BBQ Near Louisville, KY?

[mneeley490]

Not sure if this is the right place to put this? Won't take offense if the mods decide to move it elsewhere.

I'm attending a wedding in Bowling Green in April. But friends and I will be based in Louisville. This will be my 3rd trip there, spent some time on the Bourbon Trail, but this time I thought I'd seek out some local bbq. I'll be traveling as far south as Bowling Green, and as far NE as Sparta.
Interested more in small, local spots rather than big & famous.

 

[Fueling Around]

Mike, It has been over 40 years since I lived in the area. The 2 BBQ places used to be in Owensboro for mutton (never had any) and Peak Brothers in Waverly (I thought it was OK) SW of Henderson. I'm sure the availability of local BBQ has expanded a lot in the past 40 years.
I do suggest passing on catfish or fiddlers as the locals called them. They are not my taste and possibly not yours compared to the fresh seafood from Puget Sound.
When you're in Kentucky be sure to find a place that advertises Burgoo which is a regional origin stew. Don't ask the ingredients was advice from a Kentucky friend. I found it very tasty.

 

[mneeley490]

When you're in Kentucky be sure to find a place that advertises Burgoo which is a regional origin stew. Don't ask the ingredients was advice from a Kentucky friend. I found it very tasty.

LOL, sounds interesting. I'll keep an eye out.

 

[Parshooter]

Bully BBQ is awesome. We ate there this Sept. Food did take a while but it's because the fried fish (not mine but very good) is made to order. The side of fries was enough to feed four people.

Bully Barbeque - Barbecue restaurant in Oldham County - Website

Bully Barbeque stands out as a premier dining destination, captivating patrons with its inviting atmosphere and delectable barbecue offerings. Located in a scen

bully-barbeque.site

 

[mneeley490]

Just got back from KY today.
Ended up going to Stead BBQ, by Castle & Key distillery near Frankfort. Pretty good. I finally got a chance to try a smoked, thick bologna sandwich. Wish I could have snuck a big chub back in my luggage, but it was pretty well packed with bourbon.

The wedding was catered by MoonLite BBQ, from Owensboro. They had chopped brisket and pulled pork. It was fine, but not as smokey as I like it.

I did try the Burgoo at the Talbott Tavern, in Bardstown. Their version was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! My friend that was getting married said that the recipe depends on which church you attend; they're all different. I don't think I'll be able to reverse-engineer the sample I had. Seems like a lot of things going on in there, and you could stand a spoon up in it.
Not a fan of mutton, squirrel, opossum, or other roadkill, but I would probably include chicken, pork, & beef.
I got a recipe from this plate displayed in the Churchill Downs museum. Looks like a good starting point, but I could have sworn there was some ground chili seasoning in the Talbott Tavern version.

 

[bauchjw]

Thank you for sharing! Never heard of this stew, but looking forward to trying it! I wish I had some recommendations, but not my neck of the woods. I used to travel down to SC sometimes and would also try off the trail BBQ. Hit and miss for me. I never understood the passion for wonder-bread with heavy, juicy meat? But, always fun a friendly!

 

[Fueling Around]

MoonLite ... That's the mutton place.
I don't remember what I had there, but it wasn't mutton. Don't know why as I had eaten goat prior but never sheep.

Just got back from KY today.
...
I did try the Burgoo at the Talbott Tavern, in Bardstown. Their version was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! My friend that was getting married said that the recipe depends on which church you attend; they're all different.
...

Happy you enjoyed a very regional fare. I enjoyed living in the area
Yes the recipe varies.