Doing Derby at home? Here’s the food, drink you need for authentic Kentucky flavor
The Kentucky Derby is returning to the first Saturday in May and that means it’s party planning time if you aren’t heading to Churchill Downs.
What does it take to put together a fun Derby watching party? It’s surprisingly easy. You’ll need a way to watch the race, of course. NBC will have the May 1 race, which has a 6:57 p.m. post time, as well as hours of coverage on NBCSports.com beginning at noon.
And hats: Get creative, make your own at home.
For those who don’t bet online, you can still get the flavor by drawing Derby horse names out of a hat to root for.
Here are more things that will give you an authentic Run for the Roses flavor at home.
Mint julep recipe
Here’s the secret to a great mint julep: Ice. It’s true. They taste best cold.
Don’t bother with the pre-made mint julep drinks you can buy at the liquor store. Because a julep is basically fresh spearmint, simple syrup, ice and bourbon.
“The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book” by Joy Perrine and Susan Reigler has this recipe:
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 5-7 mint leaves (Kentucky Colonel variety if available)
- 3 ounces Kentucky bourbon
- 3 ounces water
Into a large mixing glass pour simple syrup, add mint and muddle well. Add bourbon and water. Fill with crushed ice or small ice cubes, and shake. Pour into a chilled cup or glass to serve. Garnish with a large sprig of fresh mint and add a long straw. (A sterling silver julep cup is best. An official Kentucky Derby souvenir glass is next best. But any tall Collins-type glass will work.)
But here’s the truth: Mint juleps at the track are not that great. It’s about the experience of having one at Churchill Downs. So feel free to skip the julep and try another (and much tastier in my opinion) Derby cocktail: The Woodford Spire. It’s also served at Churchill and made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, which sponsors the Derby.
To make, mix:
- 1-1/2 ounce Woodford Reserve Bourbon
- 2 ounces lemonade
- 1 ounces cranberry juice
- Lemon twist
Serve over ice and garnish with a lemon twist.
A certain pecan pie with chocolate chips
You probably know the one I’m talking about. It’s sometimes referred to as May Day Pie because its association with the Derby. Kern’s Kitchen makes the original Derby Pie, a kind of corn syrup and pecan pie with chocolate chips and, sometimes, bourbon.
You can buy Kern’s Kitchen pies or you can make your own. There are lots of variations on the theme, including versions that leave out bourbon entirely if that isn’t to your taste.
Lexington cookbook author Barbara Harper Bach, who knows her way around award-winning pies, has a unique take: She calls hers Racetrack Pie and dresses it up with bourbon whipped cream when serving. She also likes to put horse-themed cutouts on top while the pie bakes to give it a festive look.
Racetrack Pie recipe
Yield: Two pies
- 1 cup of all purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup melted butter
- 4 tablespoons Maker’s Mark bourbon
- 2 cups chopped walnuts
- 2 1/2 cups dark chocolate morsels
- 2 pinches of salt
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla
Mix flour and sugar, add eggs and butter and mix on low to combine. Add the bourbon, walnuts, chocolate morsels, vanilla and salt. Mix on medium. Tip into two 9-inch unbaked pie crusts and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Let cool then top with bourbon whipped cream.
To make the cream, use an electric mixer to beat in a cold bowl: 1 pint of whipping cream, 2 tablespoons of powdered confectioners sugar and 1 tablespoon of Maker’s Mark bourbon until still peaks form. Store in the refrigerator.
Country ham, beaten biscuits and more
For many people, a Bluegrass party spread includes the delicacy known as country ham. Good country ham, cured in salt and smoked, is akin to charcuterie and you can eat it with just about anything but it goes particularly well with a hard-to-find kind of flat bread known as the beaten biscuit.
Steve Coomes, author of “Country Ham: A Southern Tradition of Hogs, Salt & Smoke” suggests looking for ham made by Nancy Newsom, Jen Denham of Woodlands Pork and a few others.
Critchfield Meats Market on Southland Drive has country ham and also offers country ham on rolls in party trays.
They also are one of the few places that still have beaten biscuits.
Other Kentucky specialties that you can add to the feast include Benedictine sandwiches, a kind of cucumber spread created by Louisville caterer Jennie Benedict more than 100 years ago.
Cookbook author Ronni Lundy included a version in her “Shuck Beans, Stack Cakes and Honest Fried Chicken.” Serve on crustless white bread, with crackers or with veggies for dipping.
Benedictine spread recipe
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 tablespoons cucumber juice (see note)
- 1 tablespoon onion juice (see note)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Few grains cayenne pepper
- 2 drops green food coloring
Mix all ingredients with a fork until well blended. Using a blender will make the spread too runny.
Note: To get juice, peel and grate cucumber, then wrap shavings in a clean dish towel and squeeze juice into a dish. Discard pulp. Do the same for the onion.
Or you can pick some up from Selma’s Catering at her Liberty Road Cafe. While you’re there, go ahead and grab some beer cheese and olive nut spread. Put out with good crackers.
This story was originally published April 26, 2021 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Doing Derby at home? Here’s the food, drink you need for authentic Kentucky flavor."
