My husband, Michael, and I did eat breakfast there this morning and I was very pleasantly surprised.  I had no idea they even served breakfast! Pancakes sounded outrageously good to me this morning, so I ordered the pancakes meal with a side of bacon. The meal included a couple of eggs (I take mine over easy and they were done to absolute perfection). The bacon was even better than the eggs… and there was so much of it!

My husband got grits, biscuit and gravy, ham, and eggs. Like the bacon, the ham was off the charts. I was really impressed with the generous portions they serve. Very nice – especially at a time that most restaurants seem to be skimping each and every time they plate your food.

The coffee was darn good, too.

I loved the decor – the diner’s all decked out in 50′s splendor. If you’ve ever been to my Hollywood Yesterday website, you’ll know what I mean when I say I was in absolute Heaven.

The staff couldn’t have been any friendlier or happy to see their guests if the guests had been long lost relatives. These are the sort of people you think of when you think of Southern hospitality and “Kentucky warmth.” And the prices?! Michael and I were both shocked at how reasonable the prices were.

Quite frankly, I’m really proud to have an extra special diner like Bee Bops here in Owensboro. Make a point to visit Bee Bops for lunch OR breakfast as soon as you can. I know it’ll become a favorite spot.

Directions To Bee Bops in Downtown Owensboro:

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Such a dirty rotten job I have here at Genuine Kentucky.  I have to sit at my computer in my home – with my overweight cat Alexa and my overly-filled coffee cup nearby… one on each side.  I have to write, play with pictures and videos, chit chat people up in e-mail and on Twitter.  I have to travel to ridiculously beautiful places within our ridiculously beautiful state and I have to eat at restaurants with food so Heavenly you expect Gabriel to carry it out.

Somebody pinch me.

My husband and I returned to the scene of a culinary crime (at least it ought to be against the law for a steak to taste so good):  Main Street Java.  Click the link I’m about to drop in your lap for my original review of  Main Street Java in Benton, Kentucky.

Our server this time was a beautiful young girl who was as sweet as you’d expect a southern girl to be. Her name was Jocelyn and she reminded me of a very young Jennifer Love Hewitt (one of the loveliest actresses of all time in my opinion).  We ordered the Spinach Artichoke dip for an appetizer this time.  Doing so is always a risk.  Why?  I’m a cook.  Okay, you twisted my arm, I’ll admit it – I’m a great cook.  I love cooking and have been honing my craft for many years.

Guess what one of my best dishes happens to be:  Spinach Artichoke Dip.  Which is why I have trouble reviewing Spinach Artichoke Dip – I happen to be so totally in love with my own (it’s taken a few years of tweaking, testing different cheeses, different amounts of garlic, and so on to get it to the amazing dish it is today) that other’s attempts sometimes make me go, “Blah.”

I’m thrilled to report that I loved Main Street Java’s Spinach Artichoke Dip.  I loved that it’s served with toast points too.  This dip was very creamy and the toast points make a perfect chariot.

I ordered the steak, green beans, and mashed potatoes.  I wanted to branch out and try something different, but these green beans are so ridiculously delicious I couldn’t bring myself to say anything else.  My husband, however, did mix things up.  He had the mixed vegetables and Chicken with “Swamp Sauce.”

The mixed vegetables were exceptional.  Many times, in a restaurant, you’ll get mixed vegetables that taste like you just strolled out to the garden on a hot summer day and picked a few carrots along with a couple of bites of cauliflower and broccoli.  Now, I love vegetables as much as the next person, but I don’t necessarily always want the garden harvest type of flavor.

Main Street Java’s mixed vegetables taste like you picked the vegetables in your garden then gave them to a chef off of The Food Network to prepare for you.   They’re so good, I’d even consider stepping away from my green beans on the next trip.

Maybe. (Try the green beans and you’ll understand their mojo.)

We also got the Chocolate Eruption for dessert – yes, again.  I’m not even going to apologize for it either.  I’m the world’s biggest chocoholic, what in the world do you expect?!

Instead of coffee, this time, I got another HUGE addiction of mine: Chai Tea Latte.  Yeah, baby!  Delicious. I noticed on the menu that Main Street Java uses Tazo tea.. just like my beloved Starbucks.  Great call. No wonder their iced tea is so exceptional and no wonder I was left wondering if I could fit my head into my cup of Chai Tea Latte long enough to lick the walls.

I decided that was a NO.

On this trip, we also found out that Main Street Java also serves breakfast and lunch.  Good news!

If you’re looking for a great place to eat in the Land Between the Lakes area, consider yourself armed with the answer and pointed in the direction.  Tell them the chocoholic from Genuine Kentucky sent you.

Alexa and I just put together the slide show below to pay tribute to Main Street Java.  Normally, my husband does the slide shows and handles the audio but his job has led him to spend the day in Paducah.   Hopefully, he won’t come home and find a million and one things I did wrong with this video.

The pictures for the slide show are from Main Street Java’s Website and the audio is from an MP3 I had my husband had featuring a medley of the outstanding musicians at Grand Rivers Variety (I just love them!).   You’ll have to click PLAY to make the audio play – Alexa and I can’t for the life of us figure out how to make it automatically start up.  She had a couple of ideas but they didn’t pan out.

Enjoy!

[slidepress gallery='main-street-java']

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In between football games yesterday I read the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. There was a story that especially caught my eye (and stomach).   A retro ’50s diner is coming to downtown Owensboro and plans to open in time for Barbecue Fest (May 7-8).  Is anything cooler than ’50s decor or the type of delicious food served in these types of diners?!

There’s a real buzz of excitement about our downtown area here in Owensboro, Kentucky.   While we’re all still emotionally smarting over the Executive Inn, we have plenty to look forward to on our beautiful waterfront and downtown area.   Bee Bops is the latest in a string of promising good times headed our way.

According to the story, Bee Bops will have a 32-foot counter with stools and counter service in addition to booths and table service. You can expect to see a lot of the colors and decor of  the ’50s including walls decorated with James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley (for an example of how much I love these stars and others of their time, check out my Hollywood Yesterday blog).  The floors will apparently be like something right out of Happy Days – black and white.

As for the main event… the food…. Bee Bops will serve old fashioned milk shakes, malts, root beer floats, limeade, and burgers.

I love the quote from the director of downtown development, Fred Reeves: “The downtown restaurants are anxious to have more places to eat down here.  A rising tide lifts all boats.”  The tide of anticipation is certainly rising in downtown Owensboro and the residents can’t wait to see it all play out.

Bee Bops will be located at 122 W. Second Street and I’ll be there drinking chocolate milkshakes as fast as they can make them.

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I just added a new category here on Genuine Kentucky: Downtown Kentucky.  What can I say?  I’ve fallen head over heels in love with downtowns!

Downtowns are like comfort food, warm blankets, It’s a Wonderful Life, and coffee in your favorite mug.  They’re a beautiful reminder of a simpler time. When grandparents strolled along, hand in hand, with their grandchildren, headed for the best ice cream cone in town.  When young ladies stared into store windows picturing themselves in the bridal gowns on display.  Where boys, of all ages, steamed up the glass of toy store windows!

When I visit a great downtown, I feel like Natalie Wood’s character in Miracle on 34th Street as she watched the Christmas parade – it’s complete rapture.

Our beautiful state of Kentucky features some remarkable downtowns and we plan to visit as many as possible.  We’ll provide pictures, reviews, videos, and all the information you’ll need.  We’ve added a few videos featuring downtown Paducah, Kentucky and I’m working on a video featuring Owensboro, Kentucky’s downtown – home sweet home.  One of the crown jewels of our downtown, The Executive Inn, no longer shines brightly.  It’s actually pretty sad to most of us, but make no mistake about it:  There’s still plenty to love in downtown Owensboro, Kentucky!

If you know of a special downtown in Kentucky or would like to recommend a specific  coffehouse, diner, shop, bakery, etc. that’s located downtown – please e-mail me at joisigers@aim.com.  I absolutely love getting e-mails from all of you and appreciate the information you share.

I look forward to you joining us as we go downtown!

* The beautiful guy at the top of the post is my buddy, a gorgeous Bison statue (Into the Wind) near downtown Owensboro, Kentucky.  The bison is one of my favorite animals, I think they are simply majestic and beautiful.  I actually collect stuffed bison and bison figurines.  As of now, the husband and our cats frown on the prospect of live bison in our yard.  Eh, party poopers.

*  The beauty below is Love Song.  This amazing work of art graces Second Street in Owensboro, Kentucky.  I drive out of my way when I’m in this area just to see Love Song – it’s just remarkable.  It’s not a bison, but it’s remarkalbe nonetheless.

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I’m glad someone didn’t listen when their mother said, “Don’t draw in the walls!” If you’ve never been to the riverfront in Downtown Paducah, Kentucky – you have to go. That’s all there is to it. Notice how I didn’t give you any options or present you with an “out..” Go if you get a chance or I hope you’ll visit Paducah Kentucky one day. No, none of that mansy pansy stuff.

You. Have. To. Go.

Downtown Paducah, Kentucky is an amazing place and you’ll love every little inch. The artistic walls along the riverfront are unlike anything I’ve ever seen – and I rode a public train once from Gary, Indiana to Chicago, Illinois once. Honey, I’ve seen it all.

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