There are a lot of signature meals in Kentucky, but none shout as loud as the Hot Brown. This beloved dish is a valid symbol of the state and symbolic of the state’s vibrancy and tradition. The flavors of hot browns offer a glimpse into Kentucky’s culinary heritage, creating a rich combination of flavors in each layer of a hot brown. If you like the regional specialties of Kentucky, a hot dog is a must, whether you’re from the area or a visitor. What’s so special about this dish? From its beginnings in Louisville—in a hotel kitchen—to its role as a state-wide staple, the Hot Brown at its heart may be comfort food with an elevated twist. In this blog, we’ll travel back in time to learn the history behind the hot dog, show you how to make it the traditional way, and point you to your best restaurant picks for enjoying it.
The story starts in 1926 with the Hot Brown at Baron’s Hotel in Louisville’s renowned Brown Hotel. Chef Fred K. Schmidt created the dish late at night to give the pool of hotel guests something hearty and indulgent to eat after dancing. Inspired by classic comfort food, Schmidt layered slices of bread with turkey and bacon and drowned them in a rich Mornay sauce, a creamy cheese-based delight.
Add freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a quick broil to heat it to a golden, bubbly crust, and set the hot brown apart. It was topped with tomatoes and a sprinkle of pepper, which made it one of Kentucky’s true culinary masterpieces.
The Hot Brown’s appeal lies in its simplicity and indulgence. Each ingredient plays a vital role in creating a harmonious balance of flavors.
This combination makes the Hot Brown a perfect example of comfort food, embodying the soul of Kentucky cuisine.
If you’re inspired to recreate the flavors of a hot brown in your kitchen, the following traditional recipe ensures authenticity:
Ingredients:
Instructions:
This recipe captures the essence of the hot brown while leaving room for creative variations.
Millions have ordered the Hot Brown, Kentucky’s iconic dish, from home through the mail, but true fans can also get it at a couple of other places.
This hotel is the birthplace of the Hot Brown and serves up their version, still faithful to Chef Schmidt’s original recipe. A dining experience of historical ambiance with the hotel is a trip back into the past.
The Café is famous for its cozy vibe and presents a modern revamp of the Hot Brown with local, sourced ingredients.
A global-influenced eatery with a vegetarian edition of the Hot Brown to prove a dish such as this can be as versatile as it is delicious.
A recipient of fame for its riverfront dining, Hall’s has taken it one step further with their regional cream sauce, Mornay sauce, which features Kentucky Bourbon.
Hot Brown restaurant picks to bring the creamery's version down and then look to the local culinary side of things in a way that pays homage to the dish's history.
While the classic recipe remains beloved, chefs across the state have introduced innovative versions of the Hot Brown to cater to evolving tastes. Here are a few popular variations:
These creative adaptations prove that the Hot Brown is more than a dish—a canvas for culinary expression.
The Hot Brown may be a Kentucky classic, but it’s grown to be loved far and wide. This famous dish has been introduced to new audiences by upscale restaurants and diners nationwide. Of course, true enthusiasts know nothing beats a Hot Brown in Kentucky, where it is rooted.
The dish has been given a twist in several states, where regional ingredients were added—fish on the coasts and barbecue flavors in the South. Even these adaptations, however, cannot account for the fact that we continue to consider this dish the gold standard of the traditional Kentucky Hot Brown.
What appeals to so many about the Hot Brown is its prominence in the state’s history and culture. This is the spirit of hospitality, creativity, and love of the state's good food. In addition, as a signature meal, its position in the pantheon of American regional specialties has been secured.
Hot Brown brings people together, serving at a fancy five-star hotel or a local diner and celebrating the flavors and traditions of Kentucky in every bite.
It is a symbol of the state’s hospitality, and if you can throw it down as well as hold the dish still for someone to spoon up his share and get it down—then you too are part of Kentucky’s hospitality, and if you can eat the Hot Brown—you undoubtedly love good food. Its rich history and continuously evolving recipes have given this piece of Kentucky’s culinary history an enduring star on the dining scene both in the state and out. Whether you’re tucked in at a family-owned restaurant or an upscale establishment, each Hot Brown has a tale to tell about Kentucky’s storied past of food and food traditions. When you come to Kentucky again, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy this signature dish—the taste of the best in the region. A combination of savory turkey, creamy sauce, and melt-in-your-mouth toppings make the Hot Brown a must-try dish for those who want to try Kentucky's famous dishes.
If you are ever in Kentucky, don’t pass up your chance to taste the flavors of the Hot Brown. It’s hard to imagine a food that’s more synonymous with its state than this famous dish demonstrates.
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