Thursday, June 2, 7:00 pm
Members $90, guests $115

“Stella!” Picturing a young, thin Brando yelling forlornly at the camera in an oh-so-tight undershirt? If so, savor that image for a moment, but replace it with this one: all over Memphis, power-lunchers and well-heeled diners are having a eureka moment in planning their next big meal—Stella!

Chef and co-owner Johnny Kirk opened Stella a year ago with his wife, Melissa, and in-laws, Clive and Cindy Preece. The restaurant is named after not just one, but two Stellas—neither of them Blanche DuBois’ sister, but relatives on both sides of the family.

Awarded first place in the Best New Restaurant category of the MemphisFlyer’s 2004 awards, Stella was also called “the hottest new restaurant in Memphis” by Delta Magazine’s Melissa Townsend, who went on to say, “The food is so alarmingly good that everyone in the city is talking about it.” Nicky Robertshaw of Memphis concurred, noting, “If Stella is a showcase for Kirk’s cooking, he definitely provides the show in the form of interesting yet balanced dishes that are well executed with fresh ingredients and unusual touches.” Kathy Martin of Midsouth also loved Stella’s food, which she described as being all about “kicked-up comfort.”

Kirk’s culinary roots are planted firmly in the Southern tradition. He grew up in nearby Greenville, Mississippi, where he was immersed in Southern Delta cooking. He then earned his culinary degree at Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina. Now, at Stella, he’s reinterpreting Southern favorites for an appreciative and ever-growing crowd.

While Stella is breathing new life into Southern cuisine, the restaurant is also a breath of fresh air for the city’s downtown area. Stella opened in a vacant space in downtown’s historic Broadnax Building, which formerly housed the jewelry store where Melissa’s grandfather bought her grandmother's engagement ring. Family tradition, another fine Southern staple served up daily at Stella.