The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Your guide to Courier Journal ’s 2023 Wine & Food Experience
The annual Courier Journal Wine & Food Experience is back with an array of local restaurants, bars and brands poised to treat hundreds of attendees to an afternoon of all things food and drink. This year’s event also comes with a new location: Waterfront Park.
The “culinary adventure,” as the USA TODAY Network event is billed, aims to showcase what stands out about Louisville’s dining and imbibing options. This year’s lineup features samples from more than a dozen restaurants, including places like Drake’s, Galaxie, and Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, plus wine, beer and spirits poured by local mixologists and servers.
Event Culinary Director Jared Bobkin, who you may recognize from his stint on “Hell’s Kitchen,” said “I really like Louisville’s food scene. It’s very set in tradition, but modern and is always pushing the envelope. You can see so many places popping up and you’re not seeing the same thing over and over.”
Along with plenty of bites and sips, there will be cooking demonstrations and spirit-focused seminars, plus a variety of entertainment. Here’s what else you should know about Louisville’s Wine & Food Experience:
When and where? The Courier Journal’s Wine & Food Experience takes place Saturday, Aug. 19 at Waterfront Park from 1-4 p.m., with VIP entry at noon
How much are tickets? General admission tickets cost $65 in advance and go up to $80 on the day of the event. This includes a tasting cup, food and beverage samples (while supplies last) and access to demonstrations. VIP tickets, which cost $100 in advance, give event-goers early entry and access to the VIP lounge. That price goes up to $115 on the day of the event. The Wine & Food Experience has been known to sell out in previous years, so buying advance tickets is recommended. For more info, visit wineandfood.usatoday.com/ louisville.
Participating restaurants: Brunch & Soul, CASK Southern Kitchen & Bar, Ciao Ristorante, Cooking With Jan,
Drake’s, Galaxie, Game Restaurant, Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Company, Green Chili Jam, Gustavo’s Mexican Grill, Harry’s, Malone’s, Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, Morning Fork and Fork & Barrel, Red Yeti, Ritual Zero Proof, Swizzle Dinner & Drinks @ Galt House
What food will there be? Each of the restaurants is tasked with serving up a small sample from its menu and some selections are still a surprise. Here’s some of what’s in store:
CASK Southern Kitchen will be offering shrimp and grits
Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Co. will have sweet potato fudge brownies
Harry’s will have hot-baked crab dip
Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen will serve green chile tacos
What booze will there be? In Louisville, you can count on more than just wine samples. The list of participating drinkeries will include a mix of nonalcoholic options and bourbon. Check out vendors such as Ritual Zero Proof, Rancho la Gloria, Dough Ball Cookie Dough Whiskey, Purple Toad Winery, BuzzBallz, Beam Suntory, Swizzle, Hornitos Plata Tequila, Jim Beam Orange Flavored Whiskey, Haku Japanese Vodka, Coy Wine Collection, 1921 Tequila and Tequila Cream.
Parking: Parking is available throughout Waterfront Park and along River Road. The Lincoln Memorial Parking Lot, 601 River Road, is near the park’s Swing Garden, the site of the Wine & Food Experience. Of note, the park closes at 11 p.m. and cars left parked are subject to towing. For more info about the park’s rules, visit ourwaterfront.org.