Gay N. Lewis: The Hot Brown

Friday, May 17, 2024

The Hot Brown

I flew into CVG Airport a week ago. This airport services Ohio and northern Kentucky, and it is a lovely, small destination, especially compared to IAH, the one I left in Houston.

My daughter and son-in-law were to meet me, but they got caught in traffic. Some dude decided to cross a line of travelers. His act cost him his life. A sad day for many.

While I waited, I explored the airport. I’m a big Astros fan, but they weren’t fairing well when I left, so I decided to have a chat with the Cincinnati Red’s mascot, Mr. Red. He was nice, but he didn’t say much. He merely smiled a lot. If he's married, I hope his wife doesn't mind my hand on his knee... er...thigh.

One of my goals was to have a Hot Brown. This sandwich was made famous in the early 1920s in Louisville, KY at the Brown Hotel. Hotel guests often danced into the wee morning. Well, it seems the chef, Fred Schmidt, grew tired of feeding people breakfast foods, so he created a new open-face sandwich with turkey, bacon, tomatoes, and mornay sauce. Patrons loved it. It became famous and was soon a Louisville tradition.

The server recommended the buffet, but she also said The Hot Brown is always served.

I was there for The Hot Brown.

Eating The Hot Brown.

I confess…I wasn’t impressed. The Derby had been held the week before, and perhaps the hotel kitchen had run short of ingredients.

Who knows? Maybe it was just me. You know, after all the hype about something, our dreams don’t always match the situation.

You will find the recipe here. The Hot Brown. The sandwich pictured in the photo looks nothing like the one they served me. Perhaps the guy or gal who made it in the kitchen had not seen this beautiful presentation. They forgot to toast the bread, and the sauce was too thick and tasteless.

The Brown Hotel in Louisville is a traditional guest house with a dramatic history. Here's a picture of my daughter standing with me on one of the staircases.