Derby Cuisine Kentucky's Best

Kentucky is known worldwide for it's derby which is being held today.However it's dishes also stand out as any thorough bred.They are rich in both flavor and tradition.The ingredients run from the tradition Kentucky brewed bourbon to seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. Kentucky cuisine is mix of German and Southern cooking.One section of it is across the Ohio River from the heavily Teutonic Cincinnati .There is goetta a kind of haggis that German immigrants brought to the frontier; it is a mix of oats and ground meat.Thyme along with bay leaf and Rosemary flavor it. Goetta is made in loaves and the slices are fried ,similar to the Pennsylvania scrapple.Syrups and jams are served with it however now most Kentuckians enjoy goetta burgers and dogs throughout the day.Sausage and beer are also family favorites.Southern cooking dominates the southern part of the state so dishes tendvto reflect mostly ham and biscuits.Cities such as Louisville and Lexington contributed some dishes like the famed Hot Brown and Benedictine sandwiches?The Hot Brown was invented at Louisville's famed Brown Hotel.This is a hot turkey sandwich with the addition of bacon and Mornay sauce.Benedictine is a cream cheese mixed with cucumber and served at another great Louisville hotel, the Benedict.It was probably used in tea sandwiches at the hotel teas at first but then became a state standard.Rolled oysters are another treat from this landlocked state.Developed by the Mazzoni family in their Louisville restaurant, it's three plump Gulf oysters dipped in batter and deepfied to golden perfection. A Kentucky is also known it's barbecue and other down home recipes. Most people like the open pit kind where. Chicken beef, and even mutton are roasted.Their barbecue sauces have a bite thanks to a heavy splash of vinegar.Barbecue is served with typical picnic fare such as onions, pickles cole slaw and potato salad. The state also was a frontier two hundred years ago and it's not uncommon to have a venison, possum or turtle dish.Burgoo, a variation of Brunswick stew is also made.This is a kind of thick potage made with any kind of meat ,from mutton to squirrel ,along with a melange of veggies such as corn,okra ,beans and potatoes.It is usually thickened with cornmeal or potato starch but sometimes wheat or oats arcaded.Any Kentucky meal should end in derby pie ,a walnut and chocolate confection laced with the state's signature liquer ,bourbon.This also figures in bourbon balls a scrumptious marriage of crushed cookies, Pecans and a good dose of their liquid gold.(or fire, depending upon your view). Celebrate Kentucky Derby Day with true Kentuck cuisine. Make a Hot Brown sandwich and follow up with a rich Derby pie. Enjoy a tangy mutton barbecue with a good swig of bourbon. this is the way Ketuckians party and party well.

The Perfect Derby Party

Tomorrow is Kentucky Derby Day and that means parties.Even though it's only twenty four hours away you can still throw a fun and tasty day to celebrate the first leg of the Triple Crown.It's also great way of tasting some traditional Kentucky foods too. They range the gamut from  rustic  to elegant,reflecting the dichotomy of the state.

Burgoo is the state dish  and this tasty stew is a variation of the traditional Brunswick stew (although it could also be a cousin of bouef bourguinon hence the name). It is a mix of different meats,with beef,chuck, pork and lamb and chickenbeing the preferred ingredients. It is an easy dish, not unlike chili to make and perfect for a crowd. Serve it with homemade biscuits to sop up the gravy.Another party food is the Hot Brown sandwich named for Louisville's famed Brown Hotel. This consists of turkey, tomato and bacon with a cheesy kind of bechamel sauce poured over it . There is also the benedictine , a delicate green tinted cucumber and onion tea sandwich.It's mixing cream cheese with the cukes and onions to create an  interesting nibble while watching the race.

Of course no Derby party would be complete without mint juleps. These libations are fun to drink and easy to create.. All you need is good Kentucky bourbon, a simple syrup and fresh picked (or bought ) spearmint leaves. Heat up granulated sugar and water in a sauce pan. While you're doing this bathe the leaves in the bourbon and then mix.Mint juleps should be served in a specially designed silver julep  cups but you can also serve in glass tumblers too. For a more festive and also larger crowd think about serving a bourbon punch.This is a heady mix of the state's liquor , brandy and benedictine, tempered by orange and lemon juices and seltzer.

Tomorrow is Derby Day.Celebrate it  with traditional Bluegrass State foods and drinks. You'll feel like you're there, if not physically then certainly in flavor!