Food and Spirits Shopping in Kentucky

From urban cores to rural hamlets, Kentucky chefs pride themselves on featuring locally sourced ingredients on their restaurant menus. You can find many of these products at shops and markets around the state to bring home an authentic, farm-to-table taste of Kentucky.

During our growing season (April-November), many communities host farmers markets that are worth a visit. Year-round, market stores offer Kentucky Proud foods – meaning products grown, raised or made in Kentucky. Dozens of our small-farm wineries and craft breweries sell their products on-site and at retail locations around the Commonwealth.

Many Kentucky bourbons are probably available for purchase in your hometown, but they can’t compare to buying the perfect bottle at the distillery of your choice, or discovering a rare, small-batch bourbon you won’t find anywhere else. And don’t leave Kentucky without buying some bourbon balls (yes, bourbon-flavored candy), which were invented at Rebecca Ruth Candy in Frankfort.

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How to Spend a Day in Ashland

Kentucky Appalachians

Start your day at Sky37, where you can savor some of the best Brazilian coffee while meeting the humble and welcoming owners, Jason and Carma. Their custom ceramic pour-over ensures the perfect drip, and they source their coffee beans directly from farmers in Brazil.

Don't miss out on their delicious Breakfast Rice Bowl and the brown-sugar caramelized pineapple, which are simply irresistible. Jason and Carma’s whole goal is to make people feel like they’re at home, and that’s exactly what they accomplish — we didn’t want to leave.

For lunch, head to Backyard Pizza and Raw Bar. You’ll find wood-fired pizza here with superb crust and unique topping combos. We ordered The Flying Piggie with tender bbq pork, mozzarella, toasted butter pickles, and onion strings. Other menu highlights — fresh raw Oysters, Hickory Grilled Wings, and Wood-Fire Grilled Mussels with a beurre blanc sauce.

The Ashland Hot Chicken Sandwich served at The Mill.

We recommend having dinner at The Mill, which serves delicious comfort food like the Ashland Hot Chicken Sandwich — crispy, juicy chicken, slathered in homemade hot sauce, nestled between buttery, fluffy toast, and served with perfectly cooked fries. While you might be full from the day, don’t miss their dessert. This is their specialty, as the owner herself makes all their baked goods in house and changes the options offered with the season.

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Caitlin Sakdalan

Caitlin is a social media influencer, storyteller, and content & community expert. She is the creator behind the hugely popular @befatbehappy Instagram page.

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