Chef Maria's Greek Deli
"I'll have a gy-ro," a patron requests.
"We don't have that. You can have a yeer-o. In Greek, our 'g' is pronounced like a y," Chef Maria Bell proclaims.
With that exchange, I knew I'd found my new favorite neighborhood deli. Anyone with standards that exacting is bound to create some amazing food.
Let me tell y'all, she didn't disappoint.
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.
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.
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| Zorba the Greek pita. Amazing. |
It's good to see that some folks still want to do things perfectly.
Chef Maria's Greek Deli is located at 102 Fairfax Avenue in Louisville's St Matthews neighborhood. You can order online here and sign up for cooking classes here.
Thank you!
HerKentucky thanks all our readers, friends, and family members who've sacrificed for our nation.
To the members of our armed forces and their families:
Y'all are America's heroes. Thank you for all that you do.
HerKentucky Memorial Day Weekend Happenings
Hey y'all! I hope you're gearing up for a fun Memorial Day weekend! Here are a few of the celebrations and events going on across the Commonwealth over the holiday.
Good Causes
Races
If distance running is your thing, Owensboro is hosting a Memorial Day Half Marathon. Head out to cheer on the runners -- I can assure you that your cheers push them on!
Shopping
It's a great time to stock up for summer, and sales will be held on everything from cookout fixin's to new cars. One sale that caught my eye, though, is this deal from Louisville Stoneware. Receive 10% off online orders of their classic Bachelor Button pattern!
Music
Louisville is the place to be for outdoor music this weekend!Beatles fans can enjoy many tribute bands, and the real live Beach Boys at Abbey Road on the River,
while the Kentucky Reggae Festival offers a summertime vibe at the Water Tower Park.
Tributes
And then, there's the real reason for Memorial Day. Henderson celebrates the holiday with an annual tribute to lost Veterans.
How are y'all spending your holiday weekends?
The HerKentucky Kentucky Pride Swag List
State pride is having a moment.
It seems that, everywhere you turn, local makers and purveyors of style are taking localism to its logical next step -- products proclaiming a home state, home town, or just their sense of home.
I've got to tell y'all, I can't get enough of these. I've always proclaimed my allegiance to the Bluegrass State, and it's no surprise that I'm stockpiling taking part in this of-the-moment trend of regional pride. Here are a few of my favorites.
Old Try's Kentucky Regions T-Shirts
Here in Kentucky, our regions have such rich and unique cultures. I love these shirts that proclaim the region from which the wearer hails. The Old Try is an amazing North Carolina-based company that is, quite literally, a "Mom & Pop" store; the husband and wife owners recently welcomed a gorgeous daughter. I love the quality of my Bluegrass shirt, and am already planning to order a few more to commemorate the various parts of the Commonwealth that I've called home. (I'd advise ordering this shirt a size up from your regular fit.)
Kentucky T-Shirts from The Prickly Pear Boutique
Unbridled Spirit T-Shirt from Bourbon & Boots
Look, y'all, it's our second-favorite Kentucky Tourism slogan! Find this shirt at Bourbon and Boots.
Kentucky Spellings T-Shirt from Kentucky for Kentucky
And, of course, there's HerKentucky readers' favorite way to keep the Commonwealth close to their hearts:
The Kentucky State Love Necklace from Southern Belle Glitz
Y'all love this product. I love this product. And, this time, we're giving y'all a chance to win a gold-tone necklace with a Kentucky-shaped pendant. Same rules as before, and you're eligible to enter through the end of May.
Good luck, and let us know: How do you keep Kentucky close to your heart?
Kentucky Election Day Trivia
I hope everyone has the chance to get to the polls today to ensure that their voices are heard! In honor of today's Primary Elections, I thought we'd take a look at some Bluegrass State election trivia.
1. Under 1824, any Kentuckian who was found to have voted twice was assessed a $10 fine.
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| Hatfield-McCoy Election Fight sign, Pike County. |
2. In 1838, Kentucky became the first state to give women the right to vote in School Board elections.
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| Josephine Henry, the first woman to campaign for a statewide office in Kentucky |
3. After a highly contested election, Kentucky's governor, William Goebel, was fatally shot as he was taking the Oath of Office on January 30, 1900.
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| Governor William Goebel served a tragically brief term of office. |
4. Kentucky lowered its voting age requirement from 20 to 18 in 1955, nearly twenty years before the right was afforded by the Twenty-Sixth Amendment.
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| Campaign poster for Kentucky's most famous candidate. |
5. In 1983, Kentuckians elected Martha Layne Collins, the seventh woman to be governor of a U.S. State.
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| Kentucky's fifty-sixth Governor, Martha Layne Collins |
Now get out and vote, y'all!
Bruschetta Aioli with Red Gold Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes are one of the best things about summer in Kentucky. They're the quintessential taste of a Kentucky summer. You can fry them, serve them in a salad, or make gazpacho with them. They're perfect. Except, you know, for the part where they're only in season for about six weeks at the end of the summer. And that's if you're lucky.
A few weeks ago, Red Gold offered to send me a few cans of their tomato blends as part of their #EasyAioli promotion. Red Gold brings the fresh taste of home-grown tomatoes year-round. Like their homegrown counterparts, Red Gold Tomatoes have so many uses. An easy way to amp up the flavor in your recipes is to combine Red Gold tomato blends with mayonnaise for a quick aioli.
Now I'd love to tell you that, every single time, I whip up my own mayo. This time,like Ina Garten, I decided that store-bought is just fine.
I started with a can of Petite Diced Tomatoes with Garlic and Olive Oil, drained them, and added 1/2 cup of mayonnaise and 4 julienned basil leaves.I let this mixture hang out in the refrigerator for an hour or so.
I placed slices of thick-cut bacon in a large cast iron skillet, which I then put in a preheated 400 degree oven. I let the bacon cook for about 20 minutes, then made a sandwich on sourdough bread. It lent a bruschetta vibe to a classic BLT.
Check out Red Gold's Facebook page for more #EasyAioli recipes and a chance to win a $250 prize pack!
{I received Red Gold samples in consideration of this blog post. I was not compensated in any other manner.}
Southern Belle Glitz Kentucky State Love Necklace Giveaway
Remember a week or two ago, when I reviewed the Southern Belle Glitz Kentucky State Love necklace?
Well, the review hasn't changed -- I still love being able to wear a little piece of the Commonwealth. However, we had a slight change in plans that I think one of y'all will like a lot.
We never heard back from the winner of the Southern Belle Glitz Kentucky State Love Necklace, so we're trying it again. Now through Friday night at midnight, you can enter to win this gorgeous piece.
Well, the review hasn't changed -- I still love being able to wear a little piece of the Commonwealth. However, we had a slight change in plans that I think one of y'all will like a lot.
We never heard back from the winner of the Southern Belle Glitz Kentucky State Love Necklace, so we're trying it again. Now through Friday night at midnight, you can enter to win this gorgeous piece.