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Kentucky Crafted: The Market is Number One Again

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For the Third Year in a Row!

Kentucky Crafted: The MarketKentucky Crafted: The Market, which is coming to the Lexington Convention Center this weekend, has been voted as No. 1 in the nation for the third consecutive year by the readers of AmericanStyle magazine. No other American craft fair can make that claim. This is AmericanStyle’s eighth annual Fairs and Festivals competition, and Kentucky Crafted: The Market has been in the top spot four of the past five years.

“Kentucky Crafted maintains a lock on the top spot for the third year in a row, proving you can’t beat its ‘bluegrass blend’ of traditional and contemporary fine craft,” writes Kat McKerrow of AmericanStyle magazine, the leading journal for fine craft collectors in North America.

Kentucky Crafted: The Market – where tradition meets cutting edge – features more than 150 artists offering shoppers jewelry, wearable art, home decor, furniture, paintings, prints, photographs and artisan foods along with Kentucky-related books, CDs and DVDs. The Market also brings an exciting lineup of hourly performances by musicians to the Kentucky Stage and offers workshops and hands-on activities.
Kentucky Crafted: The Market
Lexington Convention Center, Lexington, Ky.

Saturday, March 3, 2012 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST
Sunday, March 4, 2012

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST

One-day ticket: $10
Two-day ticket: $15

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Filed Under: Featured, Lexington, New, News

It’s Always the Right Time for Cracker Barrel in Owensboro Kentucky

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For Breakfast, Lunch, or Supper!

Cracker Barrel in Owensboro KentuckyCracker Barrel Breakfast: Perfect any time of the day or night.

It occurred to me a few days ago that I’ve never actually done a restaurant review for one of my favorite places to eat in Owensboro – or any town for that matter: Cracker Barrel!  I have no idea why but I’ve eaten at Cracker Barrels (especially the one in my hometown of Owensboro) about a gazillion and six times since I began doing Kentucky restaurant reviews.

And never once wrote one for Cracker Barrel.

That’s messed up! But I”m going to right that wrong here and now. Cracker Barrel isn’t just a restaurant in the south, it’s a Southern institution, and one that we’re incredibly proud of.  The menu is diverse – more so than the majority of restaurants.  Think about it, not only can you order amazing breakfasts any time of the day or night, you can have your choice of a great variety of meats and vegetables.

  • catfish
  • meatloaf
  • steak
  • country fried chicken
  • shrimp
  • ham
  • chicken and dumplings
  • grilled chicken strips
  • green beans
  • mashed potatoes
  • gravy
  • potato casserole
  • beef stew
  • carrots
  • coleslaw
  • salad
  • fried okra
  • corn
  • cornbread
  • biscuits

The list goes on, but quite frankly, I’m getting hungry.  On a recent trip to Cracker Barrel, my husband ordered a big beautiful breakfast (shown above).  Our oldest daughter Emily and him order from the breakfast menu most of the time. Who can blame them, you get A LOT of food for a great price, and the food is always exceptionally delicious.  My favorites are the fried catfish, spicy grilled catfish (Heavenly!), shrimp, meatloaf, and chicken and dumplings.  Every now and then I HAVE to have a plate of pancakes with berries and whipped topping though.

Great, I’m making myself hungry again.

I recently ordered a breakfast meal and chose fried catfish as my meat. Don’t I almost always? It was delicious.  The picture is below, but be warned, it isn’t too pretty. This catfish fiend cut into the delicious catfish before taking the picture.  But look how clever I was, positioning the lemon wedge at the place of impact.  Oh, yeah, that hid it. Gluttony isn’t a pretty thing, but it is almost always satisfying. Just look at that fried egg and hash brown casserole. Mmmmmm....

Fried Catfish at Cracker Barrel in OwensboroCracker Barrel’s Fried Catfish, Fried Egg, and Hash-brown Casserole

 

Obviously, Cracker Barrel is an outstanding place to have breakfast or supper, but have you ever thought about Cracker Barrel for lunch? The prices are hard to beat and the food is as good as you’ll find anywhere.  The fried catfish sandwich is wonderful and I highly recommend the Meatloaf Sandwich, the Grilled Chicken Salad and BLT Salad.

To make a long story short, there isn’t a bad food item on the entire menu.  The next time you’re trying to decide where to eat breakfast, lunch, or supper, head to Cracker Barrel and remind yourself what a great restaurant experience should be like.  I applaud (loudly applaud) the fact that, even in this irritable economy, Cracker Barrel’s prices remain VERY fair. You get more than you pay for at Cracker Barrel, and that can’t be said of a lot of restaurants.

It’s been my experience that the servers and workers at Cracker Barrels are uncommonly friendly. I think it’s a requirement or something.  :)

See Cracker Barrel’s website for the menu and to find a restaurant/store near you.

Filed Under: Owensboro, Restaurant Reviews, Where to Eat Lunch Tagged With: , ,

Spring Keeneland Race Meet

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Kentucky Horse Racing Trots into 2012

Keeneland Thoroughbred Racing

I hope wherever you are today is as gorgeous as it is here in Owensboro. I’m having a difficult time staying indoors, but carrying my desk, computer, monitor, and chair out to my patio seems a little extreme. So, here I am. Sigh.

I would say that Spring is just around the corner, but today feels like it’s here already – so I’m just going to say, “Isn’t it lovely?!”

The spring Keeneland Race Meet is just around the corner, so horse racing fans might want to grab a pen and mark their calendars. Live Thoroughbred racing gets underway at Keeneland Race Course Friday, April 6th and continues through Friday, April 27th. Racing is scheduled Wednesday through Sunday with post time daily at 1:05 p.m. The gates open at 11:00 a.m. General admission is just $5. The annual Kentucky Derby prep race, the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, is Saturday, April 14th.

Seiously? There are actually still places with $5 admission prices? Good on them.

In addition to a full line-up of graded stakes races throughout the meet, there are a variety of special events you won’t want to miss. Each Saturday morning, head out to the track for Breakfast with the Works. This family-friendly activity begins at 7 a.m. with breakfast served in the Equestrian Dining Room, paddock demonstrations at 8:45 a.m., and a free handicapping session at 11:30 a.m.

Still looking for the perfect Kentucky Derby hat? Visit the Christine Moore Hat Trunk Show Wednesday, April 11 at the Keeneland Gift Shop.

See Keeneland’s Website for more information.  Also, you might want to check out Keeneland’s Online Gift Shop. You won’t believe the hats!

Filed Under: Featured, Horse Racing, Lexington, Springtime in Kentucky Tagged With: , ,

The Kentucky Horse Park: New Attractions Help Celebrate 34th Season!

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Kentucky Horse Park

The gorgeous Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington, Kentucky celebrates its 34th season with new attractions.

Those of us touched by the kindness of God (or those of us fortunate enough to have been born in Kentucky) are understandably proud of our state. We’re proud of our college basketball teams, great southern food,  breathtaking scenery, beautiful birds,  our friendly reputation, and we’re most definitely proud of our horses!

The Kentucky Horse Park is probably the best place in all of Kentucky to see this pride up close and personal.  Did you know nearly one million tourists, horse enthusiasts and school children visit the Kentucky Horse Park every year? That’s pretty incredible.

If you aren’t counted among the millions from previous years, make certain you’re amongst them this year.

The Kentucky Horse Park’s 34th season is set to begin Thursday, March 15, when the park returns to its regular hours of 9am to 5pm daily through November 4. Visitors will be entertained and delighted as the park features special events and themed weekends throughout the season.

Highlights of this season will include the park’s newest attraction, the Kids Barn, which features interactive exhibits, while the park’s education department staff will host daily hands-on activities with the park’s resident horses in the Kids Barn each day.

Also new this season is a daily show called “Horses of the World,” which is an updated and energized version of the traditional Parade of Breeds show. It’s a perfect opportunity for park visitors to watch and learn about some of the horse breeds that may not be familiar and will include horses representing some of the park’s many different breeds from as far away as India, Turkmenistan, Egypt, and Europe.

The park’s latest blockbuster, “The Horse,” will be in its final weeks of exhibition in the International Museum of the Horse. It can be viewed through April 6, at which time it will move to San Diego, CA.

Another museum exhibit, “Where were you in ’62? Saddlebreds, the Museum and the Sixties” will be on view through the end of the year in the Showplace for Saddlebreds at the American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop at the park.

In addition, the Kentucky Horse Park will host literally dozens of horse shows, dog shows, special breeds weekends, and other events, most of which are included with park admission.

Educational classes and youth riding programs will be offered once again through the park’s education department.

Daily equine presentations will also include the Hall of Champions, where visitors can meet Kentucky Derby winners Go for Gin and Funny Cide. The always-popular Mare and Foal Show will be offered Memorial Day through July 31.

Events are scheduled every weekend at the park, and a full listing of these events and their dates is available at www.KyHorsePark.com.

Admission is $16 for adults and $8 for children 7-12. Children six and under are always admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate – and the American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop.

The Kentucky Horse Park  is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 825,000 visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2011. The Kentucky Horse Park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations. Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is The place to get close to horses. Open daily March 15 to Nov. 4, and Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 5 to March 15.

Filed Under: Featured, Kentucky Horses, Lexington Tagged With: ,

The Sweethearts of Country Music: Making Sweet Music with Grand Rivers Variety

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The Sweethearts of Country Music

Saturday night, my husband, one of our buddies (the best locksmith in the Nashville area – if you don”t shamelessly promote your buddies, who will?), and I took in a show at Badgett Playhouse Theater in Grand Rivers, Kentucky.

Even though I had possibly the worst headache in all the world, eclipsed only by a ridiculously stiff and painful neck, I was VERY excited to be there. I knew the show would be phenomenal because Grand Rivers Variety shows are always extra, extra, extra special.  As I sat there, wondering how many Ibuprofens would constitute “too many,” I tried to remember the last time we saw a show at Badgett Playhouse.  TOO LONG is the answer I came up with.  During the winter months, what with Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, and anniversaries, I pretty much live in the kitchen.  I don’t wander far from the oven between November and March. Maybe that explains the headache.

My body was confused.

By the end of the evening, I told myself that I’d never allow three months to pass between shows again.  These shows are always so hilarious, fun, and engaging a person would be a fool not to see as many as they possibly could in a year.  I’m always stupefied by the talent in Grand Rivers Variety shows.  The singing, dancing, drama, comedy, sets, and costumes (made by the amazingly talented Sara Minihan) never fail to leave me asking one question, “How in the world are these incredibly talented people not playing to audiences in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry?”

Each time I come to the same conclusion, “Just be glad we have them HERE right now.”

I’ve said it before, but it bear’s repeating – my husband and I have been to countless shows in Nashville. We’ve had the pleasure of seeing the hottest stars in Country music today as well as the stars of yesterday. I only bring this up to qualify myself to say this: The quality of talent in Grand Rivers Variety is on par with the talent in Nashville shows. Yes, even shows at the Grand Ole Opry and The Ryman Auditorium.

Last night was no exception.

From Grand Rivers Variety:

A Tribute To The Legendary Ladies Of Nashville! Join three very different ladies as they pursue one common goal… the elusive dream of fame and fortune on Music Row in Nashville. Along the way, these “Sweethearts” pay tribute to the ladies of country music that have gone on before them; Dolly, Loretta, Tammy and many, many more.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office toll free at 1-888-362-4223. Box office hours are 12-5 Tuesday through Thursday and 12-7 Friday through Saturday.

Show times for 2012 are as follows: Evening performances start at 7:00 PM CST and matinees are 2:00 PM CST. Doors open thirty minutes before each performance.

When writing a review for a show with a cast of more than 5 people, I get a little antsy. I never want to leave anyone out or throw more compliments in one direction than I do in another.  There are absolutely no weak links when it comes to Grand Rivers Variety.   For example, the band is always outstanding.  Each member is one with his musical instrument.  I could literally listen to EACH band member work magic with his musical instrument for hours on end.

The talented band members are:

  • Scot Durham, piano and vocals
  • Eddie Holland, bass
  • Chad Mullins, banjo, guitar, and vocals
  • Thomas Michael, guitar and vocals

There were a few other band members in the back who were also outstanding. The drummer absolutely tore it up and the gentleman on the steel guitar added so much to the show I wondered how any shows got along without him.  The entire band is simply awesome and, again, leave me wondering how we can be so lucky to have them in our own backyard.  As I said before though, I’m not going to question it, I”m just going to enjoy the heck out of it.

Scot, Chad, and Thomas sang during The Sweethearts of Country Music and flat out blew everyone away. Mr. Mullins had over half of the female audience swooning.  I thought one lady was going to pass out.  During intermission, the women behind me talked of nothing else.  One said she could listen to him sing all day long, while the other quickly agreed.

I’m pretty sure the next sound I heard back there was the ladies fanning themselves off.

Two other names I’m anxious to mention are Steve Sherling and Barry Jobe.   These two took what would have already been an great show and made is a Must See show.  Steve, along with another of Grand Rivers Variety’s wickedly funny hams, Bill Minihan, makes all of the Greater Tuna shows such side splitters.  As soon as Steve shows up on the scene, my funny bone surrenders.  I take one look at whatever character he’s embodying and just die laughing.  His character in this show is no exception.   He’s a riot and a half.

His partner in hilarity during this particular show caught me off guard.  I know Barry Jobe as one of the singers. He has an absolutely wonderful voice and, like his co-stars, a very powerful stage presence.  I had no idea he was as big a ham as anyone!   He did an excellent job as the narrator of the show, sang beautifully as always, and positively brought down the house with a character (choreographer) he played.  I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard.  I guarantee you this, the entire time he was prancing onstage, I forgot my headache existed.  When he sashayed off stage, I thought, “Oh, that boy’s not right!”

And I loved it!

Now, for the ladies. The three beautiful girls who star in this show are Tiffany Okerson, Stephanie Jo Newton, and Owensboro’s own Natasha Neely. When they stepped onto the stage, I thought, “I didn’t know Charlie’s Angels were in town. Cool.”  The beautiful trio, however, have a lot more going on for them than looks, but not a one of them was shortchanged in this particular department.  Their personalities were larger than life and each had a commanding stage presence that just dared you to look away.  Their dancing skills would make anyone jealous (especially those of us who are the proud owners of not one, but two left feet) and their voices were nothing short of beautiful.

Each time one of the girls sang, I thought, “I’m in love with her voice.”   I kept falling in love so many times I thought I was Taylor Swift.  The only difference, I never fell out of love with any of their voices.

Grand Rivers Variety had a stroke of genius when they cast these particular girls together as The Sweethearts of Country Music. Not only are they beautifully talented and beautifully beautiful, they compliment each other in a way show producers dream of. Each girl’s voice is distinctive and each one brings her own special quality and presence to the show.  Their comedic timing was also impeccable, which is just another way of saying they’ll make you laugh out loud so much you might even snort.

A few of my favorite songs from the night (though I honestly enjoyed all of them immensely):

  • Barry Jobe and Natasha Neely’s Duet I Told You So
  • Stephanie Jo Newton and Thomas Michael’s Island in the Stream
  • Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad by Tiffany Okerson
  • I’m a Woman by the girls
  • I’m Gonna Miss Her by Chad Mullins

Some of the other songs you’ll enjoy in The Sweethearts of Country Music show are:

  • Stand By Your Man (Tiffany)
  • Cole Miner’s Daughter  (Stephanie)
  • Coat of Many Colors (Natasha)
  • Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
  • Stand By Your Man (Tiffany)
  • Cole Miner’s Daughter (Stephanie)
  • Coat of Many Colors (Natasha)
  • Golden Ring (Tiffany/Chad)

The songs in the show are a perfect blend of old classics and new favorites. I guarantee that you’ll find yourself singing along, clapping, smiling, laughing, and even doing a little seat dancing.  I did all the above with the headache from hell, so imagine how you’ll roll if you’re on top of your game.

In addition to the singing, dancing, and laugh-out-loud comedy, there are quite a few wonderful film clips.  You’ll enjoy interviews with Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn as well as glimpses into their lives and things they had to go through to become household names. There are also a few surprises in these film clips that’ll leave you laughing so hard you’ll have to set your popcorn and drink on the floor.  Well, that or spill it all over yourself  – a Greater Tuna show did that to me one time – and it was coffee!  Now I know…. when Steve, Bill, or Barry (who now comes with a “spilled drink warning label” as well) show up, the drink must go on the floor before it goes all over Joi.

You’ve heard of Live and Learn?  Well with Grand Rivers Variety, it’s Laugh and Learn.

If an evening (or afternoon) filled with laughing, clapping, singing, and pure good old-fashioned entertainment sounds good to you (and, seriously, how could it not?), I strongly urge you to buy your tickets for The Sweethearts of Country Music today.

Grand Rivers Variety’s Sweethearts of Country Music will be shown on the following dates:

  • March 16 at 2:00
  • March 17 at 2:00
  • March 17 at 7:00
  • March 24 at 2:00
  • March 24 at 7:00
  • March 31 at 2:00
  • March 31 at 7:00

If you choose one of the 2:00 shows, you can enjoy the singing & dancing, then you, yourself, can dance across the street for supper at the famous Patty’s 1880′s Settlement Restaurant!

For more information about this wonderful show as well as the other wonderful shows at Grand Rivers Variety, please visit their website.

 

Buy Your Tickets Today!

Filed Under: Country Music, Featured, Grand Rivers, Grand Rivers Variety, Reviews Tagged With: , ,

Gov. Beshear announces repair of Eggners Ferry Bridge by Memorial Day

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Eggners Ferry BridgeEggners Ferry Bridge, Before the Accident

Hopefully, the Eggners Ferry Bridge will be repaired and reopened by Memorial Day Weekend.  That’s the game plan, anyway.  The same contractor who repaired I-64 Sherman Minton Bridge in Louisville (ahead of schedule, I might add) has been hired to repair Eggners Ferry Bridge.  In the meantime, as someone who loves everything about this area of Kentucky (Aurora, Willow Pond Catfish, Aurora Bar-B-Q, The Hitching Post, Kenlake, The Brass Lantern…) I urge you to go out of your way and spend some time in Aurora. Eat, shop, and lose yourself in the friendliness that I personally can’t get enough of.

Gov. Steve Beshear today announced the award of an emergency contract to repair and reopen the damaged Eggners Ferry Bridge over Kentucky Lake by Memorial Day weekend – saving the crucial summer tourism season for the region around Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

The contract, with a low bid of $7 million, was awarded by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to Hall Contracting of Kentucky Inc. – the company that last month completed repairs ahead of schedule to reopen the Interstate-64 Sherman Minton Bridge in Louisville.

The Eggners Ferry Bridge, which carries U.S. 68 and KY 80 across Kentucky Lake between Marshall and Trigg counties in western Kentucky, has been closed since the night of Jan. 26, when a cargo vessel struck and tore away a 322-foot-long span of the 80-year-old bridge.

“Since the night the bridge was struck and the highway was severed, we have worked with one thought in mind – to get this bridge repaired and Route 68/80 reopened as quickly as possible,” Gov. Beshear said. “We have never lost sight of the damage that the loss of this bridge is doing to area businesses and the toll it has taken, in time and fuel costs, on folks who have been forced into long detours to get from one side of the lakes to the other.”

To save valuable time, and shave several months off the project, KYTC opted to make an emergency solicitation rather than go through its customary construction procurement process, in which a project is designed and put out for bids. The cabinet instead invited a select group of prequalified bridge contractors to submit bids by 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 7.

Contractors were given access to original design plans and recent inspection reports for the bridge. Each contractor was instructed to submit a lump-sum price that included all costs for engineering, materials, labor and equipment needed for repairing the bridge’s pier caps, replacing the truss span and reopening the bridge. The critical requirement is to reopen the bridge to traffic by Sunday, May 27. The contract includes a penalty of $50,000 per day for missing that deadline.

Two other companies besides Hall Contracting submitted proposals:
• Walsh Contracting, of Crown Point, Ind. – $11.2 million
• C.J. Mahan, of Grove City, Ohio – $11.4 million

The project requires a new asphalt or concrete deck 20 feet wide, comporting with dimensions of the rest of the existing bridge, and a railing system at least as strong as the existing rails. In addition, the truss must be given one primer coat of paint that closely resembles the color of adjacent spans.

KYTC gave serious consideration to adding a ferry service to the area to accommodate traffic, but ultimately chose not to implement it. The bridge carried nearly 2,700 cars per day, and at best, a ferry could carry only 40 cars per hour. This would create an unreasonable bottleneck. Second, a ferry service would likely demand the construction of access roads, as well as possible dredging of the lake to allow the ferry’s safe passage. By the time those accommodations were finished, the bridge would be likely close to completion.

The Eggners Ferry Bridge is obsolete, as is a similarly aged and sized bridge over nearby Lake Barkley. Both are being replaced with four-lane bridges in a project that is still in preconstruction phase. The recommended highway plan that Gov. Beshear sent to the General Assembly on Jan. 17 provides $330 million in construction funding for the two bridges combined.

Filed Under: Aurora, Featured Tagged With: ,

The Catfish House: Still in Bowling Green, Still Awesome

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The Catfish House, Bowling Green Review

You can read my original Review of The Catfish House in Bowling Green by clicking the link.

My husband, Michael had business in Bowling Green a few nights ago.  He mentioned “The Catfish House,” and suddenly I had business in Bowling Green, too.  Business with a plate of catfish, hush puppies, and onion rings.   I excitedly anticipated The Catfish House’s exceptional catfish each mile between Owensboro and Bowling Green.

As excited as I was, I was also just a tiny bit nervous.  See, just recently, we had one of our favorite restaurants… well, for lack of kinder words… go to pot.  Applebee’s, in Owensboro, has gone down hill faster than Jack or his pail of water.  I couldn’t help thinking, “What if The Catfish House is one one of those restaurants that are sliding down a slippery slope?”  Then I followed the thought with a prayer, “Please, God, let them still be amazing…”

I’m thrilled to report that they’re as outstanding as ever.

Unfortunately, I was so worked up for the catfish, that I failed to take any new pictures, so the one you see here is from my last visit.  What can I say, when I’m in the vicinity of excellent catfish, I can’t be held responsible for my actions (or inaction, in this case).  Oh well, I guess that just means we’ll have to go back SOON.

When you’re near Bowling Green, promise me you’ll eat at The Catfish House. Click the link for directions.

You. Will. Not. Be. Sorry.

 

Filed Under: Bowling Green, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , ,

O’Charley’s in Owensboro, Kentucky: Consistently Great Food

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Chicken Italia O'Charley's

My husband and I wanted a great restaurant to share our Valentine’s Day meal, so we went with one of our favorites, O’Charley’s on Frederica, here in Owensboro. Most restaurants (given the fact that they’re operated by humans) will have “off nights.”  Maybe they’ll overcook the fries or leave the plate under the hot lights so long your rice nearly returns to its pre-cooked form. We recently had both of these scenarios at a couple of different restaurants in Owensboro.   Funny, you can go to a restaurant a gazillion times but the one you remember is your last visit.

Restaurant managers would do well to keep this in mind.  Don’t drop the ball! You might not get another shot.

O’Charley’s, thankfully, almost always gets it right.   I, personally, have never eaten anything at O’Charley’s that wasn’t excellent.

The bread is always fresh, soft, and delicious (and served with real butter, always a hit with me).  O’Charley’s rolls are, actually, some of the best you can get out. They sort of just melt in your mouth. Do I even have to tell you how wild I am about that???  Their salads are also fantastic.  I’m pretty picky when it comes to tossed salads and even picker about dressings.  O’Charley’s hits the ball out of the park with their salads and the French dressing is fantastic.   It costs a tiny bit extra, buy you’ll want to order bacon on your salad.  When the bacon hits their great French dressing, magic ensues.

Their steaks are always perfectly delicious and deliciously perfect and their Bruschetta Chicken is the stuff dreams are made of.  Each bite makes your eyes roll into the back of your head.  THAT good.

Their Teriyaki Sesame Tilapia and Cowboy Sirloin are also as good as it gets.

Michael, who is nuttier than a giant Payday candy bar,  had been talking for weeks about a new dish on the O’Charley’s menu: New York Pizza Pasta.  The boy talked about it with such love in his eyes and hunger in his voice that I knew for certain what he’d order.

Then he didn’t.

We both saw another new dish on the menu at the same time: Chicken Italia (Grilled chicken breast topped with mozzarella, tomatoes, asparagus, and lemon butter served on top of linguini with Parmesan Cheese and garlic butter ).  It had me hook, line, and sinker when I saw the words butter, garlic, linguini, and grilled chicken strung together.  When I read the description, I knew that my husband would have a dilemma on his hand.  Sure, he’d been craving the New York Pizza Pasta  for weeks – but Chicken Italia had a secret weapon: Asparagus.  He is almost as obsessed with asparagus as I am catfish.  If it’s ever on a menu, it’ll find it’s way to his plate.  Every time.

I gave the very friendly server (who’s face strongly resembled Taylor Swift’s beautiful face) my order:

  • Salad with French Dressing, with bacon
  • Chicken Italia
  • Ooey Goey Caramel Dessert

When our server turned to my husband, he said, “The exact same thing she ordered.”  Dilemma solved.  Advantage asparagus.

When she asked if we wanted mushrooms added, we of course said we did.  I’m never one to turn down mushrooms.  Like bacon on salads, there’s an extra fee for mushrooms, so if you have mushrooms added to your meal, know that there’s a price on those ‘shrooms.

O'Charley's Miniature Ooey Goey Caramel PieAfter we enjoyed the heck out of our bread, iced tea, and salads, our server brought the main dishes.  Everything at O’Charley’s is plated so beautifully that it’s fun to feast with your eyes before the mouth gets involved.  I’m happy to say that it was even more delicious than it was beautiful.  The grilled chicken, all by itself, would have been a colossal experience.  It was simply outstanding.   The pasta, mushrooms, and asparagus were also Heavenly.

Every delectable bite had so much wonderful flavor that I never wanted our meal to end.  However, there was a sweet little reward when it did end.  We each ordered a little Ooey Goey Caramel Pie for dessert and, take it from me, this is one of the best desserts in town.  It defied description. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Michael even told the friendly manager that it’s his favorite thing he’s ever had at O’Charley’s. I have to tell you, this manager was so friendly. He even took my husband’s empty (very, very empty) plate and fork for him.  Very cool. Very friendly.

As we were leaving, a hostess held the door open for us and told us to have a great night. That’s the kind of friendly atmosphere I LOVE in a restaurant. Applebee’s used to do the same thing.  The past few times, they haven’t, so I was really glad to see O’Charley’s keeping with the warm and friendly tradition.

Whether it’s lunch or dinner, you can’t possibly go wrong with O’Charley’s in Owensboro.  Along with Owensboro’s Olive Garden, O’Charley’s is the very definition of consistently fantastic.

Filed Under: Owensboro, Restaurant Reviews, Where to Eat Lunch Tagged With: , , ,

Logan’s Roadhouse in Owensboro, Kentucky

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I was beyond excited when I heard that we were getting a Logan’s Roadhouse in Owensboro, Kentucky.   My husband and I allowed the crowds to die down a little before going for the first time.  It’s been open for a while now, so we decided to visit them for supper last night.

It was the most unusual restaurant visit we’ve had in a while.

You know how it usually is with restaurants: Most of the time they’re either ALL good or ALL bad.  Owensboro’s Logan’s Roadhouse was like a tennis match – one thing was right, then the next was wrong, then one thing was right, then the next was wrong…

We’ll get the negatives out of the way first.   Have you ever seen my list of restaurant “pet peeves” that appears at the bottom of my restaurant reviews? I make a big to do out of hosts and hostesses that just really stink it up.  It may seem like a small thing, but think about it, your host/hostess is the first person a restaurant’s guests see, and often the last ones they see as they leave the restaurant. They’re kind of a restaurant’s ambassadors.  When I walked up to the hostess station at Logan’s, an older woman was going over something with a young girl.  I stood there for about a minute while she spoke with the girl (neither acknowledging me whatsoever). When they did look up at me, neither said, “Welcome” or even smiled. The older woman simply said, “How many?”  I told her two and she motioned toward another girl and said she’d show us to our table.

She did.  To her credit, this girl was friendlier.

Our server came and took our orders.  She was extremely friendly, by the way, causing me to think, “Now, she’d have made a great hostess!”

Another negative, however, involved our server, which grieves me greatly because I liked her a lot.   Someone from the kitchen brought our orders and put them in front of us – she turned and flew away before we realized that my vegetables were missing. It’s always best (and polite) to ask if everything looks right, THEN go back to the kitchen.  At the very least, the server should come back to her table and check up on everything.  Unfortunately, we were finished with our food before we ever saw our server again. We had to ask for our “to go” boxes along with my broccoli, which then went right into the box with our leftovers.

Final complaint: As we were leaving, we again walked right by one girl at the hostess station and one standing by the door.  Unlike Applebee’s, Olive Garden, TGI Friday’s, and other places – neither said a word.  No “Thanks, come back!” or even “Goodnight!”  Nothing.   Cold as a witch’s spine.  As we walked to our car, I couldn’t help thinking of the the extra friendly staff at Olive Garden.  Often, when we’re leaving there, three different people thank us for eating with them.  Then there’s Applebee’s where they often go so far as holding the door for you.

Whether restaurant managers or staffs realize it or not, these details matter.

Now for the positives!  If you’re writing a restaurant review and only half of it can be positive, I guess it’s a pretty good thing if that half involves the food!   I ordered the Raspberry Tea which was really good.  If you prefer your Raspberry tea to be very subtle, you’ll love Logan’s Raspberry tea. There’s just a hint of raspberry flavor.  If you prefer your Raspberry tea to have a pretty strong raspberry flavor, you might want to skip it.  I actually love it both ways, so it was fine with me.

I ordered Fried Fish and was delighted when it turned out to be catfish (if you read my reviews, you know catfish is to me what catnip is to cats). This was the most moist and juicy catfish I’ve ever had.  It was exceptional. The breading was perfect, but the catfish, itself was the star of the show. Just how it should be!  The tartar sauce was also fantastic, although I never insult catfish by putting any on its back.  I did, however, take a little taste to see how it was.

My husband ordered pork chops which were served with some sort of an apple topping on the side.  He didn’t care for the pork chops, but I thought they tasted pretty darn good.  The apple topping, however, tasted kind of burnt or something. Not a biggie, though, because it was easy to shove aside.

We both ordered baked sweet potatoes and I was blown away by the size. HUGE! They came with real butter and a little cinnamon. Delicious.  The broccoli had a good taste to it – peppery and really, really good.  I would have liked to have been able to enjoy it along with the meal in real time.  But it is what it is, no sense crying over broccoli that shows up to the party late.

The sourdough bread was delicious – served with real butter, thank you very much.  I also was glad to see “real” ketchup on the tables (Hunts) – another detail that always brings a smile to my face. Say it with me, Off brand ketchup is gross.

As you can see, this review was a toughie to write.  Logan’s Roadhouse was a great mystery. How can someplace that makes catfish this good blow it with simple details like friendly hostesses and the age old standard of getting orders right?  I’m an optimist, so I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that they’re still trying to find their identity.

Logan's Roadhouse Bucket of Peanuts

Click the arrow for the inside scoop on my Ky Restaurant Reviews!
When writing Kentucky Restaurant Reviews, I try, very hard, to accentuate the positive, while spending as little time with the negative as possible.  However, in fairness to my readers, the negative can’t be glossed over or ignored. However, when a “negative” is addressed by a restaurant, I always go back and edit the original post. It’s my pleasure to do so!  A few of my pet peeves when it comes to restaurants are:

  1. Crummy sides. I hate for a restaurant to rest on the laurels of their meat and/or main dishes. If it’s on your menu, it should be able to stand on it’s own, as if it were the ONLY thing on the menu.
  2. Unfriendly servers. If you read a restaurant review on Genuine Kentucky and the server is not mentioned, rest assured that they either weren’t very friendly or weren’t exactly on the ball. Or both!
  3. Unfriendly hosts and hostesses.  Hello?!  You’re paid to be friendly. Your job exists to welcome visitors and make them feel like you’re glad to see them.
  4. Off brand condiments.  I LOVE to see a restaurant owner who cares enough about his/her guests to serve them Heinz or Hunt’s, Red Gold at the very least.  Off brand Ketchup is gross.  It screams “Someone’s cutting corners!!!”
  5. Overcooked fries.  Come on, take them out before they’re brown.  Brown fries aren’t cool.
  6. Watery soft drinks. Servers should be taught that if you see the beverage come out of the machine and there is NO fizzle, DO NOT serve it to the guests. Blech.
  7. Servers who “Push the Wrong Button.”Servers charging the wrong price for menu items is becoming an alarming trend. A server can get annoyed with a customer and, bam, “accidentally” hit the wrong button.  A word to anyone who eats out: Examine your ticket. For example, if the restaurant offers 1/2 off Sushi, make certain your server doesn’t charge you the full price.
  8. I am, by nature, a very friendly guest when I visit restaurants.  I always, always leave tips.  When the service is good, I don’t just tip, I over tip! My oldest daughter is the same way. One sweetheart of a server in Olive Garden once got a $10 tip from us for lunch.  She made us smile, so we wanted to make her smile. It’s really as simple as that.
  9. Real butter is always better than Margarine.
  10. Options, Please.  As someone with a vegetarian daughter, I love for restaurants to offer completely meatless dishes.  Bonus points for the restaurants, like Denny’s, with Boca Burgers on their menu.

One final thought: If an owner really wants their restaurant to be the best it can possibly be, he or she should have comment cards on the tables. Guests will tell them what they’re doing right but, more importantly, they’ll tell them where they’re messing up.  A closed, secure box should be provided for guests to put the cards in. Get the opinions from the people who’s opinions matter most.

Filed Under: Owensboro, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , ,

Philly’s in Greenville: A Gorgeous Restaurant Worth Driving a Day and a Half to Visit

by

Doing Kentucky Restaurant Reviews is one of my favorite things to do. Fortunately, Kentucky is covered with outstanding restaurants, so it makes my job even more enjoyable. Some of these restaurants are nationally known chain restaurants and others are little known, locally-owned restaurants. I love all types of restaurants, but these “off the beaten path” Kentucky restaurants are extra special. The restaurant reviewed below, Philly’s in Greenville, Kentucky may not be on the “beaten path,” but rest assured, once you’ve been there, you’ll beat a path to get back!

Philly's Coleslaw
When I was fifteen, the only thing I wanted in the world was a Basset Hound.  While other kids were obsessed with cars and members of the opposite sex, all I wanted was a dog with ears so long they touched the floor.  I wanted a Basset Hound to take to the park, to go for walks around the neighborhood, to play ball with, and to just sit on our front porch in Madisonville, Kentucky and do absolutely nothing with.

As my sixteenth birthday approached, my mom and dad gave me absolutely no reason at all to hope for a new puppy as a gift. In fact, they purposely just kept asking me what kind of jeans I liked best, whether I liked Charlie or Love’s Baby Soft better, etc.  I tried to act excited as I answered “Calvin Klein” and “Charlie,” but it was tough.

When my birthday arrived, I expected to be greeted with a great pair of jeans and new bottle of perfume.  What I didn’t expect was the most adorable puppy I had ever seen, my own little girl Basset Hound.  I named her Honey and we were inseparable.

Phillys Restaurant, Greenville Kentucky

I bring Honey up because she came to mind recently when I was thinking about a restaurant my husband and I went to in Greenville, Kentucky.  In the way that I was completely surprised by one of the best presents I’ve ever gotten – I was equally surprised to find such an amazing restaurant as Philly’s in small, beautiful, and quiet Greenville, Kentucky.  Several times throughout the meal, as I looked around the restaurant, I thought, “This is the sort of restaurant you’d expect to see in Louisville, Lexington, Owensboro, or Bowling Green…”

It’s really something special and, quite frankly, I can’t wait to go back.

Phillys Restaurant in Greenville Kentucky

When I think of Greenville, Kentucky, I’ve always thought of the cool store everyone in this part of Kentucky is obsessed with, the infamous Uncle Lee’s.  I also think of exceptionally friendly people.  Mostly I think of it as being the stereotypical quiet, small Kentucky town.  Who knew?!?!

These exceptionally friendly people have been sitting on a beautiful (and delicious) secret.

My jaw dropped when I saw the beautiful outside of Philly’s, but when we walked in, my knees nearly buckled.  Beautiful just doesn’t seem to cover it.

We were at Philly’s Restaurant at lunchtime, but the restaurant also serves dinner, which no doubt is equally amazing. I can’t wait to go back and order off of their dinner menu… then again, I’m anxious to have lunch at Philly’s again as soon as possible, if not sooner.

Philly's Restaurant in Greenville, Kentucky

Because of the unseasonal, yet glorious, sunshine we’ve been enjoying in Kentucky the picture above isn’t as clear as I’d like it to be.  This beautiful statue is John Wayne on a horse and it is really amazing.  The likeness blew me away.

All of the decorations blew me away.  The time and money spent on this gorgeous restaurant is obvious.  Just as I was thinking, “They seem to do EVERYTHING right…”  I noticed the bottle of Ketchup on our table, Heinz! If you read my restaurant reviews, you know a pet peeve of mine is nasty ketchup.  If it’s not a brand you’d see in Kroger, guess what – it’s probably a major cheapie and tastes like it.  When I see Heinz ketchup in a restaurant, it tells me that the owners of the restaurant have enough pride in what they do and enough respect for their customers to give them the best.  I appreciate that!  As the Onion Ring Queen of the South (a self-given yet very earned title), I use ketchup often and nasty, cheap ketchup makes my toes curl and not in a good way.

Heinz Ketchup in Philly's Restaurant Greenville, Kentucky

Michael (my husband) did one of his many clever things while ordering – and it’s something you absolutely MUST do when you go.  After we placed our order, he asked if we could each have an order of coleslaw before our food was brought out.  At first, I thought, “Coleslaw… well, why not.”  I tend to get about as excited about coleslaw as I do  Wednesdays.  Sure, it’s okay, but…

That was before I tried Philly’s coleslaw.  Words can’t tell you how extraordinary this coleslaw is.  I can’t for the life of me figure out what they did to it (and I’m an avid cook!).  It’s the best coleslaw I’ve ever had in my life and if I had the recipe I’d make it every single day for the rest of my life.  It’s not just good, it’s stupid good.  It comes served in a beautiful little dish because.. well, because they do everything right, that’s why.

Notice the crackers are also name brand?  Would you expect less?  Something I was somewhat surprised to see (after seeing just how gorgeous everything was) were the prices. They were extremely reasonable. I honestly expected them to be higher.

My husband, Michael, had the Italian Beef and I ordered the Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich. We both had onion rings, which was a great call.  The pulled pork was outstanding. It tasted like pork you’d expect to find in a BBQ restaurant – smokey and mouth-watering delicious.  From the way my husband devoured the Italian Beef, it must have been equal to the pulled pork!

Philly's in Greenville, Kentucky Pork BBQ and Onion Rings

 

Italian Sub and Onion Rings

Unfortunately, we had places we had to be, so we couldn’t just lie down in the booth and wait for supper. So, we had to leave – but I made a solemn promise to The Duke (and to his horse as well) that’d we’d be back soon…..

Philly's Restaurant Greenville, Kentucky

  … Very, very, very soon.

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Click the arrow for the inside scoop on my Ky Restaurant Reviews!
When writing Kentucky Restaurant Reviews, I try, very hard, to accentuate the positive, while spending as little time with the negative as possible.  However, in fairness to my readers, the negative can’t be glossed over or ignored. However, when a “negative” is addressed by a restaurant, I always go back and edit the original post. It’s my pleasure to do so!  A few of my pet peeves when it comes to restaurants are:

  1. Crummy sides. I hate for a restaurant to rest on the laurels of their meat and/or main dishes. If it’s on your menu, it should be able to stand on it’s own, as if it were the ONLY thing on the menu.
  2. Unfriendly servers. If you read a restaurant review on Genuine Kentucky and the server is not mentioned, rest assured that they either weren’t very friendly or weren’t exactly on the ball. Or both!
  3. Unfriendly hosts and hostesses.  Hello?!  You’re paid to be friendly. Your job exists to welcome visitors and make them feel like you’re glad to see them.
  4. Off brand condiments.  I LOVE to see a restaurant owner who cares enough about his/her guests to serve them Heinz or Hunt’s, Red Gold at the very least.  Off brand Ketchup is gross.  It screams “Someone’s cutting corners!!!”
  5. Overcooked fries.  Come on, take them out before they’re brown.  Brown fries aren’t cool.
  6. Watery soft drinks. Servers should be taught that if you see the beverage come out of the machine and there is NO fizzle, DO NOT serve it to the guests. Blech.
  7. Servers who “Push the Wrong Button.”Servers charging the wrong price for menu items is becoming an alarming trend. A server can get annoyed with a customer and, bam, “accidentally” hit the wrong button.  A word to anyone who eats out: Examine your ticket. For example, if the restaurant offers 1/2 off Sushi, make certain your server doesn’t charge you the full price.
  8. I am, by nature, a very friendly guest when I visit restaurants.  I always, always leave tips.  When the service is good, I don’t just tip, I over tip! My oldest daughter is the same way. One sweetheart of a server in Olive Garden once got a $10 tip from us for lunch.  She made us smile, so we wanted to make her smile. It’s really as simple as that.
  9. Real butter is always better than Margarine.
  10. Options, Please.  As someone with a vegetarian daughter, I love for restaurants to offer completely meatless dishes.  Bonus points for the restaurants, like Denny’s, with Boca Burgers on their menu.

One final thought: If an owner really wants their restaurant to be the best it can possibly be, he or she should have comment cards on the tables. Guests will tell them what they’re doing right but, more importantly, they’ll tell them where they’re messing up.  A closed, secure box should be provided for guests to put the cards in. Get the opinions from the people who’s opinions matter most.

Filed Under: Greenville, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , ,
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