These 9 Kentucky Restaurants Dish Up The Most Unique Hot Browns
By Sarah McCosham|Published August 06, 2021
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
There’s perhaps no dish more quintessentially Kentucky than the hot brown. Originating at Louisville’s eponymous Brown Hotel in the 1920s, this open-faced turkey-and-cheese melt was created by Chef Fred Schmidt as a comforting and hearty midnight snack for the hotel’s tired musicians and performers. A century later, the hot brown has become one of the most iconic dishes in the Bluegrass State… and every Kentuckian’s surefire cure for a hangover! While this dish can be found all throughout the state, there are some restaurants that have taken the hot brown to another level, creating unique variations that are just as delicious and crave-worthy as the original. These nine Kentucky restaurants dish up the most unique hot browns in the state, and you’ll definitely want to try them all!
What do you get when you combine a Top Chef with an iconic Kentucky dish? This delicious dish! Chef Sara's version starts with a thick slice of garlic toast from Kirchhoff’s, topped with a butter-poached sweet tea brined chicken breast, doused in Mornay sauce, and covered with parmesan, an heirloom tomato, and griddled pork belly. Yes, please!
The hot brown panini at Kentucky Derby Museum is essentially a mix between a next-level grilled cheese and Cuban sandwich, and it's every bit as delicious as it looks.
The hot brown from Patti's 1880's Settlement is #foodgoals. This open-faced sandwich is made with Patti's toasted homemade bread, layered with black forest ham, mesquite smoked turkey, tomato, and homemade cheese sauce. What takes this hot brown over the top is that it's baked and served with a slice of hickory smoked bacon *and* Patti's homemade potato chips, for the ultimate crave-worthy, salty-sweet-savory-crunchy-creamy experience.
A hot brown pizza? Absolutely! This only-in-Kentucky 'za from Sicilian's Pizza and Pasta is legendary, and features roasted turkey, bacon, and tomatoes piled high atop a creamy cheddar sauce.
Biscuits and gravy is a Southern staple, and Louisville's Biscuit Belly does the hot brown right with this creative version. Instead of toast, this open-faced dish is built upon flaky, buttery biscuits, and the result is the most swoon-worthy Southern breakfast ever.
Hot brown, but make it a burger. This spin on an all-American classic is absolutely divine, and will have you returning to Parkette Drive In again and again!
How do you make a hot brown even more Southern? You top it with a delicious fried green tomato, that's how! Otto's in Covington really takes this classic dish to a whole new level of deliciousness.
Located just down the road from Brown Hotel, Bluegrass Brewing Company has been hailed as having one of the top hot browns in the state. Their version stays very true to the original, and we are not going to play favorites here, because in our humble opinion, there's room for all sorts of hot browns in Kentucky.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy a hot brown? As a pizza or a panini? Or are you a traditionalist? Share your favorite place to grab a hot brown in Kentucky in the comments below!
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