Memphis-style hush puppies: balls of sweet-savoury cornmeal batter flavoured with onion and a touch of sugar, deep-fried golden in the same oil as the catfish, served in a paper basket with remoulade or honey butter.

Hush puppies emerged in the American South in the 19th century, with the etymological folktale claiming Confederate soldiers tossed cornbread scraps to barking dogs around the campfire with the phrase 'hush, puppies'. The dish became a Mississippi River catfish-fry tradition, with Memphis adopting it as the universal companion to fried catfish and BBQ plates. The Memphis-distinctive style includes a small amount of sugar in the batter, finely grated onion, and a hint of cayenne. They are deep-fried in the same oil as the day's catfish or chicken. Soul Fish Cafe, Earnestine and Hazel's and Alcenia's run reference versions.

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