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31 Days of Louisville Love: Derby Season

July 16, 2014

Although I recommend friends visit Louisville during the state fair, the obvious time to visit Louisville is for the Kentucky Derby. After four years, I’ve still not been to Derby or Oaks, but that doesn’t meant I won’t miss Derby season while we’re in Cambridge.

I love the time leading up to Derby. It starts with Thunder, another event I’ve managed to miss (we did go for about an hour two years ago, but it was much too cold at 4 p.m. to stick around for another five hours). And then there are more events — balloon races, steamboat races, bed races, concerts, an art fair, a parade, parties — you could just do Derby-related things for weeks. I love how plans just get delayed — “Let’s do it after Derby.”

I find it a bit stressful figuring out what to do on Derby day. Are we going to a party? Can we make it to both these parties? Do I need to get a hat? Why are these hats so expensive? My favorite Derby so far was a potluck at a friend’s house. Everyone had hats and most of them came off shortly after people arrived. We listened to the race on the radio. There were delicious brisket sandwiches.

I don’t put much effort into betting. I just like looking at the hats, looking for B-list celebrities, and drinking mint juleps. I tear up at My Old Kentucky Home (even though my old home, if I have one, would be in Texas). Come the first weekend of May 2015, I doubt the people of Boston will wish me a “Happy Derby,” and I will miss that.

31 Days of Louisville Love: Kentucky State Fair

July 15, 2014

You know what starts in less than a month, when we will most likely already be gone? My favorite annual event, the Kentucky State Fair.

I look forward to the duckling slide all year.

If you’ve followed this blog or the Louisville, Not Kentucky podcast, you know my love of state fairs developed over eight years of annual attendance at the Texas State Fair in Dallas. I’ve loved living in a city that hosts the state fair again. When I talk up Louisville to friends considering a visit, I tell them to come for the state fair, not Derby.

Since moving to Louisville, I have been to the fair every year. Two years ago, I went twice, once by myself, just to spend more time with the quilts and cakes (it was the second weekend, and those baked goods do not last that long. If you’re going for the food entries, go the first weekend, unless you’re specifically going to see mold grow on cake). You really do need more than one day to see everything, but these are the things I try to visit each year:

1. The duckling slide — this is in the Discovery Farm, which I believe is in South Wing B.

2. Entries - specifically the cakes, the quilts, aquariums, and antiques. The art entries are also entertaining, but there are too many to see if you only have a day and have to check what politically incorrect antiques won first place this year.

3. The prize-winning animals, especially the rabbits and poultry. There are some super fluffy rabbits in the world, and some really fantastic-looking chickens, and you can find them at the state fair.

4. The bees - I love the the wall of honey jars, looking for the queen bee, and making my own candles.

This is a beauty queen made from a tomato.

5. The giant produce in the West Hall (this is by the bees). Who will have the biggest pumpkin this year, and how grotesquely huge will it be?

6. Freddy Farm Bureau - he’s more interactive than Big Tex and will actually have a conversation with you.

Then I also have to have a turkey leg and possibly a taste of whatever bizarre food they’re presenting this year (no to the donut burgers, yes to fried Girl Scout cookies).

After my first fair visit, I now avoid the equine areas (allergies) and the “Commercial Exhibits” in South Wing C. There are too many people and too much junk in there. But if you want to see the Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky booth (and you do, because they have a tiny owl and a bald eagle), you do have to brave this hall. Fortunately, that booth is along the wall, so you don’t have to wade through too many dream catchers and violent mascot t-shirts to get to it.

I am really sad that we will be out of town for the fair this year. I’ve heard about Massachusetts’ “Big E,” but it’s about 100 miles away from Boston (which is not that far. We definitely drove from Houston to Dallas to go to the fair one year). I do have a goal to attend all the states’ fairs, so this seems like a great time to tackle that. I’ll just miss that duckling slide.

31 Days of Louisville Love: El Camino

July 14, 2014

Remember the game I mentioned in the Drafthouse post, where you list the businesses you wish would move into a newly vacated space? I wished for Mexican food and margaritas closer to the apartment for a long time. That wish came true when El Camino opened, basically in my backyard.

The rumors had it opening in time for Derby 2013. When it finally opened five months later, we were there on opening night. Tacos! Tequila and rum drinks! Flan! Surfing and luchador movies!

That was a Tuesday night. Gabe and I went back for dinner that Friday night, then met friends at another bar. Then we went back for a final drink at El Camino. And then we crossed the street, crossed a bank parking garage, crossed the alley and were home.

It’s dangerous living so near to tacos and tequila drinks. Friends can text to let you know they’re there, would you like to join them, and yes, of course, you would. It’s right there! In cooler months, if it’s not freezing, the fire pits mean you can still enjoy that wonderful patio. And brunch on the weekend means you could go in the morning and just stay all day.

I spent a good amount of time at El Camino this winter. I can’t decide if the bright decor and surf videos make me sadder or happier in the cold (sad because those beach videos drive home the lack of warmth outside; happy because it’s so cheery). But this winter’s going to be worse in the Northeast, and I’m definitely going to miss walking out the back door, scurrying across a block, and receiving a plate full of tacos.

31 Days of Louisville Love: Holy Grale

July 13, 2014

When we were in New York in May, we had lunch with a recently relocated Louisvillian. It was when he said he missed Holy Grale that I realized I would miss that spot, too, as well as so much of Louisville. I almost cried in my salad.

I have loved that beer chapel since day one. I love the dark wood, the lamps, the shiny, silver beer taps. I love how cozy it is inside in winter, and I love the biergarten and its vines in the summer. I don’t love how, even though they provide a paragraph-long description of each of beer, I still frequently choose the fruitiest or sourest beer.. One day, I will learn to either read properly or just avoid beers with fruit and “sour” in the description.

We bring all our beer-drinking visitors to Holy Grale. I had my bridal shower/bachelorette party in the Choir Loft. And now that they’ve opened Gralehaus, there’s even more opportunity to spend time in the biergarten, with a beer and a crepe. Or biscuits and gravy. Or espresso with soft serve in it. Holy Grale(haus), I will miss you.

31 Days of Louisville Love: Bardstown Road Farmers' Market

July 12, 2014

Louisville has a number of farmers’ markets, but there are only two within reasonable walking distance of our apartment. Since the Bardstown Road Farmers’ Market is closer, it became our default. Every few Saturdays, we’ll walk up Bardstown, walk through the bank’s drive-thru for cash, and see what fresh produce and treats we can buy.

I would be lying if I said I was drawn to the market for the fresh produce. The highlights for me are the Harvest omelette stand and the Perennial Favorites Flower Farm. We get produce, too, but I really just want the flowers. They sell bouquets, but I prefer picking through the buckets of individual flowers. I can make a small bouquet for usually less than $5 (or for $1.40) and divide it into vases throughout the apartment.

And then there are the omelettes. Those farmers’ market Harvest omelettes are so tasty. I don’t even know what’s in them besides catfish and cheese, but the vegetables are crunchy, the cheese is melty, and it all comes on a crusty piece of bread — so good. Plus, they have a very spicy hot sauce, which I underestimated last time.When you get the right amount, it’s perfect, but I slathered it all over my omelette and ruined breakfast. Take care with that hot sauce.

Because we’re not early-risers, sometimes we get to the market after the omelettes are gone. Part of the pleasure of farmers’ market Saturdays is the walk. We wave at the guys in Parkside Bikes, and sometimes pop in to ogle those lovely Linus bikes. Whether or not there are omelettes, we usually stop by Java for an ice coffee or crepe (on the non-omelette days) on the way home. Maybe it’s so hot we need to stop by Cumberland for a beer. A walk, flowers, and produce are just a good way to start the weekend.

31 Days of Louisville Love: El Mundo's Margaritas

July 11, 2014

While I’m on the theme of spirits, let’s talk about El Mundo’s margaritas.

As mentioned yesterday, margaritas were my favorite grown-up beverage before Peace Corps taught me gin was good, and Louisville taught me about bourbon. It can take a while to find a good margarita. Too many places use mix (I see you, Old Seelbach bar), some places use too much sugar (or maybe it’s too much mix). You’re better off just making your margarita at home.

But my homemade margaritas (which tend to be a little too tart) can’t compete with El Mundo’s. They’re so good. Fresh, not too sweet, and strong. Sneaky strong — their menu advises customers to stick to two per visit. I’ve heard some wild stories about what happens after too many of those margaritas, so despite the temptation, I’ve always followed their advice. El Mundo is not a short walk from my apartment.

I’m actually missing those margaritas now. It’s been a while since I’ve had one. Anyone want to grab one in the next few weeks?

Where is your favorite place for a margarita?

31 Days of Louisville Love: A Bunch of Bourbon

July 10, 2014

Before Louisville, I was not a bourbon drinker. I drank margaritas, gin and tonics, and wheat beer (mostly Blue Moon). I don’t remember my first bourbon drink. I remember my first whisky drink — it was in Paris in 2004, and I was very sure I wanted a whisky soda (“Are you sure you do not want a sex on the beach?” Ew, no, garçon). What I wanted was a whisky and coke, and that’s what I thought soda was. Maybe I should have had the fruity drink.

I like these, which I believe is a sign that I'm not a Kentucky native.

Anyway, I don’t remember my first bourbon in Kentucky, but I doubt I immediately loved it. I imagine it had to be iced down and sugared up. I imagine touring distilleries and hearing from tour guides about caramel and vanilla notes helped develop my taste. I only imagine, though, because now it’s hard to recall not loving bourbon. It’s what I want on your cocktail menu; it’s my go-to when I travel out of town. I love reading about it. I love learning about it. I’ll go on those distillery tours with any visitor who’s interested and regret that I haven’t visited all the distilleries on the Bourbon Trail yet.

I’m far from a bourbon-expert; I can never remember what exactly makes bourbon bourbon. But I know what’s not bourbon. I will miss living somewhere where the liquor stores have a wall of bourbon and staff who can tell me about their current favorite, affordable rye. We may be stocking bottles of Old Forrester in anticipation of the move (we only have one so far). I don’t know what the bourbon situation in Boston is, though this gives me hope. And they have Old Forrester everywhere, right? RIGHT?

31 Days of Louisville Love: Grind

July 9, 2014

When I moved here, I was mostly vegetarian (I ate seafood, and after Peace Corps, turkey on Thanksgiving). Then I decided I would occasionally eat meat. Hot wings were my downfall. Then ribs. And brisket. Basically, my meat-loving past caught up to me. My mother used to call me a “fleisch mutti” as a kid, which literally translates to “meat mother” and figuratively means “meat lover.” I think. Swiss German is weird.

But I have never been that big on burgers. Gabe took me to a some restaurants that are said to have Louisville’s best burger, but I usually felt I would have enjoyed something else more. And then I had my first non-veg Grind burger. I don’t remember what it was — probably the B&B (Brie! Still my favorite) — but I liked it. I didn’t regret the stomach space or the money spent on that burger. And I’m a repeat customer. And Liz knows how well we like our burgers done.

Now, because Grind has converted me on burgers, I will occasionally order a burger elsewhere. Those other burgers frequently leave me wishing they were Grind burgers. I’m excited for the brick-and-mortar business, because now I know where I can find the Huots and don’t have to chase the truck. But knowing where a Louisville restaurant is won’t help me get a burger fix in Boston. So who’s going to fill the Grind-void in Cambridge?