If there is one thing I love to do while traveling, it is find new places to eat. I love to explore the local eateries that aren’t available in my area, the local hidden treasures. Our first stop was The Tea Bayou in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Located in historic downtown Bowling Green on the town square, this was the last place I expected to find an authentic Cajun restaurant. Owner Greg Shea was born and raised in New Orleans, but fell in love with the atmosphere in Bowling Green. In 2011 he opened his restaurant, serving their best New Orleans recipes, including an amazing shrimp Po’Boy.
I had the 6 inch Po’ Boy served with a Bayou salad, but fries and slaw are also available as sides. The sandwiches are made fresh to order and come to the table piping hot. There was an amazing selection of homemade desserts on display and I wanted to try one strictly for test tasting purposes. Unfortunately, I was too full after finishing most of my sandwich, which reminded me once again why I should always eat dessert first! The restaurant has increased so much in popularity the owners are expanding. After one bite I could see why! It’s like a small slice of New Orleans hidden away in the city.
Our next stop was Harper House in Hopkinsville. Opened on Main Street in a remodeled shop front in 2009, owners Chris & Nelson Daniels are bringing “elevated cuisine off the beaten path.” We started with the fried Cheese Curds with house Bar-B-que sauce. Served in a basket that looked like it had just been brought from the deep fryer, these tiny morsels were oozing with cheesy goodness.
I tried the Chicken Pot Pie, featuring slow cooked chicken and veggies topped with a tender flaky crust, and a side of Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts. I am not a fan of Brussel sprouts but was assured these were delicious. I couldn’t believe how good they were! I ate all of them and have been trying to replicate them at home. Who knew Brussel Sprouts could be so good? It’s true when they say bacon makes anything better!
Harper House opens at 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday for dinner. They also have an extensive drink menu if you are so inclined and a fresh dessert selection that changes daily. Alas, I was too full to try dessert.
Our last stop was Kirchhoff’s Deli in downtown Paducah. Opened in 1873 by a Prussian immigrant, Franz Kirchhoff, this bakery has been in the family for five generations. They prepare their own bread, sandwiches and amazing desserts.
When I stepped inside the building the first items I saw were the desserts. “Forget the sandwiches,” I told Bryan, “I want dessert!” I ate a few bites of a hearty Roast Beef and Portabello sandwich and then rushed over to the bakery. My mouth watered as I chose the All Good Bar (Chocolate Walnut Crust w/ Peanut Butter Filling, Covered in Chocolate Ganache), the Pralines and Cream bar and the iced brownie. I had a small bite of each one purely for testing purposes, of course! I shared the bars with other family members and thought I was being especially generous since I could have kept them for myself!
If you happen to be passing through these areas, any of these restaurants are well worth a stop! Just be sure to save room for the dessert menu!
I love knowing where to go when in a new place – this is great!
Each restaurant seems to offer a gastronomic delight. The pictures were scrumptious too. Yum!
Everything looks so good & has me hungry after I just ate! Especially for those desserts!
First of all let me say this ; all of the food pictures looks yummy and tempting especially the Po’Boy. I too love to go to new restaurants and sample new cuisine. Unfortunately, we don’t really have great local eateries in our town.
I’m going to send this to my friend in Kentucky. He LOVES to eat, and these are right up his alley.
My brother’s ex-girlfriend was from Kentucky and she used to tell me about all the wonderful places to eat there. I definitely would like to visit in the near future.
I haven’t been to Kentucky… yet. I want to visit every state in the union and would love to check out these places!
I’ve never been to Kentucky, I hear it is really nice there. Everything looks delicious!
The food does look good. My husband and oldest three kids would agree with you that bacon makes everything taste better. 😉
Thank you for sharing your visits to these amazing restaurants. If I am ever in Kentucky I will have to find these to try them for myself.
Ooh. It’s got to be Kirchoff’s for me. Their sweets look yummy!
The pot pie- OHMY! And let’s not talk about those desserts! WOW! Thanks for sharing your visit!
Oh my gosh …. those look amazing! I’m a little jealous of you right now! 🙂
I have always wanted to visit Kentucky because I am a horse lover. Now I know where to eat if and when I get there!
One message I am getting from your posts is that I really need to visit Kentucky and do it soon, LOL. Everything looks so beautiful and the towns have such a wonderful atmosphere. But the food! Oh my!
I’m a foodie and can you believe that I have never had a shrimp po boy. I will say that I’m with you on the dessert first option. I’m a sucker for sweets. No matter how full I am I always make room for chocolate.
This is home for me! I love that New Orleans has always had the best food and ducked away eateries. I don’t know if you could ever try all of the restaurants they have to offer! Thanks for sharing!
I agree with you that one of the best things about traveling to different places is trying out the different types of food.
These all sound delicious. That chicken Pot Pie looks so tasty. Will definitely mark these down for the next time we head through Kentucky, which will likely be next summer.
That looks so good. Have never been to Kentucky!
Look at all those great dishes. I am a southern girl for life even though I now live in the north. I can appreciate tasty treats like these.
Now that food looks delicious, I would love to try it!
I am in aw of that chicken pie and those Brussels sprouts, I love trying cuisine in different states,
What a great selection of restaurants. Harper House looks really great!
Oh you can almost smell those desserts thru the computer. thanks for the restaurant reccomendations.
That Po’Boy and those desserts look heavenly. My mouth is literally watering right now. Yummm.
OKAY, Now I’m hungry! My sister used to live in Kentucky. I wonder if she ever went to these restaurants. Food sounds amazing!
This food looks amazing. I will have to ask my friend from Kentucky if she has ever been to these places.
I love cute tea restaurants! It looks like a cute place.
Everything looks awesome, especially those desserts! I’m a sucker for chicken pot pie!
Oh my all of these dishes look so tasty! I’d love to visit the Tea Bayou because I love Cajun food!
If I’m ever that way I just have to eat there. Sounds like a great place to eat with your family.
Give me that All Good Bar now!! and nobody gets hurt. Just kidding but wow that would be so worth the trip.
I have never been to Kentucky but now I want to go.
wow the chicken pot pie and the desserts have me booking a flight!
way to enjoy flavors!
You had me at Shrimp PoBoy, I love those things. I hope to visit there one day, Kentucky is so beautiful.
I love southern food, but I’ve never been to the south before! As much as I love it, I guess I don’t even know if I’ve had “the real thing” yet. I’d probably like it just that much more.
I haven’t eaten lunch yet and now I’m starving!! 🙂 Next time I am in the area I will definitely try some of these tasty spots.
wow nice places to to visit. I am so hungry after reading this post.
I go to Bowling Green all of the time and had never heard of this restaurant. It sounds wonderful. I only live around 30 to 40 miles away in Glasgow. All three places sound great and I need to tell my sisters about them and go try them out.
Oh yum that is some delicious sounding eateries I know where I need to call into if I am ever in the area 😉 x
Wow, that all looks amazing! I’ve never been to Kentucky but the food alone looks like it would be worth the trip!
I love finding new places to eat. All the food looks amazing and I am drooling over that chicken pot pie!
I know, Cyndie, doesn’t it look good. I love eating out 🙂
OMG, so much good food. I love good southern cooking. Yum!