JIM BEAM’s KITCHEN TABLE and THE BAR at WILLETT
Thursdays are for visiting cemeteries and eating fried chicken, right? Well, according to my pretty lady, it is. LOL. She was on a mission to visit The Bar at Willett Distillery after paying her respects to A.L.Thompson Willett as close to his birthday as possible. I was delighted to join her, especially when she suggested we have lunch at The Kitchen Table in Clermont.
In October, I ate at The Kitchen Table and so enjoyed my lunch there. A couple of our friends ordered the hot honey fried chicken on that visit and honestly, I had been thinking about it ever since. I didn’t need to look at the menu when we sat down, but I did, and glad I did. I noticed arugula beet salad on the menu. Red and golden beets are my favorite because of their sweet and earthy taste. I didn’t hesitate to order that salad along with a whiskey sour and the hot honey fried chicken.
Our server was Mio and immediately informed us that English is his second language. We didn’t mind at all! At one time English was my second language so I understood. Mio shared with us that his background in hospitality is mainly from working on cruise ships. I was impressed! Having been on a few cruises I know the long hours and hard work cruise ship employees put in to ensure that guests have an enjoyable and memorable vacation experience. Mio was very attentive and engaging.
I requested only dark meat with my entree. It’s more fatty but more flavorful. Mio was more than happy to discuss my request with the chef. And I was happy to see all the dark meat when my entree arrived! My pretty lady declared to the world that the arugula beet salad was the best salad she had ever eaten in her life. I believe her. The service at The Kitchen Table was great. At least five people came to our table to say hi and ask about our visit. One lady working even offered to take our picture at one point.
It had been years since I had been inside the visitor center. It looks nothing like it used to and the transformation is impressive. I was digging the interactive and modern experience of the remodeled visitor center. The cozy seating on the first floor added a touch of comfort to the overall ambiance.
I knew before we left that my pretty lady was going to go check out the women’s restroom. She came back saying there was a hook but the door on one of the stalls was a bit challenging to open and close. Honestly, I’m so glad there was a hook because if not she would have been talking about it all the way to Bardstown.
We left Clermont for Bardstown and went straight to St. Joseph Cemetery to visit the final resting place of A.L. Thompson Willett. Inclement weather does not ever deter her from paying her respects.
After visiting St. Joseph Cemetery and Bardstown Cemetery we drove on out to The Bar at Willett Distillery. Neither one of us had been before and was very much looking forward to it. The drive from the main entrance to The Bar was barren and failed to inspire. There wasn’t anything charming or interesting to see and left me unfilled as it reflected gloom sky above. Although the restaurant was a great building with southern charm, I couldn't help but feel disappointed again by its lackluster curb appeal. The view from the second floor from The Bar is still nice even on such a dreary day.
I was in awe of the enormous chandelier when we walked in and delighted that there were two (maybe three) hosts at the host stand. You may recall when we visited The Capital Grille there was no one at the host stand when we arrived and only one host working. One host at The Bar immediately poured two glasses of water for us and escorted us to the bar. I cannot recall one single time a host has poured us water upon arrival. A warm welcome plus they went the extra mile to make us feel comfortable. It’s a simple gesture to pour us glasses of water upon our arrival and it truly made a big difference in how we perceived our overall experience. Small details matter!
Luciano was our bartender, and he was great! He recently moved to Bardstown from California. I appreciated his drink recommendations and I know my pretty lady appreciated his hot takes on the dessert menu. What I appreciate most about Luciano is his story and what brought him to The Bar at Willett Distillery. It sounded like a great opportunity for him to work with an accomplished chef. I started with their signature Sazerac cocktail with Willett 4-year Rye, Cognac, Peychaud’s Bitter, and Absinthe. It was a sophisticated drink, and I was feeling very sophisticated as a result.
My pretty lady ordered the Paris-Brest French dessert with hazelnut, chocolate, and cherry. It was decadent and she was in Heaven. Something that I have only seen twice before is the kitchen completely open. It was entertaining to glance behind us and see all the action taking place in the kitchen.
When I noticed ribeye on the menu, I immediately asked Luciano about it as I did not see it on the menu posted online. He mentioned the menu is different every day and if I want that ribeye, he suggested I call ahead and ask. So pro tip for everyone - if you’re curious about the menu give them a call. I will be back for their ribeye!
We wrapped up our time at The Bar with the bourbon vanilla hot chai tea. Hot tea seemed soothing on such a rainy day. My level of sophistication hit an all-time high with their fancy gold-trimmed teacup and saucer. The hot tea was lukewarm, and Luciano insisted on making us a second one that was piping hot. The second tea had me feeling cozy and content.
And if you’re wondering about the restroom. The was no hook! It was a long drive back home talking about hooks in restrooms! LOL.
Have you been to The Kitchen Table or The Bar at Willett Distillery? Hit me up on IG! @bourbondappergent or comment below.
