Brooklyn and The Butcher, New Albany IN

Hubby and I have watched this corner of New Albany transform into a new dining establishment over the last few months, but had yet to try Brooklyn and The Butcher out until we saw they were starting to serve brunch this weekend.

We walked into the beautifully rehabbed building greeted by an entry lobby full of light with a contemporary and neutral decor. All around were quaint little touches that tried to channel a little vintage flair, such as the key rack behind the hostess desk which served as a nod to the building’s history as a hotel. It was pretty quiet when we came in a little before noon so we were seated right away. From our booth I could see right into the kitchen so I was entertained by watching the line calmly assemble dishes. There were also some other references to the butcher name on the walls, a cleaver and apron hung on a hook near the kitchen and an assortment of turn of the century photos.

We had already looked over the menu at home, but I was still debating what drinks to try when we settled on the Julep and Mimosa Bar. Our visit accross the establishment to the bar to concoct our own cocktails, also came with complimentary commemorative derby glasses. Both great and terrible for the indecisive the julep and Mimosa bar offered a variety of liquors, herbs, and fruit purees to customize your beverage with. I had never tried a julep before so I asked the bartender for some basic recommendations to get me started. I ended up with a little peach puree, Old Forrester, simple syrup and a bit of mint all of which was a wonderfully light and refreshing.Hubby got a simple little strawberry mimosa, that was pleasant if a little sweet. I really enjoyed easing into my morning with this lovely drink though next time I might have to go with their tasty sounding Bloody Mary.

For as quiet as it was it the food service did seem a bit slow, but between reading the interesting names of derby winners on our glasses and watching the kitchen staff we were able to pass the time. When the food arrived we were excited to dig in.

My Shortrib Roesti looked lovely and tasty, generally the taste lived up to the look. The shortribs were beautifully tender, each chunk just falling apart, and full of delicious umami flavor. Some of the other elements lagged a bit behind them though. The potatoes though adequately cooked to a nice soft consistency,  would have better complemented the other parts if they had been prepared to a more golden, crisp finish to add some contrast. The mushrooms and asparagus were also fine, but didn’t necessarily add much to the dish. I could see where the combination was going, but richness of the dish craved some balance, so I was a bit disappointed.

My Shortrib Roesti

Hubby got The Croque which was a wonderfully delicious mess. The waffle bun was a lovely crunchy yet soft vehicle for the variety of scrumptious interior elements, which sadly gushed everywhere with each bite. The roasted potatoes that came as a side were also pretty crunchy and yummy, but were made better by the surprising maple aioli. Our server was kind enough to bring two containers of the aioli when he realized they were left off the plate.

The Croque with yummy potatoes

Hubby and I also shared the Omelet of the Day, which was nicely prepared and filled with spinach, goat cheese and mushroom. We both thought it was fine, but were mostly happy to have some extra potatoes.I’m not sure the roasted pepper added much to the potatoes, but they were seasoned well enough on their own. I kind of wish I had given the pastry plate a try instead. Oh well, live and learn.

Omelet of the Day

Overall it was a decent first experience for a brand new brunch spot. There are certainly areas that could be improved upon, but I think Brooklyn and The Butcher is at a good starting place with its opening weekend for brunch. In a few months I’m sure it will be great.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s post, I’ll be taking off next week due to some time consuming work engagements. I hope you all don’t mind missing my ramblings for a couple weeks. Until next time keep eating and drinking well in good company.

Today’s featured brunch: Brooklyn and The Butcher, 148 E Market St, New Albany, IN 47150

Lydia House, Louisville KY

Sorry about skipping last week friends. My back decided to spaz out on me leaving me incapacitated and bedridden for a few days, so I wasn’t really up to going out or writing up a post. I’m almost back to 100% though so hopefully this post helps make up for last week.

I stumbled across reviews for Lydia House looking at posts for some other brunch places and bookmarked it to check out at a later date. We got around to checking out Lydia House on a sunny Saturday morning. It’s located in a little residential area not far from the University of Louisville campus, the exterior is pretty modest with a fun public bulletin and free library box. Stepping inside we found a cozy and hip vintage vibe, where you order at the nicely worn in wooden bar. The menu is small, but the service is as playful as it is friendly and helpful. After placing our order I heard the staff jokingly banter with some regulars, which seems a regular occurrence.

They were trying out some new drinks so I thought I’d give one a try. The Match Boba Tea with coconut milk was certainly a pretty green, the tea nice and creamy, but the boba were a bit chalky and possibly underdone. However this was a new item though so I’m definitely willing to give it some leeway. There were also a lot of other great sounding beverages I’d like to give a try next time.

Matcha Boba Tea

After a short wait our morning meal was brought to the table looking delicious. My Hot Mess arrived with a look living up to its name, the essence was super hearty and satisfying with a nice bit of spice throughout. All the elements kind of blended together into a wonderful mass of warm yumminess. After trying to parse through it all I was able savor the individual parts of smoky ham chunks, nicely roasted potatoes, creamy gravy and sweet onions covered with ooey gooey cheese. I was entranced by the wonderful layers of flavor and gorged myself until near bursting. Even then I still needed a little box to take home the remainder.

Hot Mess

The Sweet Griddled Bread Pudding had a lovely textural balance between the golden exterior and velvet custardy interior. The bread pudding itself was lovely and subtly sweet, but the seasonal jam really made it stand out. This jam had a great heat to it and rich depth of fruitiness, but the flavor of the fruit was hard to place. I finally asked a server, who told me it was their Cherry Habanero Jam which happens to be one of his favorites. The Sweet version certainly gets my vote and I’m sure the Savory version is also delicious, but didn’t get to try it this time.

Sweet Griddle Bread Pudding

Hubby got the Classic with housemade sausage patties and over easy eggs. The sausage was delightfully seasoned and just a touch sweet, while totally well-prepared. Hubby struggled a bit with the heat of the seasoning on the potatoes, but found them more tolerable when mixed together. You should also keep in mind that hubby is often a lot more sensitive to spice than I am. We both rather enjoyed the texture of the potatoes which were perfectly soft and sumptuous inside while maintaining a lovely crisp and crunchy outside.

Hubby’s Classic with housemade Sausage Patties

Overall I think Lydia House is a great little spot with a wonderful vibe and staff. The service was attentive and the food filling and tasty. The amount of spice in just about every dish was an invigorating change for me, though hubby was a little less enthused. I doubt that the sriracha and hot sauce on every table are used often during breakfast if ours were any indication. I would love to come back and explore their lunch and dinner options sometime.

Thanks for checking out this post, sorry again for the skipped week. Until next time keep eating well with good company.

Today’s featured brunch: Lydia House, 1101 Lydia St, Louisville, KY 40217