Folks,
It saddens me to post this, but Dagwood's is now a Mexican Restaurant. Not really, Dagwood's is closed. Has been for several months. But I was in Bardstown on Friday, and as I left the bank I noticed the Dagwood's awnings are no more.
To most it probably won't matter. But, there are several people here that have been to Bardstown. And most have eaten at Dagwood's. Who didn't try the Bourbon Strip steak, that came out flaming on a barrel stave?...
Here's a story that really needs tellin'...
John Hall (Big John, of Big John's Sprinkles fame) and his wife Carol opened Dagwood's I'm not sure when, early 80's maybe? Back in the mid 80's, I used to stumble in the back-door at Dagwood's after closing the Talbott's bar at midnight or 1:00am (my second job). No mistake, it wasn't open to the public at that time. I would rap on the door and someone would peep out to see who it was. People that worked in the industry, or community leaders were welcome. The guest list at any one time included judges, lawyers, bar workers, and always Big John. John was a great big bear of a guy and the original Bourbon Chef. He understood spices and could make just incredible soup. He used Bourbon in lots of his recipes, and my gawd he could cook.
The people at these late night soirees all shared two things in common. We all loved Bourbon, and we all loved Bardstown.
In the late 80's, Steve Lowery took over as editor at the Kentucky Standard (my first job), and a small Bourbon drinkers group began. Along the way, John Lindsey began stopping in on the way home from Maker's Mark. Mr. Lindsey and his crew at Doe Anderson were responsible for some of Maker's Mark's most memorable advertising.
It was this group of folks that proposed the first Bourbon tasting. Truthfully, it was originally directed at the media. They wanted to attract media to Bardstown from all over the world. I think they have achieved their goal, because this was the beginning of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.
So although Big John and his wife Carol have passed on, and their restaurant has closed, Bardstown is still benefitting from John's love of Elijah Craig...