Mammy's Kitchen in Bardstown, KY

Southern through and through

Mammy's Kitchen Front Entrance

     It feels much older than its 2007 beginnings with its quirky interior and diner inspired menu.  Mammy's Kitchen is part barnyard, rainforest, inn, and garden rolled into a café that started as a home accessories, antique and sewing shop. How did that happen?  That's another whole story that you can check out at bardstownmammys.com.

Mammy's on the Backside

     We were looking for a light lunch and found it in the wildly-colored back dining area.  The menu is classic Kentuckian comfort food with some interesting takes that we were fortunate enough to spot.  Lori and I had the Baby Brown, their version of the traditional Kentucky Hot Brown in a lunch-sized portion - a very nice choice.  

The Baby Brown

Slaw Burger

John had the Slaw Burger, evidently more widely-known to others than to me.  I had not heard of this local classic.  Theirs met with a thumbs up.  

Jalapeño Cheddar Burger

Kaylee and Bryce shared the Jalapeño Cheddar Burger sparked with deep fried jalapeños.  They were wowed!  

Fried Green Tomato Sandwich

Eric had the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich that didn't seem quite as special as everyone else's was.  He was hoping the Butterscotch Pie that we ogled on the way in would change his opinion.  We shared it, as Lori and John did with the Chocolate Cream Pie, which was the clear winner.  Both fillings were nice and creamy, but the crusts were a bit hard and pasty.  Service was young and attentive, a combination that patrons at other tables didn't seem appreciate as much as we did. They may have been looking for Flo.

Butterscotch Pie

The Rickhouse in Bardstown, KY

Once you find it, you'll remember it as a standout

     It had been a long day of visiting distilleries, so we did what any weary travellers would do–ask our host for a dinner recommendation and then act on her advice.  Lisa Marie sent us to The Rickhouse in Bardstown with the promise of a first class steakhouse.  

The Inconspicuous Entryway to Rickhouse

     We used our trusty gps as we pulled into the parking lot with Siri's insistence that the restaurant was on our right.  It was a middle school building, so we started wandering the parking lot when we saw a small sign on a gate to the left of the street.  We had found it!  The lower level interior rooms carried the theme of a rick house, or bourbon barrel storage area, with its intimate space and barrels throughout.

The Main Dining Room

     There were seven of us so we were seated in an area with larger tables and the promise of a very large party's iminent arrival.  Our server promptly acknowledged us and Kaylee was melting in her seat from his Kentuckian pronunciation of "sweet tea".  It didn't hurt matters that he was very nice looking, but definitely all business and professional.  We settled into our seats and reading menus bedazzled with steaks and tempting side dishes.  After a round of Q&A, we made our decisions.

6 oz. Prime Cut Filet and Brussels Sprouts

Five of us were sold on the 6 oz. Prime Cut Filet.  Our other two diners would have the New York Strip and BBQ Bourbon Chicken Half.  All were tremendous–done to order and tender as they come.  The dinners came with yeast rolls (yum!) and two sides.

BBQ Bourbon Chicken Half

Between us, we sampled all that they had to offer.  The Scalloped Potatoes and Macaroni were especially creamy with an eleven (yes, eleven!) cheese sauce.

Scalloped Potatoes

The Brussels Sprouts, sautéed with apples, bacon, cranberries, and brown sugar and bourbon would hold up on any menu.  

Bourbon Brownie a la Mode

     I couldn't believe we were actually entertaining the idea of dessert, but they had beckoned us since first seeing them on the menu.  One of each for the table would satisfy our curiosity.  We thought the Chocolate and Orange Bread Pudding would be the star, but the Bourbon Brownie a la Mode was the favorite all around.  After all, we were in the Bourbon Capital of the World so what did we expect?

therickhouse-bardstown.com

 

York Street Café

Bohemian mainstay still nails it

The Victorian Dining Room

      York Street Café in Newport has been around for more than a couple of decades (rare for most restaurants), unique both for its menu and décor.  We used to go there for lunch or dinner or for later desserts.  Not only was there a gallery back

Walt's Hitching Post

Pulling the finest elements from its past, while remaining relevant in today's demanding culinary world.

      We may have done the unthinkable. We dined at Walt's Hitching Post without having the infamous ribs served at the reinvented and reopened venue.  Fortunately for us, it was not a mistake.  

Walt's Entrance

      From the time we turned into the parking lot, it was clear that the experience would be bound in tradition.  There's an awning over the entryway that led to the wood paneled rooms from another era.  It truly applauds Kentucky from the genuine

NuVo at Greenup

The new basilica for serious foodies

Dexter Enjoys the Serene Dining Room

     NuVo at Greenup serves a three to nine course table d’hôte menu at an extremely reasonable price (currently $35-$60).  It focuses with laser-like intensity on specific ingredients to produce food that is superb.  Wine pairings with those courses are available for $25-$45, which is a deal, almost a steal.  We really enjoyed NuVo when it was in Newport about four to five

Main Bite

A charmer that could become 
a mainstay after some tweaking

The Inviting Front Porch at Main Bite

      Main Bite has almost everything it takes to soar as an eating establishment in the MainStrasse area of Covington.  One half of a wood-framed home supplies the welcoming restaurant space with a front porch and outdoor garden area

Anita’s Mexican Bar & Grill

Authentic Mexican that deserves to succeed in Ft. Thomas

Looks Like I Need to Put on My Hat Again!

     I hope that Anita’s Mexican Bar & Grill in Fort Thomas survives and thrives since it’s authentic. It occupies the old Frisch’s building, which moved down to Highland Heights to take over the old Perkins space.  It’s been a real domino

Ice Cream and Puddings and Pies…Oh, My!

      We had dinner at Hammerheads in Louisville and decided to travel down Bardstown Road to the Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen.  Affectionately known to locals simply as "The Pie Kitchen", we decided to forego the ice cream (you won't hear that statement coming from us often) and go directly for the other confections.  Seeing the Chocolate Chess Pie, and 

Chocolate Chess Pie

getting a nod from our server, Paul's mind was settled.  Loaded with dark chocolate, it was similar to a smooth molten

¡Ay, caramba! Havana in Louisville

Lunchtime at Havana Rhumba

      Sometimes a restaurant has so much personality you just can't wait to tell everyone you know.  Havana Rumba didn't project much of that when we drove up to its strip mall location in the St. Matthews area.  We were immediately welcomed by Anna who seated us and then returned to tell us she would be

Chez Nora: Covington’s Venerable Standby

Chez Nora in Mainstrasse

     There are a few establishments in the region that always offer a quality experience based on good food, efficient service and fair prices yet are rarely on the foodies’ radar.  I immediately think of the National Exemplar in Mariemont, The Greyhound Tavern in Fort Mitchell, and Ron’s Roost in Cheviot.  They’re each pretty unique in terms of menu and

Why It's Truly Wunderbar!

      For years, Neil and I wondered why there wasn’t a good, relaxed German restaurant in a region that was settled by German immigrants.  Lenhardt’s always seemed pricey and The Iron Skillet was both mediocre and pricey, while Mecklenburg Gardens only offered one or two dishes that could be considered German.  Schmidt’s in Columbus (and at Oktoberfest in Cincinnati) has done a roaring business for two generations, but there wasn’t anything comparable here, though we haven’t eaten at Wertheim’s in the Mainstrasse district of Covington.

Dexter Finds Frankfurt on the Map

      Whenever I’ve brought up the fact of the paucity of attention on German food, people always say it’s heavy or they don’t like it, etc, etc., yet they think nothing of grilling

Hammerheads Is Not Just a Broken Record BBQ Joint

The Small Kitchen is Smokin'

      Is it possible for what appears to be a biker bar in the basement of a house in a working class neighborhood to serve some of the best All-American cuisine to be found?  If you're lucky enough to experience Hammerheads in Louisville, you'll find out that it is indeed!  Chef owners Adam Burress and Chase Mucerino (straight from being nominated as Food & WIne magazine's 2012 Best New Chefs), have taken southern and BBQ favorites to the next level and then some.  We were thinking it sounded good, but had no idea it would be that good!

Dex Outside Hammerheads

      Open for dinner only, we arrived with some of the crew sitting at the picnic tables outside, immediately greeting us and welcoming us to come inside.  Our server was there to—well, serve us and he did a commendable job at doing so.  We asked for suggestions and he didn't steer us wrong.  

A Long Shelf Life is Predicted for Cake Flour

Sidewalk Café at Cake Flour

      On a recent visit to Louisville, our final destination was Cake Flour, a natural baking company, in the NULU neighborhood on the near east side of downtown.  The area was interspersed with businesses, factories, and vacant

Lynn's Paradise Cafe—A Daily Party in Louisville

The Playfulness Beckons

      Themed restaurants once covered the landscape from coast to coast.  They slowly died out, finally becoming an enigma.  But, in 1991, Lynn Winter had a calling to open Lynn's Paradise Cafe in the Highlands neighborhood (after a short stint elsewhere).  Lynn incorporated her love of furniture

An Evening in Florence (KY) at Karlo's Bistro Italia

Angel Hair with Chicken and Spinach

      I'm enjoying part II of my Angel Hair with Chicken and Spinach from a few days ago.  I don't always write and eat at the same time, but then kitty bags don't always inspire one to do so.  All of the flavors were still vibrant with the angel hair pasta, chicken, and spinach awakened from the reheating.  The light lemon-agilo-olio was the mild sauce that brought it all together originally and continued to do so.  The only thing missing was our server grating fresh parmesan on top.

Entrance to Karlo's Bistro Italia

      We weren't expecting the crowd when we arrived at Karlo's in Florence on a Saturday night.  The parking lot was full and we found ourselves in the overflow area.  We were meeting Chris and Mark and luckily I had the foresight of making a reservation.  It had been several years since any of us had dined at Karlo's so obviously the word was out. Eric and I have never had a bad experience there nor any issues with the preparations.  We were immediately seated and our server, Chucko, set the tone for the evening. We felt unhurried and

A Night at the Louisville Museum

Eric surprised Neil with an overnight trip to Louisville as his Christmas gift.  They both were so busy around the holidays that they weren't able to get away until last week.  Of course they invited me to go along, but I preferred to stay back and watch the house…or sleep all day…no one will ever know!

DAY ONE: Rolling down I-71 we called Actors' Theatre of Louisville at 10 AM for tickets to their evening performance.  The theatre reserves 20 tickets at $20 available the day of the performance.  We luckily snagged a pair to The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity.  Now our first stop would be lunch at Jack Fry's (see our 

Jack Fry's Dining Room

separate review from 2/5/2012) on Bardstown Road in The Highlands.  It's one of several quirky bohemian neighborhoods that we found on the southeast side of downtown.  Jack Fry's is an award winning landmark that has been serving since 1933 with a ten year interruption in the '70s.  It's a sportsmen's style atmosphere that we found entertaining on many levels with superb food.

      From there we followed a route through the University of Louisville. It's a large campus with little visual appeal other than some of the buildings dating back to 1923 when the campus was moved to its present location.  A highlight was one of the casts of The Thinker by Auguste Rodin in front of Grawemeyer Hall.  

Entrance to Churchill Downs and the Derby Museum

      Just around the corner was Churchill Downs, site of the longest running sporting event in the US and "the most exciting two minutes in sports" -- the Kentucky Derby.  We were hoping for a Derby Day experience and that was exactly what we had!  We started with the 360º movie in the Derby Museum, after which it was time for our first escorted tour of

Jack Fry’s: An Evergreen Classic in Louisville

      We found Jack Fry’s on Tripadvisor and also checked Urbanspoon.  It’s considered the top in Louisville. It opened in 1933 and the current owner is the third.  We stopped by for lunch at 11 a.m. on a weekday when it opened and it was packed by noon. It’s a restaurant that has a huge, diverse local following.  

The Sportman's Dining Room

      The interior is somewhat dark with many framed photos on the walls and a number of awards that are discreetly placed high above eye level.  It feels like a club from sometime in the 1930s to 1950s period and there is an air of time worn chic about the place (one booth had a taped seat).  However, the maitre d’ and servers are friendly, polite, and elegant in their whites.  The servers refill beverages before a diner even realizes the levels have decreased.  

Carrot Soup

      The food is extraordinary.  Neil and I followed our server’s suggestions for the entire meal and we were highly satisfied.  Neil had a cup of the Soup of the Day, which was a carrot purée with crabmeat throughout, topped with a little honey.  There had to have been a roux base because it was smooth and creamy without any bits of carrot in it.  There were sweet and garlic notes that rendered it both clean and simultaneously smoky.  Okay, I’ve made it sound like some type of wine and it

AmerAsia: Kung Fu Pow Fun in Covington

      The owners of AmerAsia understand that a restaurant must combine food, service, ambience, and a loyal customer base to last.  Although customers may focus on the food during a first visit, they’ll return again and again only if the service and ambience somehow entice them.  If the interior resembles a dump (and I am recalling a couple of restaurants in the region), then there has to be value either in price, very personable service, or incredible food.

The Fun Begins at the Bar

Johnny's Chalk Art

      AmerAsia’s co-owner, Johnny, works the lively bar and checks in with customers throughout their visit to the restaurant.  It’s a younger crowd and the very fair pricing caters to them.  However, Johnny welcomes all and includes them in the fun.  His ever-changing artwork on the chalk mural around the bar, Bruce Lee posters, and other wild accessories set a tone that makes it seem like a sports bar, though mercifully there’s only one TV and I didn’t even notice it.  Chef Chu (Johnny’s dad) circled the room to ask about the food and our server couldn’t have been more gracious about detailing the items on the menu and the specials even while reminding us

Mae Ploy Thai Cuisine and Sushi Bar, Alias Chinatown

      Driving down Alexandria Pike in Highland Heights, KY one would never find Mae Ploy, an unassuming freestanding restaurant with the sign blazing “Chinatown”.  That was left over from a previous owner, but what you’ll find inside has no comparison.  Although it’s not high on atmosphere, the surroundings are pleasant and casual with a few quirks.  The first oddity you’ll likely notice is the “office” at the entrance.  Yes, the chef is set up in the see through space for everyone to wonder what he’s up to.  From there, you’ll find the sushi bar with comfortable stools and a dining room with formica® booths.  

The Casual Dining Area and Sushi Bar

      Hopefully, you’ve not discarded this hot spot by now.  The food is what you’re there for and it was special!  The menu was lengthy so we started out with a Thai Iced Tea and Coffee.  Those are our favorite accompaniments to a Thai meal and these did not disappoint. My coffee was loaded with sweet cream and Eric found the tea to be

Bouquet is a Short Lister for Foodies

Eric’s Mom came to visit for the week and she was very friendly, but her allergies started.  She said it wasn’t me, but I decided to go hunting in the twilight.  I’ve seen some of those bushy-tailed rats running up and down the trees and they’d better watch out.

The Townhouse Dining Room

      Katy told us that she and Dennis had really enjoyed Bouquet a few weeks ago.  When Mom said she wanted to go to one of the fancy restaurants she’d read about from Dexter, we thought about a number of restaurant we hadn’t visited and thought why not Bouquet?  It’s located in Covington’s historic Mainstrasse district in an Italianate townhouse.  It’s a beautiful building with a long dining room and an atmosphere that seems like a Parisian Bistro or a restaurant in the Ontario wine country.  The wood floors, while attractive, intensify the volume.  I wish there were some soundboards to dull the noise.

The Featured Soup—Carrot with Maple 

Bibb Salad with Pineapple and Cornbread Croutons

      The Carrot with Maple Soup sounded lovely and the taste lived up to expectations because the dollop of cilantro cream added a lemony tang to the sweetness of the maple and the earthiness of the vegetable.  It was a purée of medium consistency with a liquid, rather than cream, base.  It was a great entrance into the meal.  Neil had the Bibb Salad, which intrigued him because of the tiny chunks of fresh pineapple in it and Yuzu (a Japanese orange) and Cardamon Vinaigrette.  The sweetness and the acid complemented each other very well in this dish with the other ingredients – carrots and cornbread croutons (a little soft).

Sea Scallops as a Small Plate