food
Owensboro TRADITIONS
Owensboro barbecue is world-renowned, and for good reason. Our restaurants and festivals bring more tourism every year, have been featured in travel publications around the U.S. and have inspired loyal local fanbases. You can’t go wrong with any of our three eateries (and really, you should try them all). OLD HICKORY BAR-B-QUE 338 Washington Avenue “This is one of the legendary restaurants of Owensboro,” John Foreman, the fifth-generation owner of Old Hickory, said. One thing that sets Old Hickory apart is that it has never had a buffet in the 102 years since Charles Foreman began barbecuing in his blacksmith shop at the corner of Frederica Street and Washington Avenue. Through the years, Old Hickory has been featured on a number of cable cooking and travel shows and has been on a number of “best” barbecue lists. MOONLITE BAR-B-Q INN 2840 W. Parrish Avenue Ken Bosley’s parents — Hugh “Pappy” and Catherine Bosley — bought Moonlite, a 14-year-old barbecue joint with 30 seats, including stools at the counter, from Sonnie and Sadie Bertram and J.C. and Betty Stinson for $50,000 in February 1963. The restaurant has served such celebrities as former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, former second lady Marilyn Quayle, Jim Nabors, Bill Monroe, William Shatner, Kevin Costner and Emmylou Harris. “Our buffet is our claim to fame,” Bosley said. “Mutton has dropped off. But Owensboro is the only place you can get mutton. It really sets us apart. And people who like mutton come to Owensboro.” OLE SOUTH BARBEQUE 3523 Kentucky 54 Greg Floyd got tired of the automobile industry and bought Ole South Barbecue in 2013 for a change of careers. “All barbecue in Owensboro is about the same, but we really emphasize pork — chopped and sliced,” Floyd said. He estimates that “90% of our customers are familiar with Kentucky barbecue. But we have to explain it to some. People from out of the area aren’t familiar with burgoo (a meat stew famous in Kentucky). We have to explain the ingredients.” 30 | GREATER OWENSBORO
