Southern Living Lists Louisville Among The 'Tastiest Towns in the South'

For the second straight year, Southern Living ranked Louisville among the "Tastiest Towns in the South," which of course we already knew. (And that list apparently settles the "is Louisville in the South or Midwest" debate too. Sorry Midwest Living, no rankings for us today, thanks.)

Vote for Louisville—which the magazine describes as "with a bourbon-infused larder, the city is experiencing a culinary renaissance"—at Southern Living's website through February 28.

Chef-wise, the article singled out 610 Magnolia's Edward Lee (didn't see that one coming, did you?), Lilly's Bistro's Kathy Cary and La Coop's Bobby Benjamin. For booze, it mentioned Meat, Proof and Rye.

According to the press release (a Pulitizer-winning phrase if there ever was one), the editors' criteria for deciding on the finalists was

·Food as a cultural identity: The unique food or ethnicity that defines a particular Southern region
·Growth of a culinary-minded community: The influence that the culinary industry has on the local community and tourism
·Diverse cuisine at a variety of price points: Accessibility to hearty, flavorful meals at any budget
·Local, sustainable food practices: The focus on sourcing products from local purveyors to geographically define where each meal comes from
·Hot chefs on the rise: The influence of the area's culinary talent in the media and pop culture
·Abundance of buzz-worthy food events: The number of festivals in the area that celebrate all things food and drink

Along with Charleston, S.C., and New Orleans, Louisville was one of just three cities to appear on the list again this year. Kinda makes you wonder what the hell happened with the restaurants in the other seven. Citizens of Baltimore, Birmingham, Charlottesville, Decatur, Houston, Raleigh and Lafayette (the 2012 winner), please put away the Captain D's wrappers and explain your city's tragic downfall in the comments.

[Photo: Southern Living]

·The Perfect Eating Day in Louisville, KY (circa April 2012) [Southern Living]
·Why Online Polls Are Bunk [Slate]