BY JANET STEINBERG
Part 3 of a Series
Hot Browns and
Po-Boys…fried green tomatoes and bourbon pie!
Po-Boys…fried green tomatoes and bourbon pie!
The dining
scene in small-town Frankfort, Kentucky (the 4th smallest
capital city in the US) is down-home, yet down right delicious. On a
recent visit, I did not find sophisticated restaurants with Michelin stars,
starched linen tablecloths, and white-gloved waiters. However, what
I did find were fun diners, locally owned bistros, and Mom & Pop
restaurants, with food that would please even the most sophisticated
palate. My first dinner in Frankfort had to be that of the traditional
Kentucky favorite, the Hot Brown.
scene in small-town Frankfort, Kentucky (the 4th smallest
capital city in the US) is down-home, yet down right delicious. On a
recent visit, I did not find sophisticated restaurants with Michelin stars,
starched linen tablecloths, and white-gloved waiters. However, what
I did find were fun diners, locally owned bistros, and Mom & Pop
restaurants, with food that would please even the most sophisticated
palate. My first dinner in Frankfort had to be that of the traditional
Kentucky favorite, the Hot Brown.
HOT BROWN is not a fashion statement…not a
trendy color to wear to an autumn dinner party. Hot Brown is dinner! It
is a culinary concoction dating back to the 1920’s when it was created at the
Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. The Hot Brown has survived for
almost a century and has since become a ‘Kentucky Thing’.
trendy color to wear to an autumn dinner party. Hot Brown is dinner! It
is a culinary concoction dating back to the 1920’s when it was created at the
Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. The Hot Brown has survived for
almost a century and has since become a ‘Kentucky Thing’.
 |
| GIBBY’S HOT BROWN |
In Frankfort, this open-faced, magical
meld of turkey, fresh tomato slices, creamy white cheese sauce and finished off
with cheddar cheese and bacon, is the
signature dish at GIBBY’S, a laid –back, family-owned restaurant that
reputedly serves the Best Hot Brown in Frankfort. And, of course,
the traditional Kentucky Hot Brown should be paired with Kentucky Bourbon
Barrel Ale, a unique sipping beer that is aged in freshly decanted bourbon
barrels from Kentucky distilleries.
meld of turkey, fresh tomato slices, creamy white cheese sauce and finished off
with cheddar cheese and bacon, is the
signature dish at GIBBY’S, a laid –back, family-owned restaurant that
reputedly serves the Best Hot Brown in Frankfort. And, of course,
the traditional Kentucky Hot Brown should be paired with Kentucky Bourbon
Barrel Ale, a unique sipping beer that is aged in freshly decanted bourbon
barrels from Kentucky distilleries.
Michael Gibson established Gibby’s in
1955 when he was 23 years old. Michael had nothing more than a dream, a
few years of food industry experience and a credit card with a $500 limit.
Gibby’s started as a walk-in, carryout establishment that shared its space with
a local donut store. Once customers were established, Michael began
expanding. Gibby’s opened in its current location in 2004 and has
remained a Frankfort favorite ever since. The affable Michael Gibson’s
philosophy is commitment to excellence…following Henry Ford’s statement that
“quality means doing it right when no one is looking”.
1955 when he was 23 years old. Michael had nothing more than a dream, a
few years of food industry experience and a credit card with a $500 limit.
Gibby’s started as a walk-in, carryout establishment that shared its space with
a local donut store. Once customers were established, Michael began
expanding. Gibby’s opened in its current location in 2004 and has
remained a Frankfort favorite ever since. The affable Michael Gibson’s
philosophy is commitment to excellence…following Henry Ford’s statement that
“quality means doing it right when no one is looking”.
 |
| THE AFFABLE MICHAEL GIBSON |
PO-BOYS are a must-try at RICK’S WHITE LIGHT
DINER located in the Frankfort Historic District. There’s the Scallop
Po-Boy, the Shrimp Po-Boy, the Cajun Andouille Sausage Po-Boy, the Alligator
Po-Boy and the Oyster Po-Boy. I couldn’t try them all, but as the saying goes:
“You pays your money and youtakes your choice”.
DINER located in the Frankfort Historic District. There’s the Scallop
Po-Boy, the Shrimp Po-Boy, the Cajun Andouille Sausage Po-Boy, the Alligator
Po-Boy and the Oyster Po-Boy. I couldn’t try them all, but as the saying goes:
“You pays your money and youtakes your choice”.
 |
| OYSTER PO-BOY AT RICK’S |
Once featured
on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, Rick’s White Light Diner is small,
offbeat and quirky. It is also good eating’ and fun! In his
kitschy, memorabilia-decorated diner, Chef/owner Rick Paul has captured the
spirit of popular Cajun and Creole dishes. RICK’S is a culinary
experience…a fun happening. However, be advised that restrooms are not
accessible (down basement steps) and, when I asked for a glass of water, I was
presented with a plastic bottle of water and a $2 water charge on my bill.
on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, Rick’s White Light Diner is small,
offbeat and quirky. It is also good eating’ and fun! In his
kitschy, memorabilia-decorated diner, Chef/owner Rick Paul has captured the
spirit of popular Cajun and Creole dishes. RICK’S is a culinary
experience…a fun happening. However, be advised that restrooms are not
accessible (down basement steps) and, when I asked for a glass of water, I was
presented with a plastic bottle of water and a $2 water charge on my bill.
 |
| RICK’S WHITE LIGHT DINER IS OFFBEAT AND QUIRKY |
FRIED GREEN
TOMATOES: The best ever
Fried Green Tomatoes, with Roasted Tomato Jam and a Balsamic reduction, are
served up at SERAFINI RESTAURANT, a Frankfort favorite that has
topped the city’s restaurant list for fourteen years. Two appetizers…the
Fried Green Tomatoes, and an order of Fried Oysters, served with a yummy chili
plum sauce, were more than enough for a memorable dinner.
TOMATOES: The best ever
Fried Green Tomatoes, with Roasted Tomato Jam and a Balsamic reduction, are
served up at SERAFINI RESTAURANT, a Frankfort favorite that has
topped the city’s restaurant list for fourteen years. Two appetizers…the
Fried Green Tomatoes, and an order of Fried Oysters, served with a yummy chili
plum sauce, were more than enough for a memorable dinner.
 |
| SERAFINI’S FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AND FRIED OYSTERS |
While the
elegant proprietor Wayne Masterson (who also owns Portofino in Lexington,
Kentucky) is the restaurateur often selected to orchestrate Kentucky State
Dinners, it was the affable manager/bartender Carlos Ceballos who poured me my
first tastes of Kentucky Moonshine with names like Buffalo Trace White Dog,
Devil John No. 9, Jim Beam Jacob’s Ghost and MBR Blackdog. Frankly, I’ll
stick to bourbon!
elegant proprietor Wayne Masterson (who also owns Portofino in Lexington,
Kentucky) is the restaurateur often selected to orchestrate Kentucky State
Dinners, it was the affable manager/bartender Carlos Ceballos who poured me my
first tastes of Kentucky Moonshine with names like Buffalo Trace White Dog,
Devil John No. 9, Jim Beam Jacob’s Ghost and MBR Blackdog. Frankly, I’ll
stick to bourbon!
 |
| CARLOS CEBALLOS OFFERS A CHOICE OF KENTUCKY MOONSHINE |
BOURBON
BALLS are a Southern delicacy, invented by Ruth Hanley Booe of
Rebecca Ruth Candy in 1938. Today, REBECCA RUTH CANDIES still uses recipes from the early 1900’s to make their
famous 100-proof candy. Rebecca Ruth’s bite-sized confections were the first
candy to incorporate bourbon
and dark
chocolate. Rebecca Ruth Candy is still a Booe family-run
business. The younger generations have expanded
the factory, included factory tours, increased candy production and developed
additional liquor-filled chocolates, including rum, scotch, cognac, and
Kentucky Irish Coffee.
BALLS are a Southern delicacy, invented by Ruth Hanley Booe of
Rebecca Ruth Candy in 1938. Today, REBECCA RUTH CANDIES still uses recipes from the early 1900’s to make their
famous 100-proof candy. Rebecca Ruth’s bite-sized confections were the first
candy to incorporate bourbon
and dark
chocolate. Rebecca Ruth Candy is still a Booe family-run
business. The younger generations have expanded
the factory, included factory tours, increased candy production and developed
additional liquor-filled chocolates, including rum, scotch, cognac, and
Kentucky Irish Coffee.
 |
| FACTORY TOURS AVAILABLE AT REBECCA RUTH |
At Rebecca
Ruth you can also assuage your sweet tooth with other boozy treats such as crunchy, sweet BOURBON BRITTLE that comes in
2-ounce bags or a 16-pack of individually bagged brittle made with your choice
of bourbon brands. The Triple Crown Assortment packs a boastful supply of
their famous Bourbon Ball chocolates with an assortment of liquor-free milk
chocolates and an assortment of liquor-free dark chocolates. A complete
triumvirate to satisfy every taste.
Ruth you can also assuage your sweet tooth with other boozy treats such as crunchy, sweet BOURBON BRITTLE that comes in
2-ounce bags or a 16-pack of individually bagged brittle made with your choice
of bourbon brands. The Triple Crown Assortment packs a boastful supply of
their famous Bourbon Ball chocolates with an assortment of liquor-free milk
chocolates and an assortment of liquor-free dark chocolates. A complete
triumvirate to satisfy every taste.
 |
| BOURBON CANDY FOR EVERY TASTE AT REBECCA RUTH |
If perchance
you are bourbon-ed out by now, take time out for a great Mexican meal at LA
FIESTA GRANDE, a colorful, happy place on St. Clair Street in downtown
Frankfort. The SHRIMP FAJITAS are worth the time and the very
reasonable price. They are served on a sizzling platter with sautéed
onions, and green peppers, garnished with lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo,
and sour cream, and served with Mexican rice, refried beans and plenty of flour
tortillas.
you are bourbon-ed out by now, take time out for a great Mexican meal at LA
FIESTA GRANDE, a colorful, happy place on St. Clair Street in downtown
Frankfort. The SHRIMP FAJITAS are worth the time and the very
reasonable price. They are served on a sizzling platter with sautéed
onions, and green peppers, garnished with lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo,
and sour cream, and served with Mexican rice, refried beans and plenty of flour
tortillas.
 |
| LA FIESTA GRANDE…A COLORFUL, HAPPY PLACE |
Top off your
meal with an order of SOPAPILLA…a flour tortilla
deep-fried to a golden brown and topped with sugar, cinnamon, whipped cream and
chocolate.
meal with an order of SOPAPILLA…a flour tortilla
deep-fried to a golden brown and topped with sugar, cinnamon, whipped cream and
chocolate.
 |
|
SOPAPILLA AT LA FIESTA GRANDE
|
Just in case
you haven’t had enough bourbon by now, you can always make one last stop at BOURBON
ON MAIN, located on the Kentucky River in Historic Downtown
Frankfort. Bourbon on Main is the dream of Frankfort natives who live and
breathe bourbon and love to share their passion.
When in
Frankfort, just say the word. You name it, and they’ll put bourbon in
it!
Frankfort, just say the word. You name it, and they’ll put bourbon in
it!
PHOTOS by
JANET STEINBERG
JANET STEINBERG
JANET
STEINBERG is the winner of 43 national Travel Writer Awards and is a Travel
Consultant with The Travel Authority in Cincinnati, Ohio
STEINBERG is the winner of 43 national Travel Writer Awards and is a Travel
Consultant with The Travel Authority in Cincinnati, Ohio