The Kitchen

Down the back stairs, past the pantry that hums to itself, the manor kitchen never quite closes. The griddle's warm, the pie case is lit, and the recipe box is suspiciously light.

CURATOR'S NOTE

Every recipe card describes what's in its photo, nothing more. Anything tagged Manor lore · unverified comes from the house itself and should be taken with a grain of salt. Maybe two.

BOOTH 1

The Chili Cook-Off

The pride of the kitchen: his chili, and the Rooster Brew cook-offs it went up against.

His chili. Cheddar, green onion, and a spoon's worth of steam.

FROM THE SCOREKEEPER'S CLIPBOARD

  • Jan. 28, 2015 "Supplies for the @RoosterBrew chili cook-off this weekend. Must use 3 #local products." on X
  • Jan. 31, 2015 Paris Market 'Chili Bowl Challenge' at Rooster Brew, Paris KY: "Entry #5. Got 3rd out of 12." on X
  • Feb. 6, 2016 Entered the 2nd annual Farmers Market chili cook-off at Rooster Brew. on X
  • Feb. 6, 2016 · FIRST PLACE The paper made it official: first place, out of 13 entries. See the clipping

HOUSE RULE

"Any chili that contains noodles should be automatically disqualified."

@shaggyshaw, Feb. 6, 2016 · on X

As seen in the local paper & on Facebook

Paris-Bourbon County Farmer's Market Chili Cook Off winners at Rooster Brew, Jan 31, 2015: Kay Seither (left), Lisa Shaw King (right), and me in the back (3rd of 12).
Clipping: "Farmers Market To Hold Chili Cook-Off." Via Rooster Brew on X, Feb. 5, 2016.

Bourbon County Citizen · Feb. 10, 2016

Chili Cook-Off Winners. First place at the annual Farmers Market chili cook-off, Saturday evening, Feb. 6, at Rooster Brew, went to Shaw. Thirteen entries, and each one had to use two ingredients bought at the Paris-Bourbon County Farmers Market. The Bourbon County Citizen, Feb. 10, 2016, p. 20 (masthead and his photo, cut from the page).

THE RECORD

  • 2015 3rd of 12 at Rooster Brew.
  • 2016 First place, 13 entries. Two ingredients from the Farmers Market per pot, and his took the top spot.

His chili, made with Rooster's own Big Red ale

RECIPE CARD Nº 36The lineupWindy Acres Farm tomato juice and tomato chunks, Big Red Amber Ale, Ro-Tel, Bush's chili beans, Peg's Pantry hot salsa, Linda's Kitchen chili mix, ground chuck and dried chiles.
RECIPE CARD Nº 37A splash of Big RedRooster Brewing's Big Red Amber Ale, held over the pot.
RECIPE CARD Nº 38Slow cooker, full upA slow cooker brimming with his chili.

Manor lore · unverified The ribbon on this board gets straightened every night by someone nobody ever hired. By morning it is crooked again.

BOOTH 2

The Grill

Out back, where the smoke always seems to drift toward the house.

RECIPE CARD Nº 01Chicken & zucchiniGrilled chicken strips beside a foil boat of zucchini and onion.
RECIPE CARD Nº 02Salmon & green beansA whole side of salmon down low, a tray of green beans on the top rack.
RECIPE CARD Nº 03Salmon, lemon & squashLemon slices and dill on the salmon, yellow squash riding up top.
RECIPE CARD Nº 04Burgers & linksPatties, links, a tray of peppers and onions, and a pan of greens.
RECIPE CARD Nº 05The whole foil traySalmon with onion rings, asparagus, squash and sweet peppers on one sheet.

Manor lore · unverified The grill lights itself at midnight. Nobody has asked it to stop.

BOOTH 3

The Bakery

Bread, cookies, cobbler and donuts. The oven door creaks, but it means well.

RECIPE CARD Nº 06Fresh bread & honeyA loaf sliced on the board, honey bear standing by.
RECIPE CARD Nº 07Two loavesGolden, side by side, and resting.
RECIPE CARD Nº 08Snow-capped cookiesRows and rows of cookies with white-dipped tops.
RECIPE CARD Nº 09CobblerA blue dish of cobbler, golden on top.
RECIPE CARD Nº 10Powdered & cinnamon donutsTwo plates: powdered sugar on one, cinnamon sugar on the other.

Manor lore · unverified A loaf left out overnight will be one slice shorter by morning. The pantry ghost denies everything.

BOOTH 4

The Breakfast Counter

Pancakes, waffles and eggs, served any hour the clock says.

see also the Wheaties box in the Locker Room →
RECIPE CARD Nº 11Blueberry pancakesBlueberries, a pat of butter and a snowfall of powdered sugar.
RECIPE CARD Nº 12The big breakfastPancakes, sausage links, scrambled eggs and bacon.
RECIPE CARD Nº 13Waffles & butterA stack of waffles, a pat of butter on each.
RECIPE CARD Nº 14Cast-iron eggsSunny-side-up eggs and shredded cheese in a cast-iron skillet.
RECIPE CARD Nº 15The waffle sandwichWaffle, fried egg, sausage, cheese, then more waffle.
RECIPE CARD Nº 16Avocado toastPoached eggs on avocado toast, fruit on the side.
RECIPE CARD Nº 17French toastPowdered sugar, bacon, berries and a little cup of syrup.
RECIPE CARD Nº 18Waffle ice cream sandwichIce cream, strawberries and blueberries between waffles. Breakfast rules suspended.
RECIPE CARD Nº 40The cereal towerCinnamon Toast Crunch, Frosted Krispies, Fruity Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch’s Peanut Butter Crunch and a limited-edition Lucky Charms, stacked two high.
RECIPE CARD Nº 41The Big G Cereal Bowl BandA field-trip find at Jungle Jim’s: the Trix rabbit, Lucky the leprechaun on guitar and the Honey Nut Cheerios bee on drums, playing on top of a boat.FIELD TRIP

Manor lore · unverified The coffee pot is always warm. Nobody remembers making it.

BOOTH 5

Bowls & Noodles

Ramen, poke and pasta. (The house rule only applies to chili.)

RECIPE CARD Nº 19Noodle bowlNoodles with seaweed and sesame, chopsticks at the ready.
RECIPE CARD Nº 20Poke for twoTwo salmon poke bowls, one for each hand.
RECIPE CARD Nº 21Salmon poke bowlAvocado, salmon, pickled ginger and crispy wonton strips.
RECIPE CARD Nº 22Foam-bowl ramenEgg, pulled pork, carrots and seaweed. No fancy bowl required.
RECIPE CARD Nº 23Pork ramenFrom above: pork, carrots, cilantro and green onion.
RECIPE CARD Nº 24Shrimp ramen & lemon teaShrimp ramen under a fried egg, with a cup of lemon tea.
RECIPE CARD Nº 25Salmon ramenSalmon, carrot ribbons and green onion, chopsticks in.
RECIPE CARD Nº 26Spaghetti & basilRed sauce, grated cheese and a pile of fresh basil.

Manor lore · unverified The ramen ghost checked the house rule twice. Noodles in a bowl of ramen are perfectly legal.

BOOTH 6

The Diner Counter

Chili dogs, tots, pizza and a BLT. Grab a stool that's already spinning.

see also Talk of the Town, the family restaurant →
RECIPE CARD Nº 27The chili dogChili, a pickle spear, tomatoes, onions, cheese and ketchup, all on one bun.ORDER UP
RECIPE CARD Nº 28Loaded totsTater tots under a zigzag of white sauce.SIDE
RECIPE CARD Nº 29Flatbread pizza nightTwo pizzas, the recipe card, and one pizza buried in arugula.BLUE PLATE
RECIPE CARD Nº 30The BLTOn thick bread, with strawberries and blueberries on the side.ORDER UP
RECIPE CARD Nº 39PB & Crunchy CheetosPeanut butter and Crunchy Cheetos packed between two slices, with the bag and the Jif Natural jar standing by.ORDER UP

Manor lore · unverified The corner booth is always taken. Nobody has ever seen by whom.

BOOTH 7

The Supper Table

Meatloaf nights, holiday spreads, and a hummus that's grinning back at you.

RECIPE CARD Nº 31Meatloaf plateMeatloaf, mashed potatoes, mushrooms, green beans and corn.
RECIPE CARD Nº 32Brussels & baconBrussels sprouts under strips of bacon, right in the roasting pan.
RECIPE CARD Nº 33Holiday brunchDeviled eggs, tarts, pastries and more, all on one table.
RECIPE CARD Nº 34Casseroles on the stoveA stovetop full of holiday dishes, lined up and waiting.
RECIPE CARD Nº 35Sugar-skull hummusHummus dressed up as a sugar skull, ringed with blue corn chips.

Manor lore · unverified Leftovers in this house disappear by midnight. The ghost who swipes them has excellent taste.

🖨️ The Workshop →🛹 The Skate Shop →🍽️ Talk of the Town →🥃 J&J Liquors →