Edible Tidbits: June-July 2017
Interest in Better Burgers Is Mushrooming
In an effort to create a more environmentally friendly meat burger, locally owned Superior Meats, the James Beard Foundation and the Mushroom Council are teaming up for the third year of the Blended Burger Project, a nationwide competition to blend mushrooms with meat for a burger that’s more nutritious and sustainable, with a blend that is 75% locally sourced beef and 25% mushrooms.
The burger creations will be featured on the James Beard Foundation’s website, where the public will vote on the best dish between May 29 and July 31. The top five chefs nationally will be flown to New York to cook their winning “blended burger” dish at the fabled James Beard House in January 2018. Additionally, anyone who votes online for the chefs will be entered in a chance to win a trip for two to the 2018 Blended Burger event at the James Beard House.
Local chefs participating include Chef Patrick Roney of Harvest, Chef Shawn Ward of Ward 426, Chef Mikki Rice of Bluegrass Brewing Company, Chef Jereme McFarland of Bourbons Bistro, Chef Tim Smith of Crescent Hill Craft House, Chef Zac Young of Marketplace Restaurant, Chef Darnell Ferguson of SuperChefs and Chef Matt Weber of Uptown Café.
Norton Healthcare is taking the blended burger competition idea a step further with their Star Chef program, a recipe competition between Norton Healthcare system’s five chefs. Each chef creates their own unique burger recipe using locally sourced beef with mushrooms and secret ingredient. Judged by a panel of senior executives, the winning chef will be the official contestant submitted in the national Blended Burger Project competition. The chef’s winning recipe will be featured in all five Norton cafés during the contest.
Superior Meats is Louisville’s only locally owned and operated meat processor and distributor to commercial kitchens.
To vote: JamesBeard.org/blendedburgerproject-2
SuperiorMeatsInc.com
NortonHealthcare.com
KY Proud Spirits Earn National Honors
Wilderness Trail Distillery’s bourbon-influenced Blue Heron Vodka earned a gold medal and its Harvest Rum garnered a bronze medal at the World Spirits Competition in San Francisco in April. The win is the third gold medal for Blue Heron Vodka. Both spirits are Kentucky Proud products with the corn and wheat for the vodka and bourbon sourced three miles from the distillery outside Danville, and the sorghum molasses for the rum produced in Mount Sterling.
WildernessTrailDistillery.com.
New Treats Hitting the Street
Cake Flour(R) Bakery is expanding by selling sweet confections in multiple retail locations around Louisville. Look for the bourbon brownie and bourbon blondie brownie, and a new line of shortbread cookies at local specialty stores, including Paul’s Fruit Market, Fante’s Coffee, Value Market, Fleur de Lis and Two Dazzle.
Presented in small mason jars, the brownies are made with KY bourbon poured over top, frosted with bourbon buttercream and topped with chocolate pearls. For cookie lovers, look for classic,salted caramel, hazelnut, and spiced hotchocolate shortbread flavors. The products are also available at Cake Flour Bakery, 2420 Lime Kiln Ln., Louisville.
Cake-Flour.com.
Itching to Put Up Pickles?
Dying to can quarts of your favorite marinara? Buy large quantities of farm-fresh local food picked during peak season at the Louisville Farm to Table Greenmarket Popup on Wednesday, July 26 from 10am-12pm at Fresh Start Growers’ Supply, 1007 E Jefferson St.
In addition, livestock farmers will be on hand with meat, eggs and cheese. USDA certified organic food will also be featured. Mayor Greg Fischer is scheduled to attend.
Farmers allowed on a first-come, first-served basis. Farmers are permitted to sell in any amount, but buyers who are looking for wholesale amounts at wholesale prices are the target audience for the Greenmarket Popup. For more information, email sfritschne@gmail.com.
A Star Turn for Old Forester
Old Forester, Brown-Forman’s founding straight bourbon whiskey brand, has a new life as Old Forester Statesman in the new film Kingsman: The Golden Circle. A spy adventure, the movie follows two agents undercover as master distillers to save the world. The movie is a sequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service. The movie is directed by Matthew Vaughn and includes an all-star cast: Colin Firth, Jeff Bridges, Channing Tatum, Halle Berry and Julianne Moore.
The film hits theaters September 22. Old Forester Statesman will be available for purchase in August.
OldForester.com
KingsmanMovie.com
Make Dad the Envy of the Angels
With a little black book and three generations of knowledge, the Henderson men—Lincoln, Wes and Kyle—have distilled the perfect Father’s Day gift with Angel’s Envy Bourbon Port Cask Finish. Aging up to six years in new American oak, this bourbon is rested in ruby port wine casks, which lend notes of raisins, nuts and ripe fruit. Awarded 98 points by Wine Enthusiast, the highest score ever for a bourbon.
AngelsEnvy.com
