Don't be fooled by those snooty people who dismiss Memphis as a culinary wasteland littered with crusts of the fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches favored by Elvis Presley. A much broader picture of Southern cuisine is presented in a new collection of recipes from Cliff Lynch. Yes, that Cliff Lynch, veteran of over four decades in the logistics field, DC VELOCITY columnist and the subject of our May "Thought Leader Profile."
In an effort to raise funds for the nation's hungry, Lynch has written and self-published a book titled The Gourmet Logistician—An Oxymoron. The book, which has more than 250 pages of tried and true recipes with what Lynch calls "a mostly Southern flair," is available for $16, with proceeds benefiting the Memphis Food bank. As Lynch points out, more than 33,000,000 Americans have no need for a cookbook since they are either hungry or unsure of where they will find their next meal. He's hoping his venture will help alleviate the suffering.
Though his purpose is serious, Lynch is the first to make light of his effort in publishing a cookbook. "Those who know me personally will assume I have finally lost it," he jokes. "Those who don't know me will simply be confused,and a third group will be trying to figure out what 'oxymoron' means. Mostly, I did it for fun, but also to share some honest-to-goodness, real recipes I have prepared and enjoyed over the years, as well as some other contributions."
Many of the recipes are original, some are from Lynch's friends and family, and still others have come from published sources. Many of the recipes have been passed along a number of cooks, each of whom added his or her own touches. "Heaven only knows where some of these originated," Lynch says. "All are legitimate,however, and every one was tested to make sure it was worthy of inclusion."
To order The Gourmet Logistician, send a check for $16, made out to C.F. Lynch & Associates, to CFL Publishing, P.O. Box 770398, Memphis, TN 38177. (Tennessee residents must include 9.25 percent sales tax.)
