Better in the Bluegrass with Chef Ouita Michel & Kristen Branscum

Touted Kentucky Chef Ouita Michel Brings the Taste of The Bluegrass State to Cities Across America!

For years, Kentucky has been a hidden gem of Southern fare – but now, with its upcoming appearance at the renowned James Beard House, its evolving cuisine is taking the national stage and proving why the culinary scene is Better in The Bluegrass! Kentucky Chef Ouita Michel is partnering with the Kentucky Department of Tourism, led by Commissioner Kristen Branscum, to showcase Kentucky’s hospitality and unique culinary culture.

Kentucky’s cultural fabric is homegrown, homemade and hand-crafted. Kentucky is about experiences, attractions and in particular, culinary traditions that are made from and by, Kentucky.

Ouita Michel has always made locally grown ingredients a priority in her restaurants. She and her husband, Chris, bought the Holly Hill Inn in 2000 and opened the fine dining restaurant in May 2001. Michel’s use of locally sourced foods both helps sustain Bluegrass family farms and provides her customers only the freshest, best-tasting fine cuisine. Ouita’s restaurants celebrate America’s Bluegrass horse country and famed Bourbon Trails with scratch-made menu items reflecting the distinctive flavors of Kentucky. Ouita also serves as the chef-in-residence at Woodford Reserve Distillery.

Her reputation and commitment to sustainability have earned speaking invitations and awards from local, regional and national organizations. A graduate of the famed Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, Ouita has been a James Beard Foundation Award nominee as Outstanding Restaurateur and as Best Chef Southeast numerous times. Her restaurants are regularly featured in local and national media, such as CBS This Morning, USA Today, Wine Spectator, Garden & Gun, Southern Living and The New York Times.

Ouita and Kristen will also be discussing:

What to visit, see and do in Kentucky

Kentucky’s culinary culture and hospitality industry

Native foods to The Bluegrass State

Traditional and delicious dishes

New and exciting tourism activities

And more!

Related links:  Better In The Bluegrass