and tip. Call 901-762-6656.
At Amerigo on Feb. 21, you get to solve the mystery while you eat. The first round of the Detectives Mystery Dinner Theatre starts with cocktails at 6 p.m. with dinner — and the game — at 7 p.m.