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YOUR MID-SOUTH HOME AND GARDEN MAGAZINE

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EDITOR

Sara Patterson [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS

Erinn FiggSarah Matheny Gordon

PHOTOGRAPHY

Brandon DillJason TerrellKyle Kurlick

Let’s FIX Our Environment!Recycle with city government 576.6851 ext. 1 or go online memphistn.gov.

FIX 495 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103901.529.6513 www.memphisfixmagazine.com

FIX is a bi-monthly magazine delivering essential local information on home design, remodeling, repair and restoration. It is published by E.W. Scripps Company. Opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors are not those of FIX. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.Copyright 2014.

Fix magazine is dedicated to providing local information about all things home and garden.

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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015

FEATURES13 Bill’s Garage17 Roy’s Sports Bar21 Jon’s Tuscan Retreat24 Ultimate Bathroom Remodel

DEPARTMENTS10 Artist Spotlight: Chuck Johnson11 Handyman: 10 Painting Blunders

to Avoid12 Garden Fix: No Fuss Houseplants26 Why We Love our Home: Mona

and Bill Sappenfield29 Hospitality Fix: Valentine’s Menu

for Two

MAN CAVESMemphis

From The Editor

The strongest home décor always includes a story. The unique bedside table

lamp picked up during travels overseas. The vibrant living room painting

from a local artist and friend. The heirloom china that’s been passed down

through several generations.

In this issue of Fix Magazine, we took a look at spaces with very individual

points of view. The three “man caves” featured inside all serve as reflections of the

journeys taken by their inhabitants, of the memories they have collected along the

way and of the personal treasures they hold most dear.

Also included is a spotlight on local artist Chuck Johnson, who brings his love

of gardening into his fine abstract works, and details on a total bathroom remodel

that transformed a dark space into a room of relaxation. We also have tips on how

to better approach your next painting project and a list of no-fuss houseplants that

will reinvigorate your space this winter. And because Valentine’s Day will be here

before we know it, hospitality guru Sarah Matheny Gordon serves up her recipe

for a delectable dinner for two. I hope you enjoy this issue and would love to hear

your feedback. You can reach me by email at [email protected].

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Chuck Johnson describes his backyard as his “own little utopia.” A fenced in garden behind his

Whitehaven home contains more than a

dozen beautifully cultivated bonsai trees,

the complexity of their extensive root

structures visible as they stretch from

their containers. A shed in the center of

the garden serves as Johnson’s fine art

studio, where he creates works described

as “botanical abstractions.”

Johnson, a nationally celebrated fine

artist who was recently commissioned

to create the 2014 River Arts Festival

poster, has a new show in February at L

Ross Gallery that is part of his “Paradise

Found” series.

In his work, Johnson uses foliage

and seedpods from his garden to create

stencils. He then layers organic forms on

wood or canvas with oil pants and heated

wax. His encaustic painting techniques

allow for the achievement of a glowing

quality in his work, which he describes as

a reflection of the “inner light” he finds in

his secret garden.

Johnson has been gardening, he said,

since he was old enough to live on his

own. He’s been drawing and painting for

even longer. In 1972, Johnson’s number

came up in the Vietnam War draft lottery.

He served in the United States Army

and was deployed to West Germany,

where he worked as an illustrator. After

an honorable discharge two years later,

he came home to Memphis and enrolled

at Memphis State University (now the

University of Memphis). He studied

painting and drawing and graduated

in 1975. For a few years immediately

following graduation, Johnson taught at

nearby Shelby State Community College

(now Southwest Tennessee Community

College) and Southwestern at Memphis

(now Rhodes College).

Johnson said that he felt as though

he needed to get out of Memphis to

be a “serious artist,” so he moved to

Washington D.C. in the early 1980s. He

took a job with the Dept. of the Navy

in the Pentagon as a visual information

specialist and traveled throughout

Europe, South America, Australia, Africa,

the Middle East and other parts of Asia.

He procured all kinds of art along the

way, with his collection of African masks

being especially impressive. After the

Sept. 11 attacks, Johnson retired and

returned to Memphis.

These days, Johnson gardens and

paints and teaches. His artwork, as he

puts it, “is an ongoing effort to reconcile

disparate elements: painting and drawing,

structure and chance, dimensional space

and flatness, personal information and an

aesthetic connection to the viewer.”

Artist Spotlight story by Sara P. Shirley • Portrait by Jason Terrell • Artwork photos courtesy of L Ross Gallery

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Interior painting is a popular do-it-yourself home improvement activity, but there are some common pitfalls that can turn this seemingly simple task into a sustained nightmare. Fix consulted with local handyman Jody Tate of A Head Above Home

Repair to pinpoint some of the most common problems household painters run into. With

just a little preparation, you can avoid these blunders and ensure that your next painting

project goes off without a hitch.

• Mistake No. 1: Skimping on your brushes. “Buying a cheap brush is one of the biggest mistakes I see people make,” said Tate. “I recommend a good nylon polyester brush, and I personally use the Purdy brand. If you buy a good roller, it will put the paint on evenly, and it’s washable so you can reuse it.”

• Mistake No. 2: Using an over- or undersized brush. “Find a brush that fits well in your hand, so that you don’t have cramps when you’re done,” said Tate. “The size of the brush all depends on what you’re comfortable with, but you want something that’s not too big, not too small. I use a 3-inch brush, but my wife needs one that is about 1 ½ inches, for example.”

• Mistake No. 3: Forgetting primer. “If you ever do repair to a wall, where you put up some sheet rock, you MUST prime before you paint,” said Tate. “If you don’t, you’re going to get flashing, which means that you’ll end up with a mix of bright and dull spots.”

• Mistake No. 4: Starting without painter’s tape. “For the average homeowner, I strongly suggest using painter’s tape,” said Tate. “And a kind I love is called FrogTape. It gives you a better line, and paint won’t bleed behind it like it sometimes will with the blue tape.”

• Mistake No. 5: Painting with the wall plates on. “Always take the wall plates off,” said Tate. “Even if you put tape around them, you’ll still get paint on them. “

• Mistake No. 6: Losing your screws. “When you take your wall plates off, place your screws in the outlet or somewhere you know you won’t lose them,” said Tate. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done this or seen this happen.”

• Mistake No. 7: Buying the wrong amount of paint. “On average, one gallon will cover 300 square-feet,” said Tate. “I actually plan for 250 square-feet per gallon, so that when I go back for touch ups I won’t have to remix any paint, which could end up being off-tint.”

• Mistake No. 8: Lacking air circulation. “In Memphis, there’s nothing you can do about the humidity,” said Tate, “but if you want to help the paint to dry more quickly, put an isolating fan in the room to keep the air moving.”

• Mistake No. 9: Brushing on large surfaces. “I always cut in with a brush and then roll over any large surface area,” said Tate. “For something like an interior door, I will use a micro mini roller—those are really small and great to paint doors with.”

• Mistake No. 10: Painting with a dirty brush. “Here’s a fun tip—if you are painting a room and it gets to be 8 or 9 o’clock and you aren’t going to finish that night, put your brush in a Ziploc bag and put it in the freezer,” said Tate. “The next day let it thaw out, and go back to work.”

Handyman story by Sara P. Shirley

Painting Blunders to Avoid10

Expert advice from a professional local handyman


HOUSEPLANTSBEST PLANTS FOR THE FORGETFUL GARDENER

No Fuss5H

aving some greenery in the home

is a wonderful way to bring life

into your space during the winter

months, but not everyone who loves plants

loves to care for them. Fix consulted with

horticulture director Rick Pudwell of the

Memphis Botanic Garden to come up with

a list of easy-keeper houseplants. You can

find the following beauties at the Mem-

phis Botanic Garden “Green Your Home”

plant sale Feb. 13 and 14, and admission

is free. The selection will include a variety

of houseplants, custom potting and con-

tainer arrangements (you can bring your

own pots, if you like), as well as handmade

artisan and gift items. Master gardeners

and MBG staff will be on hand to assist

with your selection and offer advice.

Here are a few of Pudwell’s general

houseplant care tips to keep in mind when

thinking about your next plant purchase:

“Most house plant care centers on

proper watering, keeping foliage clean of

dust and having a little humidity, which can

be accomplished with a simple daily mist-

ing with an atomizer and an occasional

shower in the kitchen sink or bathtub.

“All plants need light and even foliage

plants (which are usually understory plants

in the jungle) must have enough light that

you can cast a shadow where the plant is

expected to survive. Blooming plants need

sun and of course there are different con-

dition for each species.”

No. 1 – Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra)This plant has bold, good-looking foliage

and is tolerant of a wide variety of

temperatures and growing conditions.

No. 2 – Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)This durable, multicolored beauty comes

in many variations.

No. 3 – Golden Pothos (Epipremnum)This easy-care vine comes in many

variations and is touted for its air-

purifying qualities.

No. 4 – Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)Probably the most popular houseplant in

America, Peace Lilies are hardy and will

tell you when they need water – just look

for the droop.

No. 5 – Snake Plant (Sansevieria)These are known for their resilience, have

attractive, upright leaves and are also

recommended as air purifiers.

12

3

45

GREEN FIX story by Sara P. Shirley

J A N U A R Y • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 1 3

Memphis Man Caves

Bill Cunningham’s Lakeland garage transports guests decades into America’s automotive past.

Story by Sara P. Shirley • Photos by Brandon Dill

GARAGEBill’s

Bill Cunningham has always loved

cars, Mustangs in particular. He

remembers sitting in the backseat

of his family car as a child and becoming

captivated by a Springtime Yellow 1966

Mustang curving along Goodlett Road

near Walnut Grove.

Cunningham purchased his first

Mustang in 1976 for $250. The

transmission was in pieces in the trunk,

but he used a parts car to get the

Mustang running and, as he writes on his

website, “gain automotive independence.”

When a Mustang club cropped up in

Memphis a few years later, Cunningham

immediately joined and has remained

a member. The Lakeland resident is

also a member of the Shelby American

Automobile Club and the Crosley

Automobile Club.

And man, you should really see his

garage.

Walking through the door feels

like walking back in time. In addition

to a beautifully restored 1949 Crosley

Hotshot and a 1966 Shelby Mustang,

Cunningham’s collection of automotive

Bill Cunningham spends time in his garage relaxing, restoring old cars and thinking of “better times.”


memorabilia is extraordinary.

Thousands of well-organized and

maintained collectibles line the walls,

shelves and display cabinets. He’s

got vintage toy trains and planes and

matchbox cars and a vast assortment

of petroliana, or antiques related to gas

stations and the oil business.

“This just brings on a lot of nostalgia,”

said Cunningham. “I’ve picked up a lot of

these things over the years at antique

malls and swap meets.”

One of Cunningham’s most unique

possessions is that of a still-functional

“Merrymobile” ice cream delivery truck.

From the 1950s to the early 1970s, ice

cream was sold in Memphis from this

round, three-wheeled vehicle that looks

like a cross between a circus tent and a

cupcake.

Another interesting piece with local

history is a 20-inch gauge amusement

park train that was built in the 1950s and

installed at the Memphis Fairgrounds

Amusement Park. In 1975, the train was

refurbished and moved to the Memphis

Zoo, where it was operated until the early

1990s.

Wide interest in Cunningham’s

collection led him to create his website,

billsgarage.com, detailing the history of

many of his items.

His family supports Cunningham’s

hobby for finding and restoring old items.

His love of car restoration came from

his dad, his mom collects dolls, and his

brother created the “Bill’s Garage” logo

seen on signs in his space.

Bill’s wife, Laurie, enjoys repurposing

old items and the couple has recently

begun working together on more and

more of those sorts of projects.

“We just have a lot of fun with it,” said

Cunningham. “I always tell people I was

out ‘pickin’ before that term was coined

on television. Back then, we called it,

‘junkin.’”

Bill Cunningham’s collection includes interesting pieces of local lore such as these pit passes from Lakeland’s old raceway.


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The walls in Roy Adams’ East

Memphis home are the talkative

sorts. Hundreds of framed photos

hanging on them tell the story of a

teenage Senate page from Memphis,

of a local restaurateur, and more than

anything, of one man’s all encompassing

love of college football.

Adams, 76, is known as the Great

Gatsby of football watch parties, and

he has outfitted his 7,000 square-foot

home with all the trappings of a serious

entertainer. A poster in the entryway

breaks it down by the numbers: five

viewing rooms, 36 televisions, 16

refrigerators, four freezers, a full wet

bar with more than 100 bottles behind

the counter, game rooms with two pool

tables, a library and a commercial kitchen.

Adams, a 1963 graduate of the

University of Tennessee and longtime

booster, began hosting his Saturday

parties in the late 1990s. Friend Tom

Clayton, who has been hanging out at

Adams’ house on Saturdays since the

beginning, said the parties began pretty

modestly—several televisions in one room

and a few friends gathered around to

watch games throughout the day.

By 2007, the parties had grown so

Story by Sara P. Shirley • Photos by Brandon Dill

SPORTS BARRoy’s

In 2007, Roy Adams filled in his backyard pool to make room for an addition to his house, which would include a commercial kitchen and theater room.

Memphis Man Caves


Chef Henry Marton prepared more than 50 dishes for a recent Saturday football party at Roy Adams’ East Memphis home.

Roy Adams and friend Tom Clayton watch multiple screens from the comfort of theater seating in the living room.

The theater room off the kitchen contains five big-screen televisions, 12 leather theater chairs and a pedestal table with four stools. The bathroom off of the kitchen has its own big-screen television, as well.

large that Adams decided to fill in his

backyard pool and build an addition to

his house. The addition made room for

a commercial kitchen and theater room

containing leather theater seating, five

big screen televisions and a projector

screen. Adams also installed a urinal off

of the kitchen and placed a flat-screen

television overhead. Attendance on a

good game day can hit 100, and the

guests are a diverse group including local

politicians, lawyers, judges, principals,

coaches, and former ball players. Friends

refer to Adams’ home as “Roy’s Sports

Bar” and even posted a video by the

same name on YouTube describing the

uniquely Memphis experience.

A chef begins preparing food around 7

a.m. each Saturday of the football season,

and the buffet offerings range from fried

chicken to crawfish etoufee to sushi. On

a recent Saturday, chef Henry Marton

offered up more than 50 dishes including

meatloaf, pork chops, shrimp creole, corn

bread, macaroni and cheese, greens,

tamales, deviled eggs, a smattering of

dips and a delectable banana pudding

for dessert. Marton credited his mother,

who worked for Adams in his chain of

family-style restaurants, for his talents in

the kitchen.

There’s beer in the fridge and

liquor behind the bar, though Adams

encourages his guests to keep to a five-

drink maximum. There are a few other

rules: guests must be cordial to one

another, they should eat everything they

put on their plates, and they can’t come

into the house with any tattoos showing.

Police friends are a constant

presence on game days, ensuring that

ruckus is kept to a minimum.


Roy Adams’ collection of miniature football stadiums are on display in one of the game rooms.

More than 500 framed photos line the walls of Roy Adams’ home.

In one of the game rooms, a display

cabinet features an interesting collection

of miniature stadium replicas. A signed

jersey from friend and Seattle Seahawks

Hall-of-Famer Cortez Kennedy hangs

prominently on the wall in the living room.

After decades of hosting parties,

Adams has the art of entertaining down

to a science. He flutters from room to

room checking on guests, making sure

they have enough to eat and drink and

that he’s playing whatever games they

want to watch. Fans of all stripes attend

the parties, and more than 20 games are

played in the home on a given Saturday.

It’s evident that Adams prides himself

on providing for others. He talks freely

about his penchant for spending money

on local high school players who promise

to attend SEC schools, and he spends

about $1,500 each week on his parties

yet refuses to accept any monetary

contributions from his guests.

“I just want people to leave here

full and happy,” he said. “The group that

comes here watches football for the love

of the game, and that’s what brings us all

together.”


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Memphis Man Caves

Story by Sara P. Shirley • Photos by Jason Terrell

TUSCAN RETREATJon’s W

hen Jon Thompson and his wife,

Susan, decided to build a new

home in Germantown, plans for

a stand-alone office space were part of

the design. Thompson’s old home office

was located in the barn of the previous

residence, but the couple wanted the

new space to fit in with the Italian style of

their new home, which is currently under

construction.

The plans resulted in a rustic two-

story office/garage located across the

piazza from the home. The building has

ample storage for Thompson, the former

director of the City of Memphis Wonders

Exhibitions and avid adventurer, to display

collectibles he has picked up on his many

explorations.

Thompson is perhaps best known for

bringing parts of the luxurious sunken

ocean liner, the Titanic, to Memphis, in

1997, as part of the Wonders series, and

he has a few personal pieces on display

in his new space.

At the center of any cave should be the facilities to relax and this mini bar and leather chair allow for just that.


Thompson’s fascination with the

Titanic is upstaged only by his “first love

of aviation,” he says, and his ongoing

search for Amelia Earhart’s lost airplane.

Thompson is a West Point graduate

and he holds a master’s degree in

aerospace engineering. The nameplate

on his desk is made from pieces of railing

taken from a Westpoint dormitory and

dates back to 1802.

Thompson’s garage contains an

antique car of Susan’s and a piano bar

that the couple created together. The bar

has full service capability, with space for

a bartender to stand in the center. The

storage cabinets in the garage feature

a wall-sized panel of canvas coverings,

a unique style element that Thompson

first noticed during travels in Europe.

Thompson’s were made in Germany and

give a nod to Thompson’s past ownership

of Taylor Machinery Co., which distributed

Caterpillar equipment.

A spiral staircase leading up to the

office has local ties—it came from the

old Memphis Firestone factory. One of

Jon Thompson’s office/man cave has all the necessities including a well appointed bathroom.

No man cave is complete without a meeting space and Jon Thompson’s space is filled with natural light from large windows. It’s also yet another place to display his vast collection of items he’s picked up in his many journeys.

A reminder of his days with Taylor Machinery Co., which distributed Caterpillar equipment, Thompson commissioned a paining of a Caterpillar truck on the inside wall of the garage below his office. Also found there are an authentic piano bar and a car given to his wife, Susan, by her grandfather when she was a teenager.


By far some of his most prized possesions displayed throughout the man cave is his collection of trench art made from used ammunition shells. Both Thompson and his father were veterans.

At the base of the spiral staircase leading to his office, a small sign next to the red banner reads “Tiananmin Square Student Protest Banner July 2, 1989. Give me Liberty or Give me Death. Presented to Jon K. Thompson by students on site in Bejing.”

Thompson’s most prized possessions –

a homemade flag handed to him by a

protestor in Tiananmen Square in 1989–

hangs next to the staircase.

The interior colors in the office and

garage are warm reds, and yellows,

keeping with the Tuscan-style of the

space. The office includes a sitting

area for meetings, a kitchenette and

bathroom. The office has wood flooring

and a fireplace mantel holds some of

Thompson’s collection of World War I

trench art.

Thompson, who served with

distinction in the Vietnam War, said he

began collecting trench art after his

father brought a couple pieces home

from World War I. Thompson’s father

served as a stretcher-bearer in the

medical corps during the war.

“He brought back a helmet that had

been decorated, and his mess kit, and

that’s what got me interested in trench

art,” said Thompson. “I’ve been collecting

ever since.”


Builder John Heard and interior

designer Patty Zerilla recently

transformed an oddly shaped

corner master bathroom with beige

walls, floors and appliances into a bright,

uncluttered rest area with a spa-like

atmosphere.

The remodel involved a complete

gutting of the room, the addition of a large

window and an extension of the adjacent

master closet. Once the structural work

was complete, the L-shaped space was

fitted with custom cabinetry, a gorgeous

cast iron tub and a separate walk-in

shower with raised pebble flooring and

blue glass tiles.

The floor was tiled with Travertine

and Zerilla painted the ceiling one of

her signature blues. The new tub-side

window contains a low-emissive (low-e)

glass pane, which reduces energy

consumption and the amount of harsh

ultraviolet light that can enter the room.

“We wanted to bring the outdoors

in,” said Zerilla. “More and more of my

clients are asking for a natural, clean

look. For this project, we wanted to create

something very mellow and relaxing.”

The countertops are covered with

a leathered stone, and the sinks are a

square contemporary design. Above the

sinks, a painting from local artist Harvey

Middleton adds style while also blending

in with the overall look of the room.

Zerilla decorated with a mix of old and

new pieces, such as the client’s heirloom

silver containers and new mercury glass

containers. The custom cabinetry located

behind the bathtub, under the sink and

above the toilet provides ample storage.

The East Memphis client praised

Heard and Zerilla for their excellent work,

noting that the sweeping transformation

of the space has resulted in an overall

quality-of-life improvement.

Story by Sara P. Shirley • Photos by Jason Terrell

BATHROOM REMODEL

Ultimate

Square sink bowls rest on a woodsy, beautifully patterned leathered stone countertop in this East Memphis bathroom.

Custom cabinetry behind the bathtub contains a laundry hamper underneath and space above for folded spa towels.

During Construction


Builder John Heard installed a large low-emissive glass window above the cast iron tub to open up the space and bring warmth into the room.

The walk-in shower features a texturally interesting pebble stone flooring, and designer Patty Zerilla included a teak spa bench for ultimate relaxation.


During the 16 years Mona Sappen-

field has lived in her classic South-

ern-style house in the Greentrees

subdivision of Memphis, she’s never had

one particular decorating goal in mind.

She just wants people to feel at home

there.

“A big part of why I love the house is

because it’s so easy to entertain there

and it’s very colorful,” said Sappenfield

of the approximately 4,300-square-foot,

three-story home, where she lives with

her husband, Bill, and dogs, Emma and

LelaRose. “We have a mix of antiques

and contemporary pieces. It’s very eclec-

tic and blended and not one particular

style at all. People mainly compliment it

for the color and the art.”

Although the house has evolved over

the years with the

addition of a new

driveway, a recre-

ational area in the

back and other

modern updates,

the atmosphere

has remained the same: welcoming, cozy

and full of memories, Sappenfield said.

She and her husband raised their two

now-grown daughters, Jessica and Jac-

quelyn, there, and photographs through-

out the home reflect the family’s favorite

moments. The couple also has traveled

extensively and try to bring back special

pieces of art from their favorite destina-

tions.

As CEO of Mona Spa and Laser

Center, Sappenfield strives to help her

customers feel beautiful by accentuat-

ing their best qualities and fostering re-

laxation and wellness. At her home, this

passion also is evident in the beauty of

her art collection, which also includes

Mona and Bill Sappenfield love their Southern-style home in the Greentrees subdivision of Memphis.

Story by Erinn Figg • Photos by Kyle Kurlick

A

ofplace

peace

why we love our home


Mona and Bill Sappenfield enjoy the cozy atmosphere of their home, where they live with pups Emma and LelaRose.

The kitchen is one of spa owner Mona Sappenfield’s favorite places of relaxation. She turns to her collection of cookbooks to unwind, she said.

The large red sofa in the living room provides a comfortable area to watch the football game with friends.


local artists’ works purchased to benefit

Memphis charities; the sauna, hot tub and

pool where family and friends love to re-

lax; and the pride she takes in the scenic

landscape.

“The property is surrounded by trees

and flowering shrubs from season to

season, and everyone in our neighbor-

hood takes such care to keep their lawns

beautiful,” she said. “To me, it’s just so

lovely and indicative of Memphis.”

Like many homeowners, she says

the kitchen is one of her favorite spaces,

both for its ease in entertaining guests,

which she thoroughly enjoys, and for the

memories it evokes.

“My mother and I always cooked to-

gether, and I’ve collected cookbooks for

years. That’s a lot of my relaxation read-

ing – just reading cookbooks and plan-

ning new ideas for entertaining friends,”

she said.

“The kitchen flows into an entertain-

ment area with a big red sofa we love,

and we’re big football fans, so we host

a lot of football parties. We’ve also built

friendships all over the world, so we enjoy

hosting and cooking for my business col-

leagues, as well as our friends who travel

to Memphis. They love staying at Casa

Mona and Bill,” she laughed.

For reading, daydreaming or just un-

winding and spending time with the dogs,

the home also has a sitting room off the

kitchen that Sappenfield calls her “quiet

place.” Meanwhile upstairs, her husband

– also an avid reader – has his own “typi-

cal man cave,” as she describes it – com-

plete with a large television, comfy couch

and plenty of books, although she said

he’s consolidated much of his collection

on his Kindle now, which helps reduce

the former stacks of them. Most import-

ant, Sappenfield said, the house is very

dog-friendly.

“I love living with my dogs; they’re my

buddies. We have beds all over the house

for them. It’s just a really casual, cozy

house. It’s a happy place, full of love.”

Mona Sappenfield has decorated her home with local artwork purchased to benefit Memphis charities.

A floral light fixture in the dining room immediately draws interest and is complimented by the table arrangement and wall art.

A

ofplace

peace


MENU

HOSPITALITY FIXRecipes by Sarah Matheny Gordon

Memphis has many fantastic

restaurants, but dining out on

Valentine’s Day is a challenge.

Between crowded restaurants and steep

prices, it can be difficult to fully relax and

enjoy the experience with a significant

other. This Valentine’s Day, savor a

sophisticated meal with a loved one in the

comfort of home. Prepare Filet Mignon

with Peppercorn Pan Sauce and Sauteed

Mushrooms.

This menu is perfect for celebrating

Valentine’s Day or any special occasion,

and it does not require reservations made

a month in advance! The ingredient

list is simple and the whole dish comes

together in about a half hour, but it is sure

to impress. Even with wine and dessert,

the total cost of this menu amounts to a

fraction of a restaurant bill.

How to prepare a special Valentine’s

Day menu at home:

A couple of days in advance, review

the following recipe and gather the

necessary ingredients.

Purchase filet mignon and produce as

well as any other ingredients not on-hand

in your pantry. Select fresh steaks with a

USDA “Choice” rating. With filet mignon

there is not a noticeable difference in the

flavor, juiciness, or tenderness between

cuts labeled as “Choice” or “Prime.” So,

do not feel tempted to splurge for USDA

“Prime” cuts. Choose two steaks that are

the same thickness, between 1 ½ and 2

inches, and weigh about 6 ounces each.

Ask the butcher for guidance if necessary.

Chef’s note: Pick up a meat thermometer

as well. This is a key tool for perfectly

cooked steaks.

Select a bottle of wine to complement

the menu, such as a merlot, Bordeaux, or

cabernet sauvignon. When ordering wine

at a restaurant, the price of a bottle of wine

is marked up as much as 100-300% of

the cost of the identical bottle purchased

at a wine store. Wines available by the

glass are typically marked up even more.

Use the special occasion as an opportunity

to try a new wine or one at a higher price

point. If the idea of choosing one bottle

from among hundreds on shelves at the

store is daunting, visit a reputable wine

merchant (Memphis has many!) and ask

an employee for recommendations. The

right wine pairing makes this delightful

meal even more enjoyable.

Finally, keep dessert simple. A meal

this delicious does not require a decadent

or complicated dessert. Instead, go with

a Valentine’s Day classic: Chocolate. Visit

a locally owned candy store and select

a variety of chocolates to sample for

dessert.

Continue the wine pairings into the

dessert course by pairing wine with

chocolate based on the darkness of the

chocolate. Choose wines that are slightly

sweeter than the paired chocolate.

Valentine’sDay

2for


DirectionsPat each steak dry with paper

towels. Sprinkle with salt on all

sides. Heat oil in a large, heavy-

bottomed skillet over medium-high

heat until beginning to smoke.

Rub 1 teaspoon black pepper onto

the top and bottom of each steak.

Cook steaks until well-browned on

each side* and internal temperature

reaches 125 for medium rare or

130 for medium. This will take

about 5 minutes per side. Remove

the steaks to a plate and tent

loosely with foil. The residual heat

will continue cooking the steaks.

(Note: after browning the top and

bottom of the steaks, use tongs to

sear on each side.)

Add butter to the pan. When

it is melted, add shallots and cook

until fragrant and softened, about

two minutes. Add garlic and cook

another minute. Stir in wine and

broth and simmer, scraping up

browned bits from the bottom of

the pan. Stir in half-and-half and

bring to a simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and whisk in

accumulated steak juices. Season

with salt and freshly cracked

pepper. Spoon sauce over steaks

and serve immediately.

HOSPITALITY FIX

FILET MIGNON WITH PEPPERCORN PAN SAUCE

INGREDIENTS2 filet mignon steaks, 1 ½ - 2

inches thick, about 6 ounces

each

4 tsp. freshly ground pepper,

plus more to taste

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 Tbs. butter

1 shallot, minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ c. white wine

½ c. chicken stock

½ c. half-and-half

1 Tbs. chopped fresh rosemary


SAUTEED MUSHROOMSDirections

While the steaks are searing,

in a separate 10-inch or larger

skillet, heat olive oil and butter

over medium heat until the butter

foams. When the foaming begins to

subside, add mushrooms to the pan,

spreading into one layer as much

as possible. Sprinkle with salt and

pepper. Cover and cook for about

four minutes until the mushrooms

begin to soften. Remove the cover

and turn each mushroom over,

maintaining one layer in the pan.

Cook for an additional four minutes

until nicely browned on both sides.

Add garlic and rosemary. Cook,

stirring or tossing, until fragrant,

about one minute. Remove from

heat, squeeze in lemon juice, and stir

again.

INGREDIENTS1 lb. sliced white mushrooms

1 Tbs. olive oil

1 Tbs. butter

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary

About 2 tsp. lemon juice, from ¼ - ½ of a lemon

salt and freshly ground pepper


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