Kentucky lays out the welcome mat and sets the dinner table

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Kentucky tourism officials have launched a food trail at nine state parks featuring popular regional dishes such as burgoo, a hearty stew; soup beans; fried potatoes; beer cheese; spoon bread and bourbon cake.

The Kentucky Tourism Cabinet says the Kentucky State Parks Culinary Trail includes nine parks offering different authentic meals that represent their region.

In the western lakes region, the entrée is local surf and turf. In eastern Kentucky’s Appalachia, visitors can dine on soup beans and cornbread followed by salmon patties. In central Kentucky, visitors can enjoy a hot brown — an open-faced sandwich with turkey, bacon, tomato and Mornay sauce — and succotash. Beverages also feature Kentucky fare including Ale-8-One and bourbon. One park offers a choice of milk or moonshine.

Kentucky Tourism Commissioner Kristen Branscum said the initiative “is a fun and interactive way to highlight the state’s signature dishes and encourage locals and visitors alike to explore every corner of our great state.”

She said the trail is beginning with state parks because they are so well known, but officials are also recruiting restaurants to join the trail.

Branscum said tourism officials spent last year talking to foodies, chefs and tourism officials across the state to come up with the right dish to represent each region, and to tell the story of why it’s popular.

“We want to use these culinary assets to attract new visitors, and to educate and inspire Kentuckians to travel across the state and taste these different flavours,” Branscum said. The meals are available through Oct. 3.