Woodford Reserve Bourbon Dinner at Capital Grille
Kicking off Kentucky Derby season with Woodford Reserve Cocktails and a delicious meal at Capital Grille!
I recently attended a media dinner event hosted by The Capital Grille and Woodford Reserve. It was a wonderful way to kick off Derby Season, try the menu and Derby-inspired cocktails at Capital Grille, and hear from one of my very favorite people in the distilling industry, Brown-Forman Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris.
We started the evening with a Woodford Spire (the most popular cocktail at the Derby), while Mr. Morris signed 2024 Kentucky Derby Woodford Reserve bottles for the attendees. This year’s Woodford bottle, which commemorates the 150th running of the Derby, is absolutely stunning! I’m thrilled to add it to my collection!
We then enjoyed a five course dinner, paired with Woodford Reserve bourbon cocktails. It was my first time dining at the Louisville location of the Capital Grille, and everything was so delicious!
The first course was a prosciutto wrapped scallop, over heirloom tomato salad and a Grand Padamo Tuile, served with a Derby Spire. This was a perfect pairing. The acidity of the tomatoes cut the saltiness of the prosciutto and the briny note of the scallop beautifully. The bright, citrusy notes of cranberry and lemonade in the Spire were a lovely accompaniment!
The second course was a roasted chicken breast accompanied by a risotto stuffed mini bell pepper, paired with a Woodford Reserve mint julep. This was a light, refreshing and lovely course. I especially enjoyed the risotto, which was rich but not overpowering.
The third course was a gorgonzola-crusted double-cut lamb chop with pomp puree and a red wine reduction, paired with a Manhattan, made with equal parts Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and Woodford Reserve Rye. This was my favorite meal of the evening. The flavors were rich and complex, and the chop was perfectly prepared. The gorgonzola stood up to the rich flavor of the meat, and the inclusion of both sweet (Double Oaked) and spicy (Rye) whiskies provided a very balanced cocktail that complemented the course.
The fourth course was a sliced filet over roasted Japanese sweet potato, topped with chimichurri and paired with a blackberry bourbon sidecar. Oh my, was this one delicious! The filet was flavorful, and the bright garlic-and-parsley notes of the chimichurri worked with the rich berry notes in the cocktail. If you find yourself at a Capital Grille location this spring, you definitely should try the sidecar. It’s a lovely cocktail.
The final course of the evening was a flourless chocolate espresso cake with mixed berry couli, paired with a fat-washed bourbon espresso martini. This was an absolute treat, with strong notes of chocolate and coffee paired with a complex note of smoky bacon and a bright berry sauce. The cake and cocktail made a lovely ending for the evening!
The Capital Grille was so gracious — the restaurant’s GM and chef talked us through each course, the servers were efficient and friendly, and the meal was terrific. Mr. Morris reminisced about past Derby seasons and Woodford Reserve’s long history with the Kentucky Derby. It was such a wonderful evening of great food, great company, and great bourbon. Thanks so much to Woodford Reserve and the Capital Grille for their hospitality!
Jeff Ruby's Derby Meal Kit Pop-Up
Enjoy a Jeff Ruby’s Meal — from signature steaks to mint juleps— at home on Derby Day!
Derby is one of my very favorite holidays for entertaining. There’s nothing like a food and drink menu inspired by the best day of the Kentucky calendar year!
Of course, Derby looks quite different this year, and we’ll all be watching from home in small groups. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse has the perfect solution for your at-home Derby festivities! Here in Louisville, you can pick up a Meal Kit at the Jeff Ruby’s Pop-Up Shop at Independence Bank in St Matthews (3901 Shelbyville Road) from 10a-2p tomorrow, Friday Sept. 4th, and Saturday, Sept. 5th. This Meal Kit generously serves 4-6 Guests: Four 14 oz. USDA Prime Strip Steaks with Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse Seasoning; Benedictine & Pimento Cheese Dips with Crostini & Crudité; Freddie Salad; Mac & Cheese; Black Eyed Pea Salad with Country Ham & Heirloom Tomatoes; House-Made Biscuits with Salted Honey Butter; Whole Blackberry Bourbon Cream Pie; Mint Simple Syrup with Fresh Mint for your own Mint Juleps (recipe included). All of this for just $200!
Jeff Ruby’s Meal Kits are an incredible way to serve restaurant-quality meals at home. They include everything you need to make your meal perfect —even down to Jeff Ruby’s famous steakhouse seasoning — along with cooking instructions. It’s such a low-stress way to serve a fabulous meal at home. Just fire up the grill or a cast-iron skillet and prepare your steaks while the mac and cheese (my favorite!) heats in the oven. It couldn’t be easier!
Join me on Instagram Stories on Derby Day as I prepare a low-key, yet festive Derby meal at home with Jeff Ruby’s, and pick up a meal kit of your own this weekend in Saint Matthews. Happy Derby, y’all!!
Agave & Rye Louisville
The newest addition to Louisville’s dining scene offers eclectic decor and delicious fare
{Disclaimer: Bob and I were guests at Agave & Rye’s Soft Opening. Our food was provided at no charge; no additional compensation or consideration was provided. All opinions are our own.
Bob and I were recently invited to attend the soft opening of Agave & Rye. We were immediately impressed by the fun decor. The tributes to Muhammad Ali were such a fun touch, a nod the local hero’s famous “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” line and a play on the regional restaurant chain’s bee mascot.
And, oh my, y’all. The food at Agave & Rye is so good. We started with the sweet corn fritters with Serrano aoli, which might be my new favorite food anywhere. These were amazing, with just the right balance between sweet, salty, and spicy. I absolutely adored them.
We also went with an order of tortilla chips with all the sides. The queso, guac, and salsa were all fantastic, and the huge chips were great.
When our tacos arrived, we were in for a treat. Now, Agave & Rye bills their concept as the home of the Epic Taco, and they lived up to this claim in every sense. The tacos were huge — you could easily make a meal on one or two tacos alone — and filled with creative and fresh ingredients. I think my favorite was The Alderman, filled with carne asada steak, Mexican street corn salad, cojita cheese and arbol salsa. It was incredible.
After dinner, we made our way to the back of the restaurant, where a large area is filled with free-to-play vintage arcade games. I may have spent a while at the Pac-Man game, and can certainly see myself passing an afternoon with a margarita or two, an order of those corn fritters, and challenging my Pac-Man score! Agave & Rye is one of those rare spots that works as well on the drinks and entertainment front as on its menu.
We left Agave & Rye with smiles on our faces and a bag full of leftovers. It’s a great addition to the HIghlands food scene, and I can’t wait to go back! Thanks so much to Agave & Rye for hosting us!
Brunch at the Silver Dollar
I get a lot of questions about where to eat in Louisville. Every couple of weeks, someone texts/ emails/ facebooks me for a lunch, brunch or dinner recommendation in the Derby City. To keep up with these suggestions, I'll be updating the HerLouisville City Guide to reflect my favorite suggestions. First up is brunch at the Silver Dollar.
As you drive down Frankfort Avenue, The Silver Dollar looks like a hole in the wall you could easily pass up. That would be a huge mistake. Instead, you should stop when you see the iconic "Whiskey by the Drink" neon sign for a cocktail, dinner, or weekend brunch. The servers are friendly, the music is Bakersfield honky tonk country, the drinks are stiff, and the food... well, it's amazing.
Some of our favorites on the Silver Dollar brunch menu include the smoked chicken enfrijoladas,
the waffle and the flank & eggs,
and the shrimp and grits.
The Silver Dollar is located at 1761 Frankfort Avenue in Louisville. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Royal's Hot Chicken
Nashville Hot Chicken done right in the Derby City!
My beau and I LOVE Nashville-style hot chicken. We make as many trips to the Music City as possible to feed our addiction. We've waited in line at the Hot Chicken Festival. And we've waited in line at Hattie B's more times than we can count. We take our chicken seriously.
So, we've been a little skeptical as hot chicken has made its way up I-65. Rumors that KFC and O'Charley's are test-marketing mass-produced versions of our beloved crispy, cayenne pepper-coated delicacy left us with more than a little trepidation. You can't get GREAT, authentic hot chicken outside of Nashville, can you?
Well, it turns out you can.
Royal's Hot Chicken hosted their soft opening over the weekend, so we took the opportunity to test their spin on Hot Chicken. (For those who've never tried hot chicken before, the legend goes back to Thornton Prince, whose ladyfriend wasn't happy with his "extracurricular" affairs. After a particularly late night, Thornton asked his girlfriend to fry him some chicken. Going for revenge, the girlfriend coated the fried chicken in cayenne pepper. Prince loved it, and 90 years later, his family-run hot chicken restaurant is a must-visit Nashville attraction.)
We had high expectations of Royal's, because of the care and expertise that owner Ryan Rogers puts into every item on his Feast BBQ concept. We went to Royal's expecting "very good"; we had no idea we'd be in for "great."
First, let me get it out of the way. The chicken is done right. Not "right for Kentucky." Not "right for someplace outside Davidson County, TN." It's just right. The meat is juicy. The breading is light and crispy. And the seasoning... Well, the seasoning reminded me of Prince's. That's a big compliment. It wasn't a sauce; it was a heavy coating of chili powders and pan drippings. It was deliciously spicy without any acidic aftertaste. When accompanied by a zingy house ranch dressing, it was just about perfect!
The sides were pretty amazing, too. Bob went with delicious cold sides -- the cole slaw and cucumber salad; these provided a great palate cleanser with his X-hot level tenders. I couldn't pass up the hot potato wedges or the pimento cheese grits. Both were amazing! The grits were so creamy, and the wedges were perfectly crisp with a fluffy center.
Next time, we plan to make room for soft serve ice cream or milkshakes. The cold desserts looked and sounded great, but we were stuffed after such a delicious meal!
Thanks to Royal's Hot Chicken for bringing real Nashville hot chicken to Louisville! We can't wait to visit again soon!
Royals Hot Chicken is located at 736 E. Market St., Louisville, KY 40202.
(502)919-7068
Open TUESDAY-THURSDAY 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:00PM-9:00PM
Open FRIDAY 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:00PM-10:00PM
Open SATURDAY, 11:30AM-10:00PM
CLOSED SUNDAY & MONDAY
Corner Restaurant & Bar
Louisville's newest hotel bar offers unique flavors and amazing craft cocktails!
One of the questions I'm asked most frequently is "Where is a really great hotel in Louisville? I'd like to stay in a nice hotel with good food and a good bar."
Of course, my answer is that the perfect Louisville hotel varies wildly upon your destination, purpose for traveling, and budget. My new favorite to add to the list is the brand-new Downtown Louisville Aloft, especially Corner Bar & Restaurant, across from Whiskey Row.
My beau and I visited Corner on a recent Saturday afternoon. The lively crowd were clearly still celebrating a U of L win from earlier that day -- your Cards ticket stub serves as a ticket for one free drink at Corner! -- and the mood was festive and fun. We may have even seen a local Congressman in the crowd...
The coasters at Corner feature my favorite local mural!
We sat down for a drink and some appetizers, and were impressed by the attention to detail. The whiskey menu was broken down by distillery. We ordered a pair of Old-Fashioneds. Mine, with Maker's Mark, featured delightful details like house-made maraschino cherries. Bob's, with Woodford Reserve, paired the whiskey's high vanilla note with the orange peel garnish for a deliciously smooth finish.
We ordered a pair of appetizers from the Game Day Menu. The beer cheese fondue from the three dips and chips trio was outstanding, but the real star was the brussels sprouts with candied jalapeno and apple vinaigrette.
We then moved up to the bar for a cocktail lesson from Ashley, Corner's resident mixologist. Let me tell you, this lady knows what she's doing.
Ashley worked with her patrons' flavor profiles to create drinks she thought they'd enjoy. She put so much care into every detail of the drinks, from basics like bloody marys or pina coladas on up to more complex libations.
The presentation was stunning, and the cocktails were amazing.
Thanks so much to Corner for the opportunity to come visit! We'll definitely be back soon!