Penzeys Spices plans to open a store in Louisville’s Shelbyville Road Plaza in March. For anyone who’s used its first-rate products, this is huge news. For anyone who doesn’t know about Penzeys but cooks, keep reading. You’re going to be happy. The announcement came sort-of unofficially in an email I received from Penzeys today. It […]
Start your weekend at Brown Hotel bar with bargain-priced bubbly and small plates
Love really good champagne but can’t justify the price of a full bottle—or drive home safely if you splurge? Then consider visiting the Brown Hotel’s Lobby Bar (335 W. Broadway) any Friday between today and Feb. 24 for its “Celebrate the Bubbly” deal, served from 4-7 p.m. The bar is pouring three champagnes rarely, if […]
Southern Living vote loss mystery chalked up to duplicate votes — for now
Insider Louisville readers, you are a persistent lot! Since I last blogged about how 6,000 Louisville votes disappeared (take note, TV newscasters and reporters, it’s “disappeared,” never “went missing”) in Southern Living magazine’s South’s Tastiest town contest, you have asked daily, “Have we been dissed? Have our votes been missed?” Since Southern Living is owned […]
Louisville loses 6,000 votes in controversial Southern Living Tastiest Town contest
In less than a week, controversy has erupted over Southern Living magazine’s South’s Tastiest Town online vote-off. The contest has become a heated duel between Louisville and Lafayette, La. — that’s right, Lafayette, not New Orleans, which is far behind in the poll — and the two communities are pulling hard for their own. The […]
Rye sneak peek reveals beautiful restaurant, a few tastes of the menu—but no pictures!
Last night’s sneak peek party at Rye (900 E. Market) was designed to give the small and invitation-only crowd just a taste of what’s to come when it opens officially on Tuesday, Jan. 3. And it achieved that. Not only was manager Erin McDonald not overly forthcoming with details about the establishment (plus, she was […]
The name ‘Tim Tebow’ is terrible only because it’s connected to Christ’s
Last week I was reading the blog of my longtime friend, Rick Redding, and noticed he wrote this about Denver Broncos’ quarterback Tim Tebow: “I hate that guy.” Wow! Hate? Strong stuff. I knew he wasn’t the only one with such splenetic distaste for Tebow, so I emailed him and asked, basically, “Why hate?” Redding […]
Louisville restaurants and chefs gaining notoriety lately in national media
There’s a whole lotta love being showered these days on Louisville restaurants and chefs in some prominent media outlets. This is important for two reasons: It shows outsiders what remarkable culinary talent and offerings we have here; but perhaps most importantly, such “expert out-of-towner” praise might get local officials and media to see that our […]
Bowling Green’s Corsair Artisan Distillery producing Kentucky’s finest gin — yes gin!
Ever heard of Corsair Artisan Distillery? The award-winning micro-distiller of gins, bourbons and rums that’s located in Bowling Green, Ky.? Not ringing a bell, right? But if you do know of it, you’re among the pleasured minority who knows about the terrific sippers being made in an old brick warehouse just blocks from Western Kentucky […]
American Culinary Federation’s picks questionable top 20 menu trends for 2012
Despite this being the “most wonderful time of the year” for many, including me, maybe my least favorite thing is the torrent of “top trends” lists delivered in December. Many lists are filled with blind guesses, blatant attempts to trigger a trend or, well, just plain ignorance of what’s really happening. The American Culinary Federation’s […]
Harris Poll says diners cutting back; evidence visible in Louisville restaurants
A new Harris Poll released on December 13 says despite the slowly recovering economy, Americans plan to spend less in restaurants through mid-2012. According to a report in Nation’s Restaurant News, the survey polled 2,499 adults in November and found 61 percent of respondents expecting to decrease restaurant spending next year. Another 58 percent expect […]
