Our day at the Incredible Food Show was quite enjoyable. We spent several hours on Saturday looking at exhibits and tasting Kentucky products. There was something for everyone’s tastes from sauces, to meats, to cheeses, to sweets. Though not all the choices were to our liking, it was easy to see that everyone was finding something they enjoyed. We were happy to find some of our favorites from previous years, as well as finding a few that we’ll want to try again and again.
We have been fans of Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese for many years. Kenny Mattingly makes a variety of cheeses at his farm in Western Kentucky. Whether you’re a fan of cheddar, Swiss, or one of his more creative choices, Kenny’s cheeses are excellent. While our favorite is his Swiss, we tried a new one this year, Tomato Basil Cheddar and are looking forward to trying it again soon. Check our their website at www.kennysfarmhouse.cheese.com, to view their products.
Browning’s Country Ham has been a long time favorite as well. Whether you enjoy ham, bacon, or sausage, find those and more at Browning’s. Their products are on display at www.BrowningsCountryHam.com.
A couple other products we discovered a few years ago were there as well. Since we love cheese, we also enjoyed tasting and buying from the Boone Creek Creamery. If you have ever tasted a homemade ketchup and miss that special flavor, you will want to try Grandma Carolyn’s Ketchup, made from an old family recipe; it is one of our favorites.
One of our favorite booths was new to us this year. Kandies of Kentucky is making candy using Bourbon, Wine, and Spirits. We tried some candies and they were amazing. My favorite was the Noire Berry, made with Blackberry Wine from Forest Edge Winery. We spent some time talking with both Barry and Barbara Summer and enjoyed meeting them and talking about their products. Look for them at www.kyagr.com/KDAPage.aspx?id=10013. After tasting, we of course had to buy some candy.
Of course, we also visited the winery aisle and did a few tastings before we left. Chrisman Mill Vineyard and Winery was pouring tastes of their newly bottled Chambourcin. We tried a couple of Nortons, one from Rose Hill Farm Winery and one from Rising Son’s Winery and enjoyed them. Forest Edge Winery and Purple Toad Winery were also pouring some of their excellent wines and we enjoyed visiting with them.
The entire experience certainly made for a pleasant fun day.
by adminDon’t forget. The Incredible Food Show is tomorrow at the Lexington Center at Rupp Arena, from 9 AM to 5 PM. Visitors can watch some culinary seminars or enjoy demonstrations at the Kentucky Heritage Kitchen Stage, try out a variety of Kentucky food products from over 100 exhibitors in the Marketplace, or taste some local craft beer and Kentucky wines. Tickets are available at the door for $20.
We’ve enjoyed the food show for the last few years and are looking forward to the day. Some of our favorites are Browning’s Country Ham, Grandma Carolyn’s Ketchup, Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese, and Rattlesnake Hill Farm, as well as some great wineries, such as, Chrisman Mill Vineyards and Winery, Forest Edge Winery, and Rose Hill Farm Winery.
I recommend it to anyone interested in food, wine, or Kentucky.
by adminThe wait is over, Northern Kentucky’s Wine Festival will be at MainStrasse Village near the Goose Girl Fountain on October 18, 2014, from 3 PM to 10 PM. Admission is $10, and includes a souvenir glass and 4 tasting tickets. Additional tickets for tasting or a glass of wine may be purchased. Wine is also being sold by the wineries by the bottle or the case.
The following Northern Kentucky wineries will be there pouring tastes: Atwood Hill Winery, Morning View; Baker-Bird Winery, Foster; Elk Creek Vineyards, Owenton; Generation Hill Winery, Inc., Alexandria; Rose Hill Farm Winery, Falmouth; Seven Wells Vineyard & Winery, LLC, California; Serendipity Winery, Florence; StoneBrook Winery, Melbourne; and Verona Vineyards, Verona.
Horseshoe Bend Vineyards, Willisburg; Lovers Leap Vineyards & Winery, Lawrenceburg; Old 502Winery, Louisville; Purple Toad Winery, Paducah; and Smith-Berry Vineyard & Winery, New Castle will also be visiting Northern Kentucky for the festival.
There will also be booths with wine related artisan products. I will be there signing copies of A Wine Lover’s Odyssey Across Kentucky. I’d love to meet you and chat about Kentucky wine. Hope to see you there. It is a great festival.
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For the sixth year, Kentucky will show off its products in Heritage Hall, at the Lexington Center in downtown Lexington. On October 11, 2014, from 9 to 5, visitors will be treated to tastings of Kentucky’s specialty food companies, Kentucky wineries, and demonstrations from local and regional chefs.
This year’s celebrity chef is Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman.
If you enjoy food, wine, cooking, and trying new products, this show is for you. Mark your calendars. Check back for more information when more details about those attending becomes available.
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Sixteen Kentucky wineries will be offering tastings of their wines to visitors at the Bullitt County Fairgrounds, on September 26 and 27. On Friday evening, from 4 to 10, and from noon to 10 on Saturday, visitors can enjoy tasting or purchasing wine by the glass or the bottle while enjoying the entertainment.
This region of Kentucky is home to some of state’s most popular wineries. This sounds like an excellent festival. I think you would enjoy it.
by adminWine lovers will want to mark your calendars. The MainStrasse Association, in Covington, will host the Northern Kentucky Wine Festival, on October 18, 2014. The festival, one of Kentucky’s best, will feature Kentucky wines and wineries. This year’s event will be from 3 to 10 PM, on MainStrasse near the Goose Girl Fountain.
Look back later for more information on who will be there.
by adminKenton County farms will welcome visitors on September 20, 2014, from 9 to 5. The tour is self-guided with fourteen stops along the way. The Northern Kentucky Horse Network at Kenton County Fair Grounds, Honey Locust Farms, the Kenton County Library Durr Branch, the Independence Farmers’ Market, the Kenton County Cooperative Extension Outdoor Education Center, Bluegrass Shrimp Farm, Redman’s Farm and Winery, Poverty Hollow Farm, Funke’s Hickory Ridge Farm, Triple J Farms, Rising Phoenix Farm, Atwood Hill Winery, The Pumpkin Patch, and Ed-Mar Dairy Farm are stops along the tour.
Wine lovers will find the stops at the two wineries quite enjoyable. Atwood Hill Winery offers a wide selection of drys, sweets, and fruit wines. Visitor can taste the wine or relax on the patio for a while with a glass of wine of their choice. Redman’s Farm and Winery’s wines are fruit, such as Strawberry, Blackberry, and Apple. They also use Concord, a Native American grape.
This is the fourth year of the Harvest Tour in Kenton County and visitors have enjoyed their chance to explore the agricultural areas of the county. A printable map and a descriptive list of the farms are available at the Kenton County Cooperative Extension website.
by adminLast weekend, over 3000 people enjoyed the 2nd Annual Wine Festival at Jane’s Saddlebag. From noon to six, visitors spent time strolling through the grounds, exploring the vendors’ booths, and tasting the wine. Many bought glasses or bottles and found a cozy place in the shade to while away the afternoon listening to the music. Even though the weather was hot, the festival was a success.
As a vendor, I spent most of the weekend greeting many old friends and interested wine lovers who stopped by to chat or to look at my book. Luckily, my tent was next to Lovers Leap so I was able to enjoy wine during the festival.
Sunday, I did take a little time to explore and taste a few of the wines. I tried a Seyval Blanc at Rose Hill Farm Winery. Though it was too sweet for my taste, it is very good and I recommend it for those who like off dry whites. At Smith Berry Vineyard and Winery, I tried the new vintage of their Burley which is always a good choice for those who like full-bodied reds. I tried Traminette, another off-dry white, at Horseshoe Bend Vineyard and Winery and again I recommend it to those who like a sweeter wine. My last stop before returning to my table was Verona Vineyards, where I tasted one of my favorite Kentucky wines, their Dornfelder. It was as good as usual.
At the end of the festival, Jane’s Saddlebag was already looking ahead at ways to improve next year’s festival and wine lovers are already looking forward to their 3rd Annual Wine Festival.
by adminSaturday and Sunday’s weather looks promising for spending a day strolling through the wine festival at Jane’s Saddlebag. Wine lovers should make time to join us there for wine and good times. The times are noon to six both days.
Hope to see you there!
by adminLast week’s food show was a resounding success. The exhibitors provided visitors with a wide array of Kentucky products. While we were there, we saw people enjoying themselves and the bounty that Kentucky has to offer. We tasted and sipped our way through many foods and wines and bought quite a few. Our personal favorites (besides the wineries) were Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese, Grandma Carolyn’s Ketchup, Browning’s Hams, and Steve’s Dips.
Look for information to follow about next year’s show. I’m looking forward to another great experience.
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