#BLUBRUNCH at Louisville's Downtown Marriott
Yesterday, Bob and I were treated to brunch at BLU Italian Grille at Louisville's Downtown Marriott. If you follow HerKentucky and BLU Grille on Instagram (and, seriously, why wouldn't you?), you know that we turned our brunch into an Instagram takeover. It was so fun, and the food and service were fantastic!
Sunday brunch at BLU is a bit of an event. There's a jazz trio,
delicious beverages,
and an extensive buffet of breakfast and lunch fare.
Steak medallions, garlic mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables
Two kinds of smoked salmon with caprese salad.
One entire table features locally-sourced items from Kentucky and Indiana. It was fabulous, y'all.
Bourbon cheddar cheese and Bibb lettuce. As #kentuckyproud as it gets!
Bourbon cinnamon buns
And then, there was the dessert table. Oh my goodness. The dessert table.
Bourbon + Cheesecake.
The Chocolate Bombe was, well, The Bomb.
Cheers to BLU for a great brunch, an attentive staff, and a whole lot of fun!
BLU Italian Grille is located at 280 West Jefferson Street in Louisville. You can peruse their menu here.
(Thanks to BLU for the invitation and the wonderful meal!)
National Hamburger Day
Today is National Hamburger Day.
Yep, that's a thing.
But did you know that the cheeseburger was invented right here in Louisville?
The story goes that, in 1934, Margaret and Carl Kaelin were the proprietors of Kaelin's Restaurant in the Deer Park neighborhood of Louisville. Carl got the idea to add a piece of cheese to his hamburger, and the rest was delicious history.
Kaelin's mini-hamburgers, via Southern Living
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Kaelin's closed a few years ago, but it holds a place in Kentucky lore as the home of the cheeseburger.
Happy Hamburger Day, y'all! Who serves your favorite Kentucky Hamburger?
Chef Maria's Greek Deli
The lamb gyro meat was insanely fresh and flavorful without the greasy texture so often associated with that dish. The feta cheese was salty and mellow and perfectly seasoned. And the tzatziki? Well, it was good enough to eat with a spoon.
Zorba the Greek pita. Amazing. |
It's good to see that some folks still want to do things perfectly.
The Hot Brown at Louisville's Cheddar Box Too
Joan Crawford in Our Dancing Daughters. |
Who serves your favorite hot brown?
Tom + Chee
I ordered the Mint Julep. The name was just too perfect to overlook. And, I have to say, I kind of loved it. The combination of bourbon caramel, mint mascarpone, and graham cracker was decadent and delicious.
Magee's Bakery
Courthouses and Cafes
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Not the prettiest courthouse, but a tasty cafe! Photo via Kentucky Court of Justice. |
Photo via Shelby County Facebook Page |
Photo via Kentucky Court of Justice |
From the Hickman County Courthouse, where the Clerk showed us filming locations for the Tommy Lee Jones film U.S. Marshals, to the Bell County Courthouse, nestled in Pineville among the mountains, there are some amazing small towns, old buildings, and awesome eateries in this state. I was afforded the opportunity to see and spend some time in these towns, and I encourage you to explore them, too. Not all the Kentucky gems are found in Louisville or Lexington. Some of the best hometown hospitality and charm just might be off the beaten path in the local courthouse square.
Do you have a favorite courthouse or cafe? Share it with us in the comments!