Bar Belle_Spr21_Ed-final.qxp_Road Trip_Cinci.qxd 3/1/21 6:28 AM Page 12
liquids | the bar belle
Belle B elle
The
Bar
It’s our civic duty to drink local BY SARA HAVENS AKA THE BAR BELLE
Just about a year ago, Louisville was home to more than 300 dive bars, neighborhood pubs, cocktail lounges, trusted taverns, dance clubs, breweries, taprooms, sassy saloons, speakeasies — and whatever genre Hikes Point Lounge fits into. But that number has quickly dwindled due to the global pandemic we’d like to forever contain in a time capsule titled “2020 Can Suck It.” Whether or not you agree with Uncle Andy and his decision to enforce early closing times and indoor capacity restrictions, our watering holes desperately need us now more than ever. I declare it a state of emergency for our beloved bars, and it is our civic duty as dedicated drinkers to keep them afloat so that our grandchildren can finally pay off that family tab. So how do we go about drinking local when the weather is so unpredictable this spring? The first step is easy: Wear a coat! Keep out those gloves, hats, scarves, long underwear and butt warmers you’ve been hoarding since last month’s sledding adventure and go have a few drinks. Many bars are spending money they don’t have on industrial heaters, fancy igloos, insulated domes, etc., to keep customers warm and cozy outdoors. Hell, TimTam Tavern down the street from me recently pitched a six-man tent in the parking lot! Perhaps it’s their version of a champagne room — I cannot confirm nor deny. So Step 1 will keep your outsides warm, so how about your insides? Step 2 is easy, too: Take a shot of bourbon. And let’s go ahead and make it Kentucky bourbon to continue our “drink local” theme. My advice would be to go for a bourbon that’s 100 proof or higher to really ramp up that warming, fire-in-the-hole Kentucky hug. Take two shots, and you’ll practically forget about the chill altogether. Moving on to Step 3. Let’s assume you’re a Karen and you just can’t fathom enduring the elements. Don’t worry, there’s room in this mad, mad world for you, too. Get your shit to-go. So many local bars and restaurants are offering quick, curbside service — and you can get beer and cocktails, too! Your only inconvenience 12 Spring 2021 www.foodanddine.com
will be keeping your overworked index finger on the window’s down button, and — BOOM! — they’ll bring your Green Chili Wontons right to your grubby little hands. Margaritas, Old Fashioneds, Negronis, Kentucky Mules, Mojitos and even Long Island Iced Teas can all be taken to-go from most places, and some — like Dragon King’s Daughter, Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, and Pizza Lupo — even have intricate Capri Sun-like pouches for the drinks. And if you’re a beer-lover, even better. Local breweries serve up their beer in growlers, crowlers, howlers, cans, buckets — basically any vessel will do. (Speaking of Dragon King’s Daughter and their Highlands location, I want to applaud them for their above-and-beyond effort for totally renovating their dining room to create a cozy, socially-distanced space. The partitioned-off, high-top tables remind me of the old Cunningham’s downtown, where you could eat your lunch in what once was a highfalutin River City brothel.) The final step in our civic duty quest to drink local is geared toward supporting the people who staff our favorite places — be kind, support and tip well. These servers, bartenders, owners and cooks are working tirelessly to keep their doors open and keep their customers coming back week after week. Did I mention tipping? I know you think 20% is generous, but let’s go ahead and double that. And do more if you can! I’m sure after the bills are paid, the money is going right back into the bar to make it a better, more welcoming space we’ll all be able to return to soon. By following the steps above, plus a little luck and an ample supply of butt warmers, we can help our favorite bars get back on their feet. I’d also like to welcome all the new bars that dared open during a pandemic, riding out the waves of uncertainty like Patrick Swayze in “Point Blank.” Some of those include names like I Love Tacos, PG&Js Dog Bar, TEN20 Craft Brewery, Atrium Brewing, West Sixth NuLu, Cultured, La Bodeguita Cuban Restaurant & Rum Bar, The Palm Room, Monnik New Albany, Parlour Pizza New Albany, Board and You Bistro & Wine Bar, and Agave & Rye New Albany, Levee Bourbon Lounge, among others. To those who spent small fortunes on redesigning, reimagining and/or reinvigorating outdoor and indoor spaces, we raise a toast to you, too! I see you, Chill Bar. And remember, heaters aren’t cheap, so if it’s above 50 degrees, don’t be a Karen and waste our finite fossil fuels.