MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis culinary scene in Memphis is getting a national spotlight. Over the summer, Guy Fieri’s show “Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives,” made its way to the Bluff City, and among those featured was Good Fortune Company.
“That’s the way I connect with people. Food is my love language,” said Sarah Cai, Good Fortune Co. co-owner.
For the Memphis area native, food can be the bridge between cultures, communities, and generations. That mindset led Cai to opening the downtown restaurant at 361 S. Main Street with her partner Arturo Leighton back in 2020.
“We worked in the restaurant industry for a longtime,” said Cai.
The culinary power couple met around seven years ago in Florida, but their food journey took them around the world.
“From small mom and pops to the greatest Michelin Stars in New York to large hotels, and that's kind of how the trajectory went,” said Leighton.
The co-owners admitted, surviving the pandemic was a fight or flight moment. Through survival, the restaurant became a staple for many local customers.
“Just poured our heart and soul into the food and I think the guests saw that,” said Leighton.
The made-from-scratch noodle and dumpling shop garnered attention from famous chefs like Fieri. Working with the mayor of Flavortown was a full circle moment for the Memphis chefs.
“When I was a kid I used to watch Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” Leighton told ABC24. “It feels unreal. I feels like, I don’t know, it’s hard to describe.”
Even with the national attention, the chefs said it is the community that has to come first, be it customers or staff.
“We’re in the business because we love to cook and we love people,” said Leighton, “As long as we’re making enough revenue to sustain the place, and paying our staff livable wages, that’s what makes us happy… and making delicious food too.”
Crawfish dumplings are Good Fortune’s signature dish during the “From Noodle to Strudel” episode of the Food Network show.
The episode premieres at 8pm CST on Jan. 5th.
It re-airs:
- 11pm CST on Jan. 6th
- 10pm CST on Jan. 13th & Feb. 3rd
- 1am CST on Jan. 14th & Feb. 4th
- 3am CST on Jan. 20th