Pawpaw - Kentucky's Forgotten Tropical Fruit

Pawpaw

Since hearing about the pawpaw fruit on NPR three years ago, I've been a woman obsessed with finding this fruit in Louisville.  The largest edible fruit native to America, pawpaw flavor resembles a mix between mango, pineapple and banana.  I'm a lover of tropical and exotic fruit and was immediately intrigue.

I did extensive research into its history, habitat, taste, nutritional values and anything I can find.  It's a problem I have, I take my food way too seriously. I found that they grow naturally in this region, so got into foraging briefly in hope of finding the fruits and trees.  My adventure brought me no pawpaws, only a lot of jokes from my husband and friends.  I heard that they ripe around August to October, so I took trips to local farmer's markets to find this mystery fruit.  I had no luck.  I asked an older co-worker about the fruit since it was historically enjoyed by many people in the region.  She only gave me a song about pawpaw, "Where, oh where, oh where is Susie? | Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch....".  I was tempted to take a trip to Kentucky State University after hearing about its pawpaw farm and reputation as the only full time pawpaw research facility in the world.  I never made it there, I didn't think an Asian woman lurking in the orchards would be welcomed.

It's so hard to find because the fruit never took off commercially.  It has a short shelf life (2-3 days) and doesn't travel well because it bruises easily.  Not the prettiest fruit, it has no appeal to the casual buyers.  Historically enjoyed by Native Americans and early settlers (Thomas Jefferson and George Washington among the most famous), pawpaws slowly became a thing of the past as people drifted away from their agriculture roots.

This weekend, while on the Shelby Good Neighbors Farm Tour with my husband, I saw a bright neon sign in the back corner of the Shelby County Farmer's Market, blinking two beautiful magical words "Paw Paw".  After three years, I finally got my hands on the forgotten North American tropical fruit.  I found a kindred spirit in the elderly farmer, who enthusiastically shared with me the pawpaw's quirky traits, its cancer fighting potential, super fruit like nutritional values (high in protein, calcium, potassium, etc.) and its future. My obsession is renewed.  

Shelby County Farmer's Market

I tasted its yellow custard like flesh for the first time and found myself mystified once more. It has a mild sweet flavor that brings vague reminder of several tropical fruits from childhood that I can't quiet place.  A little bit of custard apple (mang cau ta, na), soursop (mang cau xiem), and annona (binh bat) all blended into a fruit that's uniquely its own.  Several friends tasted it and agreed that it does have the mango, pineapple and banana taste. My pawpaw search finally came to a satisfying end.

Intrigue? You can find your own pawpaws to taste by heading to the Shelby County Farmer's Market (1513 Midland Trail, Shelbyville, KY).  It's open from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Saturdays.  Look for the gentleman with the bubble wands at the very end of the market, he has plenty to sell.  They're in season from August to October and are going for $2/lb.  They're ready to eat when soft and fragrance.  If you can't find it there, maybe we can give that foraging thing another go?

*Kentucky State University is doing some interesting research with pawpaws and has the best information.

Weekend Plans - Country Loving

Fall in Cherokee Park

Fall already made its way to Kentucky, bringing with it cool evenings and patchy morning fog that shrouds the hills in mystery.  One of my favorite seasons, Fall in the Bluegrass State is an explosion of colors; bright yellow, orange, red and green paint the trees in a sea of colors.  The cool temperature is a jumpstart to the body, waking up your senses, turned languid by summer heat and humidity.

For me, Fall means lively festivals, pumpkin spiced everything, and an obligatory visit to the farm for the harvesting of apples and pumpkins.  

Huber's Farm

This Saturday (9/20/2014), I'll skip Huber's Farm and head instead to 12 local farms in Shelby County for their Shelby Good Neighbors Farm Tour. From 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., these local farms will open their doors to the public so we can experience first hand the day to day life of small farms.  It's a great opportunity to experience the county, taste the food, and connect to our farmers.  Start at the Metzger's Country Store or Shelby County Farmer's Market (8 a.m. - noon) and pick up a map of participating farms. Take a self guided tour to as many of those as you like, get stamps on your Passport and enter for a chance to win a grand prize filled with local goods.  I'm looking forward to seeing the alpacas, harvesting honey, tasting homemade ice cream, and making wine.  

I'll then head to Bardstown, one of the most beautiful small town in the U.S. (so they claimed), for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival (complete list of events).  The week long festival (9/16 - 9/21) is a celebration of Bourbon in Kentucky with famous distilleries offering special tours, events and glamourous parties.  Many of these cost money but worth it for the Bourbon lover.  I'll be skipping all the pricey stuff and head to the free arts, crafts and food booths (Spalding Hall and City Hall Lawns, 114 N. Fifth St.).  While here, I'll check out demonstrations of the ancient art of barrel making and the World Championship Bourbon Barrel Relay (300 W. Broadway, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

Other neat stuff going on this weekend that I'll have to skip:

Fossil bed at Falls of the Ohio

• Gaslight Festival (9/14 - 9/21) | 10434 Watterson Trail, 40299 | all day: Located in J-town, the festival is the 5th largest festival in the region, hosting 200,000+ visitors every year.  A celebration of the city and its business, the festival will have 150+ arts and craft vendors, delicious and unhealthy fair food, a balloon glow, a car show, parade, games and activities for kids.  There's no shortage of fun things to see and do, but be warned, it's crowded!  Bring comfortable shoes, you'll be walking and standing a lot.
• Hike and Canoe the Fossil Beds (9/20/2014 & 10/11) | 201 West Riverside Dr., Clarksville, IN | 9:30 a.m.  - 1 p.m.: Head to the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center for a free canoe and hike tour of the fossil beds. You'll kayak/canoe on falls and hike the fossil beds with your own free tour guide.  If you don't have a canoe, you can rent one.  If water is not not your thing then opt for the 3 1/2 hour hike of the fossil beds with an expert (9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11) at 9 a.m. The Army Corps of Engineer lowered the water this month so a very large part of the fossil beds is exposed.  
• 200 Years on the River: (9/20 - 9/21) | 7410 Moorman Road, 40272 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Another family friendly event for lovers of history, especially for those interested in 19th Century life around the Ohio River.  You'll delight in the  ladies dressed in pretty attires and gentlemen/officers in pretty manners. You'll meet Abraham Lincoln spinning tails, a black smith demonstrating his trade, and young kids going about their daily chores.  You can also tour the old house and gardens and interact with the volunteers while in characters. The kids will love digging and pretending to be archeologist.  On Sunday, there's an 1860s baseball game. $6/adult, $5/seniors, $3 kids. Special rates for family. 
• Other Fall Festivals: Check out this list of over 60 fall festivals going on in the area this season. 

502 Lunch Week Means Swanky Eats for Cheap

There are over 2,500 restaurants in Louisville and if you're on a mission to eat through that list (like me), there's no better time to start than this week.  From September 8 - 19, 15 local restaurants are offering 2 course meals with a drink for only $10 or $15, depending on the restaurant.  There are some very expensive restaurants on the list, so take advantage of this opportunity to try something new without breaking your wallet.

Curry chicken is my favorite from Atlantic No. 5

The menu for 502 Lunch Week at these restaurants is smaller than their regular selection, but you're still getting a great deal.  Trust me, I did a little price comparison :)  You'll see me at Louise Le Francais and Brasserie Provene this week trying out some French fare.  I usually write about events after I've experienced it but I want to share this before it's over!

I've done my homework for you. Here's a list of the participating restaurants, cost, ratings (on Yelp) and offerings to help you decide where to go.  Happy eating!

• Atlantic No. 5 $$ | **** | $10: any sandwich (4 choices), side, ginger soda
• Bistro 301 $$ | ***1/2 | $15: soup or salad, entree, drink
• Brasserie Provence, $$$ | **** | $15: entree, dessert and drink
• Down One Bourbon Bar and Restaurant, $$ | **** | $10: entree, side and drink
• Drake's, $$ | *** | $15: entree, sushi and drink
• Gatsby's on Fourth, $$ | *** | $15: 2 courses and drink
• Louise le Francais, $$$ | ****1/2 | $15: 2 courses coffee or tea
• Mark's Feed Store, $$ | **** | $10: entree, dessert, and drink
• Molly Malone's, $$ | ***1/2 | $15: 2 courses and drink (St. Matthews); salad, sandwich and drink (Highlands)
• Napa River Grill, $$ | ***1/2 | $10: 2 courses and drink
• St. Charles Exchange, $$$ | **** | $15: appetizer, entree and drink
• Sway, $$ | ***1/2 - $15 | 2 courses and drink
• Troll Pub Under the Bridge - $10 | starter, entree and drink
• Tumbleweed at the Big Four Bridge, $$ | ** | $10: chile con queso, entree and drink
• Wild Rita's, $$ | **** | $10: 2 tacos, Mexican Brownie and drink

*2 courses: choice of 1 item from 2 categories (appetizer, entree or dessert)

My recommendations? Brasserie and Provence if you've never had french food (they also have great ratings).  For a swanky atmosphere, St. Charles Exchange reminds one of a speakeasy, Gatsby (Seelbach) and Sway (Hyatt Regency) are part of very nice hotels.  I also heard Wild Rita's and Down One Bourbon are very good!

Bonus: If you end up liking Louise Le Francais, there is a Groupon going on now, you pay $29 for a $50 Groupon to spend on dinner.

Louisville Dragon Boat Festival

Take a trip to Asia this weekend....

Our team, Viet Speed, practicing on the river. Photo Source Courier Journal: Bryan Warren

A tradition thousands of years old is coming to Louisville for the first time! Dragon Boat Racing is a popular annual event in many Asian countries, bringing together villages in a festive environment of competition and celebration.   More than 20 teams, consisting of community groups, non-profits, and individuals, will be competing against each other on the scenic Ohio River this weekend.  Each team consists of 20 rowers, 1 steerer and 1 drummer.   You can expect to see a lot of team spirit and unique costumes. Some of the teams are using this opportunity to raise funds for their non-profits.

Co-sponsored by Crane House Asian Institute and Third Century, the Louisville Dragon Boat Festival is also a celebration of Asian Cultures.  The daylong celebration will be filled with cultural activities, arts and crafts, music, food vendors, and dancing.  Check below for a lis of events and activities.

Races will be going on all day.

source:www.louisvilledragonboat.com

 Come hungry, the following vendors will be there to feed your appetite:

• Small Bite Catering (Chinese-Zongzie)
• Charim (Korean)
• Mikado (Japanese and Korean)
• Banh Mi Hero (Vietnamese sandwiches)
• Cefiore Frozen Yogurt

There will be a lot of things to see and do, check out these neat activities:

• Henna (India), rangoli (ruchi), pottery, origami, Chinese opera mask, fabric design, lantern, good luck satchels, hackie sack (Korean and Chinese), calligraphy (Korean and Chinese), Mochisuki, traditional games, ping pong, Chinese painting, Chinese tea ceremony, Chinese jo-jo, etc. 

Location: Waterfront Park – Joe’s Crab Shack – 131 River Road (if you’re facing the river, the event will be to the right of Joe’s).
Date: Saturday, 9/13/2014
Time: 8 a.m.  – 5 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Parking: 1st and Witherspoon Garage, meter parking on the streets.  Or if you want free parking, park along River Road and the Park’s parking lots (you’ll just have to walk a little further, maybe bring a bike).

It'll be a beautiful cool and bright day on Saturday, so come and experience a little bit of Asia right in your own back yard.

Labor Day Weekend Festivities

It’s Labor Day Weekend and if you’re stuck staying in town, there are a lot of wonderful events going on that’ll keep you busy!  Here are two of my favorites:

WorldFest
An event near and dear to my heart, WorldFest is a four day celebration of the unique and diverse cultures in our fair city.  The event features a global village showcasing the various ethnic groups in Louisville.  Stop to talk to the representative of these communities and learn something new about your international neighbors.   Come say hi, I’ll be manning the Vietnam booth.  You can also sample international foods from local restaurants, buy unique international gifts from local businesses or swing and dance to international beats at the three stages.

Saturday is a unique experience, come at noon; claim a spot around fifth and main to see colorful displays of world fashion and peoples at the Parade of Cultures. If you want the action early on and a photo op, head over to Congress Alley (Behind Metro Hall on 6th and Jefferson) around 10:30 a.m., everyone is lined up there.

• Cost: Free
• Date and Time: Friday 8/29/2014 – Sunday 8/31: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Monday, 9/1 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Parking: Parking on the streets is free Sunday.  I usually park at the 6th street garage by Main.

Mayor’s Hike, Bike and Paddle
One of my favorite Labor Day activities! Repost: Every Memorial and Labor Day 10,000+ people get together to bike on closed of streets, hike the waterfront or paddle on the Ohio River.  Start your day early, from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m, various vendors provide free health information along with free t-shirts

(first 3,000), bike helmets (500 helmets), snacks and other goodies.  Bike doctors are available to service your bike, provide you with free lights and bell.  You can also participate in yoga, Zumba, and tai chi sessions.  The bike (15 miles), hike, and paddle starts at 10 a.m at Witherspoon and Preston (Waterfront Park).   I love the feeling of community as I ride alongside thousands of my Louisville neighbors and seeing my town on a slower pace. If you get back before 1 p.m., head straight to the marina by the Great Lawn to participate in the canoe demonstration by the guys at Jefferson Memorial Forest. It’s free and you get to canoe the Ohio River for ~20 minutes.

• Cost: Free
• Date and Time: 9/1, vendors open at 8:30 a.m. Bike, Hike and Paddle start: 10 a.m.
• Parking: All street parking are free this day.

 Here's a list of other activities going on around town at WDRB or Louisville.com