I am so used to seeing the words “bread from the Blue Dog Bakery” after menu items all around Louisville. People seem to generally agree that the artisan bread at Blue Dog (located at 2868 Frankfort Avenue) is the best in town. I've heard so many rave reviews of the brunch at Blue Dog I simply had to try it; and I found myself with a few jeers, and a few cheers.
As an appetizer we ordered a cheese plate. As a note to servers everywhere, I like to be told what the chunks of cheese on my plate actually are, rather than having the tray plunked in front of me with narry a word of explanation. I know we got a few hard cheeses, and one crusted with rosemary, plus some very hard raisin bread and FABULOUS red pepper jelly. I am not ashamed to admit I licked the red pepper jelly out of the bowl. I am uncouth, but I got the last bits of red pepper jelly: worth it.
The Beet Salad with toasted walnuts, arugula and Chevre cheese was small but good. Yummy blueberry pancakes were on special, but horrifically, were served with FAKE SYRUP rather than maple. I get that maple syrup is expensive, but seriously? The nasty blend of corn syrup and artificial flavors tastes like someone melted cheap candy and dumped it on your pancakes. The real star of the meal was Poached Free Range eggs on Levain with a thin sliver of prosciutto and spinach—those eggs were warm and poached to perfection, and the prosciutto was just the perfect amount. The house bacon was far too salty, even for bacon, but fatty and well cooked.
The meal was a bit pricey for the actual amount of food, but the bread of course was good. I do prefer a softer bread, but to each their own. The staff was friendly if a bit hassled, and we left happy if not genuinely thrilled. You may notice, by this point, that the general feeling of this brunch was a little...iffy. We enjoyed the Blue Dog, but there are better brunches in town.
photos: Elizabeth Orrick
