‘Top Chef’ in Kentucky

“Top Chef” judge Graham Elliot said he’s a fan of Royals Hot Chicken in Louisville’s dynamic NuLu neighborhood.   (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

In the 1920s, the Brown Hotel was a popular spot for dinner dances. Late at night, hungry patrons would leave the dance floor and head to the hotel’s restaurant, where chef Fred Schmidt served them a “Hot Brown,” an open-face turkey sandwich with bacon, tomatoes and mornay sauce. The culinary tradition lives on nearly a century later, and places throughout Louisville and beyond serve their own spin on the sandwich.   (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Steak tartare with charred beets, sunchoke chips, creme fraiche, dill and rye crackers at Decca, a Louisville restaurant run by former “Top Chef” contestant Annie Pettry.   (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Buttermilk ricotta toast with spring peas at Decca, a Louisville restaurant owned by former “Top Chef” contestant Annie Pettry.   (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Delicious bourbon balls are among the myriad offerings at Louisville-based Cellar Door Chocolates, which has an outpost in Butchertown Market, seen here, near downtown.   (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Ouita Michel opened Honeywood in Lexington in 2017. The affordably priced menu is full of comfort-food staples built around ingredients sourced from local producers.   (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Honeywood’s juicy burgers are made with beef patties from Kentucky’s Black Hawk Farms.   (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Soup beans and a hoecake can be had for $5 at Ouita Michel’s Honeywood restaurant in Lexington. Michel, the queen of Kentucky cuisine, will be making an appearance on this season of “Top Chef.”   (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Lexington’s Distillery District is home to Crank & Boom Ice Cream Lounge, a fun spot to indulge in some frosty treats, like bourbon and honey ice cream.   (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )