A unique spin on ribs: Here's what Chef Tam cooked on national food TV show
Chef Tamra Patterson of Chef Tam's Underground Cafe was featured on A&E's new food show "Deliciously Twisted Classics."
The Memphis chef appeared on the "Deep Fried & Funky" episode that aired Aug. 12.
Patterson is the second Memphis chef to be featured on the show this summer. Chef Phillip DeWayne of Park + Cherry in Dixon Gallery & Gardens was featured on the "Twists on a Stick" episode that aired July 22.
And as an extra local twist, Memphis food celebrity and WMC-TV "Bluff City Life" host Gina Neely is one of the show's hosts.
"Deliciously Twisted Classics” features a panel of celebrity chefs and culinary influencers — including Neely, Aarti Sequeira, Leah Cohen, Rocco DiSpirito and more — as they sample the most delicious and extravagant spins on familiar dishes.
Neely said she recommended both DeWayne and Patterson for the show, citing how talented she thinks both chefs are.
"That is one queen who fries everything," said Neely when she introduced Patterson in the episode.
Deep Fried & Funky
A&E describes the episode as: "Deep fried food has always been a popular favorite, but now chefs around the country are bringing fresh inspiration to create crispy, crunchy and unexpected twists. They've transformed classic Italian pasta, mashed potatoes, BBQ ribs and even the famous Philly cheesesteak into deep fried fantasies that will delight and surprise you."
Patterson cooked up her twist on Memphis barbecue ribs — Deep Fried Ribs.
"Fried ribs are perfection," said Patterson of her unique twist on a Memphis staple. "My dad used to say you are supposed to smoke ribs. But for the first time in my life, my dad was wrong. Fried ribs are everything."
MEMPHIS BBQ: Two Memphians to be inducted into American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame
At her Downtown Memphis restaurant, Chef Tam's Underground Cafe, Patterson serves four rib bones that are marinated, breaded and fried. She seasons the ribs with two of her signature spice blends — "Fry Me Up Baby" and "Sprinkle Me Baby." Guests can choose from a variety of sauces — Buffalo Sauce, Honey Gold, Tenniyaki or Jerk Sauce — to dip the ribs in.
After taking a bite on the show, Neely described Patterson's ribs as "the perfect finger food."
A Mexican-American Mash-Up
Patterson will also be featured on a second episode of "Deliciously Twisted Classics." The theme of that episode is Mexican-American Mash-Ups.
On the episode set to air Sept. 9, Patterson will cook her Strawberry Shortcake Nachos.
These are a strawberry shortcake spin on her award-winning Peach Cobbler Nachos. Her Peach Cobbler Nachos helped her win "Guy's Grocery Games" in 2018 and were named by Food Network as the Tennessee "Over the Top Treat" in the network's 2023 list of 50 Over the Top Treats in America.
New episodes of "Deliciously Twisted Classics" air at 11 a.m. Saturday on the A&E Channel and stream the next day.
NEW MEMPHIS RESTAURANTS: Sweet treats, sandwiches and so much more: 6 new Memphis restaurants you need to try
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.
If you want to keep up with the tastiest news in the Bluff City — like the story above, sign up for our Eat Drink Memphis weekly newsletter for a hearty serving of stories on everything from restaurants to recipes. You can sign up here.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Chef Tam of Memphis cooks on A&E food TV show. Here's what she made.
