Discovering Louisville

There’s an awesome new farmers market in town!  The Douglass Loop Farmers Market to be exact, located near the corner of Bardstown and Woodford in the Douglass Blvd. Christian Church (the street is across from the old Club Grotto and behind the PNC Bank in Deer Park).  It’s easy to park here and beautiful to stroll into…

(map courtesy of the Douglass Loop Farmers Market website)

Even on a rainy Saturday, I felt excited walking into the market.  The trees there are tall and beautiful, and when it rains in our lovely city the greens in the flora and fauna perk right up!

Once you see the white house, you know you’re there.  On the porch (even though you can’t see it in this picture) was a band that reminded me a little of Emmet Otters Jug Band Christmas.  It was so cool to have such fun music accompanying all of the booth ogling.

The folks who braved the rain outdoors had plants and lettuce.  I, of course, wanted to buy something from everybody, but my pockets only had a $20 and I was hungry for breakfast.  

Most of the market headed inside once the rain started, so we decided to track where the bulk of the booths were.

The first thing I spied was the Red Hot Roasters and Wiltshire Pantry table.  Our friend Sondra owns RHH and was actually the person who told us about the market.  But instead of finding Sondra, I found the lovely Susan Hershberg of Wiltshire, and we bumped gums about catering, honey, and delicious food.

Just look at their honey buns (below).  Although Bernhardt and I grabbed a blueberry scone, I am coming back next Saturday just for one of these.  (By the by, that scone was the best scone we’ve ever had, hands down).  Their almond croissants also looked fantastic.  Perhaps Bern and I won’t share a treat next time and I’ll get those two just for me…

I also love a good bread.  I never can seem to find a simple, tasty, crusty, fantastic bread in Louisville…so knowing I now have a place to go buy it warms my heart.  I’m actually the most excited about the fact that Wiltshire Pantry caters AND has a restaurant.  I WILL be going to Wiltshire on Market very soon after hanging out with Susan.

The next booth that caught my eye was Earthly Browns Natural Products.  Run by a very cool couple, Paul and Kaye Brown, I was very impressed by their array of affordable natural products.  I am the proud owner of this here Organic Coconut Oil (below) - only $10!  And for 24 ounces!  Beat that, Whole Foods (I used to buy this stuff for smoothies, so I KNOW what a deal this is).  Coconut Oil, as Paul told me, is great for cooking at high temperatures, and this fat is good for you!  

Ever since our conversation about oils and cooking, I will steer clear of Canola Oil forever more.  It’s made with rapeseed and the name come from “Canadian Oil, Low Acid,” basically meaning TOXIC.  Honestly, having the word “rape” in rapeseed is enough for me (ba-dump-BAH).

I am actually in love with Earthly Brown’s Badger Shaving Brush, seen below for $35.  Buy that with some shaving soap, and WHALA - fathers day gift = PERFECT.  You can order it on their website, or you can come to the market!

Another thing I will be going back for is the oil you see below.  I feel in love with the Almond Oil, but there are SO many to choose from and Paul told us many uses for what you see below.  Oh, and there’s honey.  These Browns do it all!

A complete list of the Douglass Loop Farmers Market vendors can be found here.  I could go on and on about the fun I had yesterday, everything I saw, and the yummy looking plants, lettuces, pastries, dog treats, etc…but I think it best if you go check out the Douglass Loop Farmers Market for yourself.  I think this market is going to be the best one in Louisville!

According to their mission, “The Douglass Loop Farmers Market provides a direct conduit between Kentucky producers and local consumers for the sale of healthy and affordable goods. The Douglass Loop Farmers Market seeks to expand access to fresh, locally produced goods at affordable rates as to promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.”  And from what I saw, what they have going on is dead on to their mission.

The market season opens on April 16, 2011 and runs throughSeptember 24, 2011 with a Fall & Holiday market running from October 01- December 17, 2011. Douglass Loop Farmers Market is open from10:00 AM-2:00 PM on all market days.

This is for all of the people requesting a fun bar to check out in Chicago.  To the public - Chicago is only a 4.5 hour drive up 65 North from Louisville.  It’s a great city to have adventures if you want to get away from Louisville for the weekend…

To start…the other day I was questioning my husband about his dating life before yours truly and he said (and I’m probably embellishing), “Stacy, it seems that you found me when getting drunk wasn’t in style.  Most girls drank bottles of wine at home and I was into long whiskey nights out at the bar.  You appreciated this and we married, we’re almost over partying that hard, and now it’s in fashion to get housed on the hard stuff.”  Indeed.  I’ve been puzzling over this theory - that bourbon and whiskey and craft everything are now the IT of IT, and Chicago couldn’t have jumped on this better itself.  Enter Longman & Eagle Bar and Inn.

My dear friend Nathan (the bartender above) is one of the talented folks making amazing drinks or pouring it nice and neat (my style) up at the Longman & Eagle Bar in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, IL.  If you’re roadtripping to Chicago and want to go someplace special in-between your rounds at Pitchfork or what have you, go see Nate and tell him I sent you.

Now, looking at the bottle of Jefferson’s above, you Kentucky folks might feel over bourbon.  I get it, I do.  But this bar truly is special.  It’s 21 Proof special, but more taverny.  I like it better.  I sipped all kinds of Nate inventions during their happy hour, my favorite being the Black Cherry 101 (see the second menu option).  Combining Charter 101 Bourbon, Boylan’s Black Cherry Soda, and Madagascar Vanilla, I finished this fast.

If you’re feeling simple, I felt this combination (below) was sheer perfection (a happy hour hole in one with a $3 whiskey shot).  Kudos to Paul Merrit for such a lovely idea.  My friends (Jade and Paul) and I could have stayed there all night.  We got a pretzel with cheese sauce (sorry, L&E, Kentucky’s beercheese is better) and a cheese plate (see bar snacks), nibbled, drank, and cozied up on comfy, heavy wooden bar stools.

So, to all of you people asking for Chicago suggestions, I’m deviating from my Louisville formula to give you my favorite new bar in Chicago.  Go there.  And if you get drunk or think to make a reservation ahead of time, stay at their inn above the bar.  With rates starting at $75 a room, I think this is the new place to stay.  And I’ve known one person in-particular who was too lazy to go home so he got a room instead of making the 15 minute commute back to his apartment.  Pretty brilliant, if you ask me.  Who doesn’t like a stay-cation?

2657 N. KEDZIE AVE / CHICAGO, IL 60647 / 773-276-7110 (NO RESERVATIONS)

HOURS / MON - FRI 10AM - 2AM / SAT 10AM - 3AM / SUN 10AM - 2AM

After having a yummy bite of Comfy Cow ice cream at Mayan Cafe, and after my friend Valerie told me, “Oh my gosh, Comfy Cow is the BEST,” Bernhardt and I finally ventured out into the scariest shopping center I’ve ever laid foot inside…the Westport Village Shopping Center.

Comfy Cow (seen above) is a family friendly ice cream/dessert place, and it’s…well…comfy.  We went on a Sunday afternoon, so it was pretty darn crowded, but even in the crowd the people behind the counter were very kind and the venue was VERY clean.  It made me happy.  Although I felt a little pressure to quickly order [the line was intimidating], I was amazed when my one-scoop order was presented to me (see below).

That’s right, people.  One scoop of dulce de leche de salte heaven.  And it was HUGE. My husband got a chocolate milkshake with REAL whipped cream (he was very excited about that), and my big scoop together with his only cost $7.98.  Not bad for 2 people, dessert, and a walk outside.  Honestly, the only bad thing about Comfy Cow is it’s Herr Lane location [not the inside of the store itself - just the Westport Village vibe - it’s a little TOO Disney for me, and it was PACKED with shitty drivers, fancy strollers, and loud, dancing moms].  The whole “get out of me and my kid’s way” attitude made me want to pass out.  I hope I’m not that kind of parent when I have kids…I DO think it’s cool that W.V. is chock full of local businesses…I just think that maybe I wasn’t in the mood for the suburbs.  

Final notes.  I was Bernhardt’s imagination come to life with dulce de leche de salte all over my nose and chin.  This flavor was quite special - it almost tasted like salty cotton candy - it was spongy and girly and wonderful.  Will I brave the suburbs again for such a treat?  Sure I will.  And I’ll try ice cream PIE next time to boot!  I’ll just do my breathing exercises before the next venture because now I’ll know what kind of clientele to expect.

1301 Herr Lane #118
Louisville, KY 40222
(502) 425-4979

Sunday - Thursday 11 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

I love Indian food.  In fact, I crave it.  I’m only beginning to crack open the Indian food hub of Louisville, but I went to two of the most common names suggested my way, Kashmir and Sitar.

Kashmir:

Located at 1285 Bardstown Road, this place is very cute and cozy.  

Saturday through Tuesday they have a buffet from 12-3.  I loved how quiet and cheerful it was, but I wished I wasn’t scraping the bottom of the buffet dishes.  The veggies were still amazing but the na’an and goat had a little to be desired.  Maybe it’s because we got there around 2:30 and it was the end of the buffet.  As you can tell by my plate below, I was still a happy camper.

Sitar:

My second Indian Food adventure was to Sitar.  As you can see in the picture below, I ate a lot.  Everything was amazing.  I think I ate every dish on the buffet at least once. 

Located at 1702 Bardstown Road, this place is a hop-skip-and a jump from my husband’s workplace.  This means I will be easily heading back.  I had more attention at my table here (the wait staff was so nice), the food was fantastic all around, and if I had to pick a favorite, it would be this lovely restaurant.  Sitar wins, hands down.

According to my friend Joanna, I still have another Indian place to try down in Buechel, DakShin…so the quest for the best Indian food in Louisville continues.  However, I will keep coming back to Sitar, my favorite place so far on Bardstown Road.

Sitar Indian Restaurant (502) 473-8889 Deer Park 
1702 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40205