Recently I was invited to a taping of the show “Secrets of Louisville Chefs” at Bourbon Barrel Foods. I had seen the show before, but it never occurred to me that watching it being made was something you could do right here in Louisville. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’ll try just about anything once.
The experience was really unique. We were welcomed with popcorn and sparkling wine cocktails before we were invited to take our seats in the audience. Even the tables and chairs in the kitchen studio were made from reclaimed bourbon barrels, adding to the overall bourbony charm of the facility.
We sat through the taping of two shows, one with the chef from Buck’s and one with the chef from Bistro Le Relais. While the television audiences will see only about 20 minutes worth of footage, we audience members were fortunate enough to catch the bonus reel. In other words, we got ALL the secrets as well as a lot of outtakes and laughs.
Kevin Harned and Tim Laird are a great team for this show. Their banter kept the experience entertaining. I could imagine it wouldn’t be quite so interesting if they didn’t have the right personalities keeping things rolling. Tim Laird also has a cocktail segment on the show, so we were fortunate enough to also learn a little bit of mixology from him.
Overall, this is a great way to spend about three hours on a Saturday morning. Perhaps the best part is that you get to have lunch prepared by the chefs after taping has concluded. If you are interested in cooking shows this is a great one that is being filmed right in your own back yard. Mint Julep Tours is the only place in town to buy tickets, and you can find more information about that by clicking here. This can be a great date morning or a fun way to spend time with your foodie friends. There is a great deal of sitting involved, so I don’t recommend it for anyone who wouldn’t want to sit on a bar stool for an extended period of time, though there are ample opportunities to get up and move around.
My only complaint about this experience is that there was no coffee. I would have loved to have a little coffee with some bourbon barrel smoked sugar and some of that heavy cream they were putting into all the recipes. Other than this it was an excellent way to spend a Saturday morning!
Photos Courtesy of Maggie Kimberl
