Bardstown KY - Pecan Waffles and Bourbon

Hey! Look who I found wandering around the Waffle House!

For you who don't know, that's Steven Sawyer, a longtime programmer and colleague of mine at CXtec. He left for a lucrative position at Fruit Of The Loom in November. I knew he was in Kentucky, but had no idea how close I'd pass until I came down a few weeks ago. The Fruit of the Loom factory was a stone's throw from I-65, so we arranged lunch on my way back.

Steven is doing quite well, I'm glad to report. He was smiling even! (No, I'm not kidding!) At work, he's supervising contractors, going to meetings, handling paperwork ... and even a little programming. Things have settled down enough that Steven, Patti and the kiddies are looking for permanent digs. Steven has found a lot of music buddies in his church - such is the South, y'all! Anyway, it was cool seeing him.

And yeah, that was my first trip to the ubiquitous Waffle House. Pecan Waffles, grits and cheese, pecan pie and sweet tea. Yankee food is going to be a shock.

I picked a B&B in Bardstown for one reason: it was 1/3 of the way home. I had no idea Bardstown was Bourbon capitol of the free world! 80% of US Bourboun is made in a 20 mile radius around here. After dinner, I went to the Jazzy Bar and asked for a mint julep. "That's like asking for a green beer at Christmas!" they said. Evidently, Derby Day is the only time most restaurants serve it. But since tomorrow was St. Patty's day, they asked if I wanted a green beer. "Naah. How about a bourbon?" I replied.

They pulled down the top shelf, single-barrel, reserve stuff. Ohhhhhh, mannnn! "1792" Reserve was a little sweet, like honey. Knob Creek Reserve was very nice smoky, oaky, ancient flavor. But my favorite, which the owner gave me a free shot of, was Jefferson's Reserve. It was as smooth as milk, a little apple-flavored, and yet indescribable. It was unlike any bourbon I've ever had. But I wisely declared my limit there, and stumbled back to the inn.

The Rosewood Manor is an "Old Kentucky Home," very appropriate for the land of Stephen Foster. It's very charming and well-detailed ... but it is clearly optimized for romance. All the other rooms were occupied by couples. I was in the Muir room, whose theme was rabbits. As in "get busy and multiply like ..." Ahem.

"If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right," sighed Tom. Sensing ecological disaster, I pulled them apart and dragged Tom off to the car.

Last stop: Erie, PA.