The Commonwealth of Kentucky did such a good job popularizing southern-fried chicken and slow-sipping bourbon, it’s no surprise that Bluegrassers have also made a weighty contribution to the world of signature sandwiches. The almost impossibly yummy Hot Brown Sandwich, invented by chef Fred. K. Schmidt at Louisville’s Brown Hotel in 1926, is actually more than a snack: It’s a hefty, savoury, full-on meal fit for Derby winners and honorary colonels alike. This audacious take on the leftover turkey sandwich is a broiled-until-crisp concoction of turkey, buttery white bread, bacon (of course!), cheese and mornay sauce (onion, more butter and – what else – cheese). Hot brown, hot damn.
The Brown Hotel
335 W. Broadway, Louisville, Kentucky, 502-583-1234, brownhotel.com
