Louisville Trip Part 2 - The Hot Brown

When we were in Louisville we discovered a local dish called the Kentucky Hot Brown. It is a dish that was invented at the Brown Hotel in 1926. It has been a Louisville classic ever since. I have had something similar called a beef commercial at the coffee cafe in Elmore Minnesota. I suppose they serve turkey commercials too, and you can probably get these in various forms all over the upper midwest. A beef commercial is a couple of pieces of white bread with some roast beef thrown on top. Then they pour a little gravy on and viola! Dinner.

A Kentucky Hot Brown is a beef commercial with a college education.



It is 2 pieces of toasted bread, topped with roast turkey, a couple tomato slices, a couple pieces of bacon and a white cream and cheese sauce.

Kentucky Hot Brown

1 turkey breast piece, cooked
2 slices bread, toasted
1/2 stick butter
4 T flour
2 cups milk
1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste
tomato slices
2 strips bacon, cooked
shredded cheddar for sprinkling
paprika for sprinkling

Make the sauce by melting the butter in a saucepan. Add flour and whisk, cooking for about a minute. Gradually whisk in milk and cream. Beat egg. Add 1 cup of milk sauce to the egg gradually, then pour the egg/milk back into the pot. Add parmesan cheese and stir. Cook till it thickens but don't let it come to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile have the oven preheated to 400 with the rack on the top rung. Put 2 pieces of toast in an oven proof baking dish and top with turkey. Add tomato slices then bacon. Pour cheese sauce over. Sprinkle a little more parmesan and some cheddar over the top. Sprinkle some paprika on. Bake in the oven until the mixture starts to bubble. When it starts to bubble turn on the broiler. Broil until little dark spots form on top of the cheese.