Archive for the ‘Louisville’ Category
Well another year has come and gone and Pop Culture Cuisine is officially a two years old! This year our lives have changed dramatically in many ways, including the addition of a new family member. We also may not have traveled as far as in the past, but Adam and I still love finding new ways to seek out culinary hot spots wherever our travels take us. We have compiled a list of some of our favorite and not so favorite spots to share with you with links so you can read our reviews for yourself. We STILL love food and hope to continue to share lots of great finds with you all along the way.
Signature Dish:
1. Al’s Beef’s “Italian Beef Sandwich” – Chicago, IL
2. Kim & Scott’s Café Twist’s “Twist Your Own” – Chicago, IL
3. The Varsity’s “Chili Dog” – Atlanta, GA
Taste:
1. Hot Doug’s – Chicago, IL
2. Al’s Beef – Chicago, IL
3. The Depot American Diner – Chicago, IL
Ambiance:
1. The Walnut Room – Chicago, IL
2. Slow’s Bar-BQ – Detroit, MI
3. Lynn’s Paradise Café – Louisville, KY
Service:
1. Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap – Joe and his staff – Chicago, IL
2. Kouzzina – John – Orlando, FL
3. Emeril’s – Spencer – Orlando, FL
Price:
1. The Varsity – Atlanta, GA
2. Al’s Beef – Chicago, IL
3. South Side Soda Shop – Goshen, IN
Overall Top 5:
1. Al’s Beef – Chicago, IL
2. Hot Doug’s – Chicago, IL (A VERY close 2nd place)
3. The Walnut Room – Chicago, IL
4. Kouzzina – Orlando, FL
5. Emeril’s – Orlando, FL
Top 5 Biggest Letdowns…Not worth the Hype:
1. The Whale’s Rib – Deerfield Beach, FL
2. Brennan’s – New Orleans, LA
3. Camp Washington – Cincinnati, OH
4. Graeter’s – Cincinnati, OH
5. The Loveless Café – Nashville, TN
Best of the Rest…Honorable Mention:
Most Fun – Kim & Scott’s Café Twist – Chicago, IL
Most Memorable – Kouzzina – Orlando, FL
Most Worth the Wait – Hot Doug’s – Chicago, IL
Most Outrageous Dish – Bub’s Burgers – Carmel, IN
Best Excursion – Epcot International Food and Wine Festival – Orlando. FL
Best Sandwich (Burgers Included) – The Depot American Diner – Chicago, IL
Best Sweet Treat – Emeril’s – Orlando, FL
Entering our 3rd year of Pop Culture Cuisine, I think it’s time we finally heard from the other member of the PCC team…my husband Adam. He’s always been a big contributor to blog, but this time we hear from him personally. This past summer, he and my father took a trip to the Labrot & Graham-Woodford Reserve Distillery and took a tour; and since I wasn’t along for the trip but think it’s definitely PCC worthy, Adam’s agreed to fly this one solo….Enjoy!
Hello loyal PCC readers! I know…that is a very corny way to start, but I’m not exactly the blogger of the family. Still, I’m very happy to be talking to all of you and share something that is a passion of mine…bourbon! Any of you that know me know I’m not exaggerating on the ‘passion’ part; and what better way to kick off the New Year then how we typically celebrate…liquor. 
This past summer, my father-in-law and I got the pleasure of an afternoon at the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KY. Originally known as the Oscar Pepper Distillery, it was founded by Elijah Pepper in 1797, making it the oldest distillery in Kentucky, something special in and of itself. However, throughout the years it has come to be known for much more like its origination of the ‘Sour Mash’ and pot still distillation processes so imperative to bourbon making, and more recently as the “Official Bourbon” of the world famous Kentucky Derby. In essence…Woodford is a pretty big deal in the world of distilled spirits; so when Art (my father in law) suggested we go and do the tour…I was in.
Located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region, the area where the distillery (actually known as the Labrot & Graham-Woodford Reserve Distillery because of the company which ran the distillery for the majority of its history) is located is absolutely breathtaking, and the old limestone buildings that make up the distillery fit right in. Walking up to the main visitor’s center surrounded by the scenery of the old limestone structures set into wooded hills, I was very impressed and already in the “spirit.” What’s more impressive….the tour we were about to take is only $5.00!
The tour starts off at the old still house where you get a little tutorial about bourbon & the history of Woodford Reserve (bourbon is a heavily regulated spirit that must meet certain criteria to be called such).
Once inside the still house, they have a display of many of the old distilling equipment from the 1800’s which is pretty neat to see. The tour takes you through the still house and the steps it takes for grain & water to become bourbon.
You go from the mash bins, which that day were actually fermenting the mash (don’t get to close or you’ll pass out from the carbon dioxide!)…
…to the pot stills where the actual distilling process occurs…
…the area where they fill the bourbon into charred American white oak barrels for aging…
……the aging house, where the bourbon receives its character and flavor (all bourbon is originally clear before it is aged)…
And finally…the bottling area, where the final product is tested and finishing touches are put on to sell to you and me.
At the end of the day, this tour takes a good 45 minutes…worth every second! Seeing the process up close is kind of amazing and actually gave me a bigger respect for the industry. To stop and think…the process of taking a grain and turning it into a smooth flavorful liquid and something so many enjoy (responsibly) is pretty remarkable. I’m just glad I got to see it for myself.
SIGNATURE DISH: Bourbon. Woodford Reserve sells standard (and most common) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky (aged at least 6 years), their Master’s Collection (released once a year), and the Master Distiller’s ‘Personal Selection’ (must be ordered special each year).
TASTE: Although Woodford is not my favorite bourbon, many people swear by it…including my business partner and good friend, Neil Graves. It has a somewhat spicy finish, which is attributed to its above average Rye content. This is mostly what I don’t like about it, although for those that are Woodford drinkers, this is what sets it above the rest and makes it their “go to” drink….wouldn’t you agree Neil?
AMBIANCE: Of all the cuisine/distillery tours we’ve been on, this was easily the best…even better than the Anheuser –Busch tour. Perhaps it is because I’ve grown into such a bourbon enthusiast or the scenery where the distillery is. Regardless, it is a beautiful place and great tour!
PRICE: $5.00…How can you beat that!!! Definitely a bonus in my book…if only Woodford Reserve was that much in the store? 
SERVICE: Our tour guide was very informative and gave a great tour of the facility. Also, for those who are new to bourbon, she did a great job of explaining the basics. Finally, the best “service” was at the end, when we each got a free serving of their Straight Bourbon Whisky…and we even got to keep the shot glass!
In short…I really enjoyed the tour, plus it was good time with my father in law geeking out about bourbon & history, something we both really enjoy. So I’ll say it again, this process which allows us to “sip our corn” is kind of amazing…I’m just glad I got to see up close.
As an experience that I highly recommend…I give the Labrot & Graham-Woodford Reserve Distillery & Tour 5 ‘Little Piggies’
Can you believe Christmas is just around the corner? Amidst all the feedings, diapers, and helping Adam with work parties, the weeks of December have just flown by. I barely got to enjoy the fall and now I am preparing myself for the cold months ahead where we will be mostly home bound. During these winter months I like to daydream about fun trips and destinations that evoke the term paradise in my head; and while Louisville isn’t often what springs to mind as far as a paradise locale, they do have a restaurant that truly brings that thought to mind.
Lynn’s Paradise Café opened in 1991 as the venture of Lynn Winter, who as a former woodworker had great passion for art and creating things, but decided with a twist of fate to take on a new culinary fueled adventure. With her love of the creative, she sought to create a restaurant that not only was aesthetically interesting, AND I MEAN INTERESTING, but she began introducing new takes on food that are truly artistic in both their ingredients and appearance. Also, attached to the restaurant is a shop that boasts some of the most unique nifty-gifty stuff you will ever see, as well as a large assortment of hats and glasses that we all had a blast trying on..
Over the years the restaurant has continued to grow and thousands of people from around the country come to visit and try some of her winning creations every year. Lynn’s has been featured on Food Network’s “Best of,” Diner’s Drive-Ins & Dives, and Bobby Flay even paid Lynn a visit to offer a “Throwdown.”
So with my parents now living in Louisville, we knew on our first visit down there we would have to make sure Lynn’s received a visit. We had heard ahead of time that the wait can be a bit insane and that although it’s a large place, many MANY people go there on the weekends. We were also there with the whole family on a holiday weekend, so we were prepared for a possibly lengthy wait. Luckily, there is no shortage of fun things to look at and picture opportunities…
In total we waited about an hour to get seated, but looking at all the merchandise and trying on funny hats helped the time fly. Still, we were definitely hungry. We got to sit right next to a large tree smack-dab in the center of the restaurant, which truly displays how Lynn’s is an eclectic “paradise” if I ever saw one…bright colors, crazy décor, and odd shaped chair and tables throughout. You wonder if there is even one ounce of free wall or ceiling space? But I guess that’s what adds to whole atmosphere.
With a variety of interesting menu options, we all ordered and waited in anticipation. I will say it now… I once again ordered poorly. It wasn’t that my meal wasn’t good…, it was just that I really should have chosen something more exciting than the homemade granola, and after a couple of bites I was sort of sick of it and looking for other flavors. Luckily, Adam shared some bites of his meal with me, which was outstanding! His breakfast came with fried green tomatoes, which we both have now discovered are AWESOME…, something I would have never thought considering. I mean…I don’t like tomatoes, so I thought there would be no way I’d like fried green ones. Let just say…I WAS WRONG! These were so good I am now afraid I will measure any other fried green tomato against these and they just might never measure up. Lynn’s tomatoes also came with this dipping sauce that I can’t describe other than it added the perfect amount of creamy zing. His egg scramble was also pretty good; and their cheese grits….WOW! Also not a big grit fan…but Lynn’s is doing it in the yummiest way! In all, we all really seemed to enjoy our meals and I think almost everyone cleaned their plates.
SIGNATURE DISH: While they aren’t known for any one dish in particular, there are definitely a few that stand out as fun variations on classic dishes. Lynn’s French toast recipes and scrambles are definitely signature to her and more than worth the visit.
TASTE: I think we were all pretty blown away by the depth in flavor in each of our dishes; and while I said I was disappointed with my order, it wasn’t because it wasn’t good…far from it. Actually, it was some of the best granola I’ve had, I just needed more flavors to accompany it. Lucky for me, the meals are all large and I was able to get bites from other people’s…which were all good!
AMBIANCE: This is really what makes Lynn’s. The décor is SOOO fun. Our table literally was curved around a giant tree in the middle of the restaurant! Also, there is plenty of unique artwork and other fun kitschy features hanging throughout the whole place that you are never bored with your surroundings; and while it makes it a tad difficult to maneuver through it all, it is truly what makes the overall appeal.
PRICE: Definitely more than your good ol’ IHOP or Denny’s type place. For our family of 7, it was over $100; which I guess isn’t terrible considering you’re in the city. Plus, the food was well worth it. It was homemade, hearty and wholesome. In my world, you pay a little extra for the special touches and non-preserved ingredients.
SERVICE: Our waitress was super friendly and very helpful. Like her surroundings, she also had some eclectic body décor, which I got the sense that many of their wait staff had as this restaurant is pretty funky. Our meals came out quick and given the crazy amount of people scattered throughout the restaurant, the wait staff was well equipped to deal.
Lynn’s boasts quite the unique environment and possibly the type of dining atmosphere you don’t run into on a day to day basis. Although it is pretty “out there” as far as style is concerned, this does not seem to deter any patron from enjoying the whole experience. So whether it is the décor, the store, or the food that is drawing the people in (or all 3), you will witness a variety of visitors that truly LOVE Lynn’s! We were no different.
Lynn’s was the perfect ending to a great trip to Louisville and I hope I am able to return again soon, if for nothing else than to get my fried green tomato fix! I’m proud to give this local favorite, Lynn’s Paradise Café 4 ‘Little Piggies’
