Love Hot Browns? Varieties on 18-stop restaurant trail: Pizza, pretzel, potato & more

There’s an event coming up that will showcase one of the things Kentucky is most famous for ... and I’m not talking about racehorses.

It’s the Hot Brown, an open-faced sandwich invented at the Brown Hotel in Louisville. According to the story, the dish was created there in 1926 by chef Fred Schmidt to feed hungry guests after the hotel’s nightly dinner dances.

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The combination of sliced turkey on toast points with bacon, tomatoes, cheese and Mornay sauce has been a hit ever since.

And April 26-May 3, restaurants in downtown Frankfort will celebrate this tasty invention with their individual takes on dish with the Derby Week Kentucky Hot Brown Trail. Items are individually priced by each restaurant.

There are 18 participating restaurants and 19 dishes (one place is offering two options.) You can download a passport from downtownfrankfort.com and check off which ones you try. Turn in your passport at any Frankfort Whitaker Bank location for a chance to win gift cards to participating restaurants.

List: Hot Brown Trail participating restaurants and their menus

Andy’s Artisan Bread, 127 E. Todd St., Hot Brown Croissant Sandwich.

Bourbon On Main, 203 W. Main St., Travel Hot Brown.

Brown Barrel, 204 W. Broadway St., Hot Brown.

Buddy’s Pizza, 212 W. Broaday St., Hot Brown Pizza.

Cliffside Diner, 175 Old Lawrenceburg Rd., Hot Brown.

Goodwood Brewing, 109 W. Main St., Hot Brown.

Howser Tavern, 311 St. Clair St., Pretzel Hot Brown.

Jim’s Seafood, 950 Wilkinson Blvd., Hot Brown.

Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe, 235 W. Broadway St., Hot Brown Soup.

Limewater Bistro, 900 Wilkinson Blvd., Hot Brown.

Local’s Food Hub, 863 Wilkinson Blvd., Hot Brown Pizza.

Main Street Diner, 227A W. Main St., Hot Brown Baked Potato.

Mi Fiesta, 334 St. Clair St., Mexican Hot Brown.

Mortimer Bibb’s Public House, 330 St. Clair St., Hot Brown Sliders.

POURter’s, 601 Taylor Ave., Hot Brown Dip.

Serafini, 243 W. Broadway St., Traditional Hot Brown and Hot Brown Burger.

Sig Luscher Brewery, 221 Mero St., Hot Brown Dog.

Stainless Brewing & Spirits, 317 St. Clair St., Pretzel Hot Brown.

Lexington’s unofficial Hot Brown Trail guide: Fries to pizza to inside-out versions

Looking for a sweet spot for Valentine’s Day? Frankfort can fill that need