These 10 Restaurants Serve The Best Hot Brown In Kentucky
By Jenn Shockley|Published January 19, 2016
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
The Kentucky Hot Brown is a famed dish in the Bluegrass State. It is an open faced turkey sandwich initially created by Chef Fred K Schmidt in 1926 at the Brown Hotel in Downtown Louisville. This delicious turkey treat is a unique variation of the English dish, the Welsh rarebit. The chef made it as an alternative to the egg and ham late night sandwich for guests. He wanted The Brown to stand out, and that is exactly what happened after guests tried this amazing dish. It starts out with toast tips, or toasted bread depending on where you go. The bread is piled high with turkey, bacon and a few tomatoes. Then, it is covered in a mouthwatering Mornay Sauce. Some establishments use a simple cheddar or American cheese sauce instead of the Mornay. Occasionally one will find a place that adds pimentos, or sautéed mushrooms instead of (or with) the tomatoes. Personally, I prefer the Mornay and tomatoes instead. There is even a version where canned peaches are used… but it could be just a rumor, as I haven’t found anywhere that serves it that way.
Here are 10 restaurants to enjoy a mouthwatering Kentucky Hot Brown:
This delightful venue at 313 Fairfield Avenue in Covington has a wonderful version of the Hot Brown that includes a mild cheddar sauce and sliced cherry tomatoes. It is a different taste from the Mornay sauce, but the aromatic blend is still incredibly delicious.
This restaurant at 830 Phillips Lane uses a rich, cheddar sauce instead of a Mornay. They also add mushrooms and often accompany the Hot Brown with a side dish, like broccoli. It is truly a delicious example of an alternate Hot Brown. Their shrimp and grits is also quite tasty.
The Hot Brown at BBC is hot, fresh and appears to have a mix of cheese included in the sauce. It has a fantastic creamy cheese flavor that combines nicely with the slightly smoky taste of turkey. There are several locations including 3929 Shelbyville Road and 304 W. Main Street.
This higher end restaurant at 614 W. Main Street offers a nice variety of food, including vegetarian fair. The Hot Brown on their menu is classic, other than a sprinkling of fried onion, and leaves patrons looking forward to a return visit.
The Hot Brown here is cooked fresh to order, so it takes around 20 minutes prior to serving. It is well worth the wait after the creamy sauce, turkey and bacon explode with a burst of flavor in your mouth. This Café at 10217 Watterson Trail is somewhat small and closes around 3 pm daily, but the food is worth any time constraints.
This deli at 143 Jefferson Street in Lexington takes us back to basics with a delicious Hot Brown with traditional Mornay sauce, accompanied by chips and a pickle. That is not usually served with this open faced sandwich, but at Stella’s, it just seems right.
This friendly restaurant at 348 Southland Drive in Lexington is said to have the best Hot Browns in Lexington. Once you taste it, you might have to agree. Instead of just a small quantity of diced tomatoes, this Hot Brown comes with 2 ripe slices of fresh tomato. The sauce is not the classic Mornay, but has a wonderfully cheesy flavor that blends perfectly with the toast, turkey and bacon.
This hidden gem at 204 S. Spring Street is a great place to spend an evening and experience a delicious version of the Hot Brown. The creamy Mornay is perfect topped with bacon crumbles and fresh chunks of tomato. The bread is still fluffy even after being baked under the sauce. This is a must have more than once dining experience.
This wonderful restaurant at 1058 Bardstown Road has a different presentation for their Hot Brown. Instead of being served in hot bowl, like many establishments, theirs is served on a plate. The sandwich is given a slight lean so all the layers are visible. This doesn’t change the fact it has that delightful, rich, creamy sauce and melt in your mouth turkey, bacon, bread and tomato. We have visited this establishment quite often over the past few years, and the service and food tends to be wonderful. Tommy ensures that any problems are quickly rectified and customers always leave with a smile.
Sometimes going with the original at 335 W. Broadway, is the best option. The Brown Hotel has been making their signature sandwich for almost a century, and the end result is always melt in your mouth delicious. The original recipe, for those who’d like to make it at home, can be found here
The Bluegrass State has a fantastic variety of southern foods, but the Brown Hotel’s signature sandwich made a wonderful impression on all who have enjoyed it since 1926. These restaurants and diners are just a few that serve the delicious open face meals. I looked though quite a few towns and didn’t see Hot Brown getting any attention, despite the fact that it melts in your mouth. Thus, I call out to you, the readers, to spread the word of the Hot Brown all across the state. Where is your favorite place to enjoy a Hot Brown, and is there anything unique about it?
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