JayPo’s Penalty Boxed Lunch: The Hot Brown

Welcome to JayPo’s Penalty Boxed Lunch, where we explore food from around the country! This week’s 35th official entry hails from the Bluegrass State featuring the peculiar \"sandwich\", the Hot Brown. We will not be having a debate as to whether or not this is a sandwich or not because everything is a sandwich when you think about it.

Food History!

For once, we have a definitive origin story for one of these sandwiches. The Hot Brown was invented at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky back in 1926 by Fred K. Schmidt and was apparently served as an alternative to a late-night egg and ham dinner. The Hot Brown is simply an open-faced sandwich covered with sliced turkey breast, bacon and a Mornay sauce over toast. Variations have other ingredients such as tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, pimentos, ham, and mushrooms.

How I Made It!

I tried to stay as traditional as possible, while adding things that I personally like. Instead of white bread, I opted for thick slices of Texas Toast to give it more structure. I then topped that with a traditional Mornay sauce, sliced turkey breast, tomatoes, Romano cheese, and bacon. Baked this in the oven for a bit and finished it with a broil. It is indulgent and a bit over-the-top, but it is so dang good. Comfort food at its finest.

What Does A Local Think?

Guess what, we don’t have a local. Hard to believe that I couldn’t find a single Kentucky-an to judge my culinary skills. Want to judge my culinary skills and have lived in (even if briefly): Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, Wyoming?…hit me up on Twitter!! You’ll be featured in here and forever immortalized (and forever in your debt).

Talking Points