Kentucky without the Derby
Horses and Great Vegetarian Food
In the Northwest, we dish a lot on the South. There are the common stereotypes of the southern twang, blue-collar folks living in trailer parks and with questionable dental hygiene. The stereotype lasts until you arrive at a place, meet the locals and see the beauty of the landscape. Kentucky is no exception. I’ve been to Kentucky briefly before, but only the part closest to Cincinnati. This trip took me to Lexington, deeper into the state.
First, the scenery is Midwest beautiful in the summer. The rolling hills, lush green fields and acres and acres of pastureland. The stereotype of horses and more horses holds up just fine. It is both a landscape feature and an economic driver.
Second, the weather in the summer is hot and humid, exactly what I expected in June.
My biggest surprise came with the people and the food. I was there for a business meeting, and I had the benefit of an informal dinner meeting. The client took me to a place with vegan tacos. In Lexington, Kentucky. No joke. And the tacos were delicious. The client was sorry I couldn’t come when the most popular food truck in town, a truck selling exclusively vegan fare, was open. Apparently, the truck sells out every night, so there is a line to get food before and locals follow the truck online.
The next day I visited a college roommate in neighboring Cincinnati. We went bourbon tasting at one of his favorite distilleries in Kentucky – the place he got married and one of the few places I had been to before. The bourbon was expectedly delicious in taste and quality. The single-sip samples were enough to enjoy the flavor and the art.
As a side note, Cincinnati is one of my favorite names for a city. The name is historically aspirational. It is named after Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a Roman hero who saved Rome from invaders and was given dictatorial powers by the Senate. After achieving victory, he declined the powers, resigned his commission and spent the rest of his days as a farmer. This was later embodied by the first United States President George Washington. It is the name of aspiration for people doing things that are greater than themselves, and for casting aside expectations to do the honorable thing. A fitting end to the trip.
