Southerners Know Service

I’m in Louisville visiting family. My father likes to tease his Brooklyn-based daughter about how progressive Louisville is by calling it “Manhattan-on-the-Ohio.” I’ve come around to thinking he’s right. There’s something going on here that very much resembles the farm-to-table movement so hot in places like Brooklyn, San Francisco, and Portland…but this is Kentucky.

Tonight we dined at a restaurant called Harvest in a revitalized area downtown dubbed NuLu. I’ve eaten here before on a previous visit and was dying to come back. It rivals anything in New York City for its heart and authentic attitude towards good, fresh food and there’s something more…ah, space. I think the people here simply have more space to think and create. They’ve taken the time. They’ve worked it out. They’re not sweating. They can focus when they talk to you. And for me, a new(ish) mom…they won me over immediately when the waitress approached the table and said to me, before giving the specials or pouring water, “We have organic, local baby food. Tonight we have carrots and butternut squash. Would you like some?” I didn’t hesitate. A few minutes later a bowl of delicious squash puree arrived from the kitchen…WITH a baby spoon. That sent me-and E-over the moon.

Talk about hospitality. Southerners do it right.