RED Episode #57: Run the Bluegrass and Local Food and Beverage in Lexington, Kentucky
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Welcome to episode 57! We just got back from an amazing trip to Lexington, KY and we have so much to share with you!
RUN
This week the Run Eat Drink Podcast is in Lexington, KY to Run the Bluegrass! Run the Bluegrass includes a Yearling (3.65 mile), a 7-miler, and a half-marathon course, starting at the Keeneland Race Course, taking participants through picturesque countryside past storied horse farms responsible for many of the celebrated thoroughbreds. The course was stunningly beautiful and hilly and taught us a thing or two about terrain, preparation, and making adjustments on the fly. This race also has some amazing merchandise, a winner of an expo, and an after-party that's a blast.
EAT
This week we have almost all tastes covered. The food scene in and around Lexington is exploding and we found four spots you have to try if you are in the area. Smithtown Seafood is cooking up fresh seafood in a traditional southern fashion with their Kentucky Proud Catfish and Grits. But, they are also experimenting with flavors and textures not normally seen in southern cooking. Their Singapore Shrimp Wrap is putting an asian noodle dish, paired with formal breaded fried shrimp, and wrapping it in a tortilla! Crazy, right? Crazy GOOD!
Have a hankering for Southern BBQ? Look no further than Red State BBQ! This little spot on a country road by a motel and a horse farm is making local favorites like beer cheese with pretzels, brisket, and ribs with sides like macaroni and cheese and corn pudding. They have a variety of house-made sauces to let you experience regional differences in BBQ from Alabama white (Show Horse), to North Carolina vinegar, South Carolina Mustard, Texas hot, and more. Warm peach bread pudding is for dessert, so save room.
Looking for breakfast? We have you covered. Windy Corner Market is a little country store out on a rural road across from...you guessed it...horse farms. With lines almost out the door, these folks are feeding the masses traditional southern breakfast of eggs, sausage, and gravy, and some things that put a news spin on some old classics, like a breakfast po'boy with bacon, eggs, and fried oysters!
Finally, if you are in the mood for something from south of the border, who knew that Lexington, KY was home to some AMAZING Mexican food? Well, it is, and Papi's Mexican Restaurant and Bar is serving up some old recipes and some new modern classics, like the Cazuela de Rajas Poblanas, a Creamy Sauce of queso fresco, sautéed onion, and poblano peppers served with tortillas for dipping or to make messy tacos. Or how about some more non-traditional items like a hibiscus taco!
DRINK
Brewing and distilling are part of Kentucky heritage. We take you on a tour of some places that are keeping that heritage alive. West Sixth Brewing is serving up a variety of original beers that pair so nicely with the food from Smithtown Seafood which is adjacent to them. They are also working hard to improve their community through charitable giving and partnerships. Their Pay it Forward Cocoa Porter is a must-try!
Alltech Lexington Brewing Company is another brewer that is not only part of the city's rich history but a company that is maintaining that tradition. These folks make the ever-popular Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, but we got to sample several others including a Blackberry Porter, The Kentucky Coffee Cream Ale, and the Kentucky Kolsch. They also own Town Branch distilling which is serving up about 14 different spirits.
finally, Country Boy Brewing is a popular local brewery whose wares can be found all over Lexington's dining establishments. Delicious beers with catchy names are their stock-in-trade like Cougar Bait, which is a light, crisp, American blonde ale. Or Shotgun Wedding, which is a brown ale aged on vanilla beans.
SPONSOR
Our friends at Pure Creative Apparel are once again sponsoring this episode. if you need branded merchandise for a club, school, or your business, Pure Creative Apparel can help. From the initial design to the final step of selling your branded goods online, the team at Pure Creative Apparel can help.
Lexington's Craft Beer Breweries | Kentucky Life | KET
Craft breweries are building a loyal following nationwide, even finding a niche in the land of bourbon. Kentucky Life visits two Lexington breweries to meet the folks behind West Sixth and Country Boy breweries.
Country Boy Brewing, whose logo features a pickup truck, is run by three men with country roots: Evan Coppage, Jeff Beagle, and Daniel Harrison. Located near the University of Kentucky campus off Broadway, the brewery offers a number of unique ales, including Jalapeno Smoked Porter, and coffee stouts as well.
West Sixth Brewery is located on Lexington's north side in an old bread factory. The brewery's owners hope the business will be a key fixture in the revitalized neighborhood. They offer locally made pretzels and beer cheese, and they are the only Kentucky brewery that cans beer.