The Food Network’s Joshua Denny, host of Ginormous Food, were in Latonia Monday to tape an episode at Bard’s Burgers and Chili
By Vicki Prichard
NKyTribune reporter
Customers heard the call and lined up to welcome the Food Network at Bard’s Burgers and Chili
When Jordan Stephenson put the word out for folks to stop in at Bard’s Burgers and Chili on Monday to give a warm welcome to The Food Network’s Josh Denny, host of Ginormous Food, his loyal patrons – and newcomers who love a good burger – were happy to oblige.
“I’m very particular about my burgers and I think they’re great,” says Justin Jaros, of Latonia.
Justin Melton, who regularly makes the trip from Delhi to Latonia to dine at Bard’s, says it is always worth the drive.
And it’s not just the burgers that call to hungry customers like Melton.
“The fries are fried to perfection,” says Melton. “You know how at many places they’re white when you get them? These are golden brown and crunchy, like mom used to make. And the burgers are the way mom used to make them, with juice coming out of it and everything sliding off the way it’s supposed to.”
Bard’s Burger squad: Cousins Jeremy Metz and Justin Melton, of Delhi, and Justin Jaros, of Latonia, were at the head of the line Monday for a Bard’s burger.
As it turns out, ‘mom,’ as in Stephenson’s mom Bev Stephenson, says it was her mother – Jordan’s grandmother – who spurred his passion for cooking.
“It started with my mother,” says Bev Stephenson. “You know that Johnny Cash song, that goes, ‘Mama’s in the Kitchen cooking fried chicken?’ That’s where it started. His grandma was in the kitchen fixing fried chicken and that’s how it started.”
Bard’s Burgers opened in Latonia in 2008 at the 3620 Decoursey Avenue location, serving burgers, fries and poutine, but was sold after a few years. Stephenson reopened it as Bard’s Burgers and Chili in October 2015.
Proud mamma, Bev Stephenson at Bard’s Burgers and Chili
“He [Jordan] started this business with $5000,” says Bev Stephenson. “He’s just been so determined and he loves cooking. When the chips were down and it was just me and him in here, he never gave up, he kept making those burgers. He just loves cooking.”
The Food Network reached out to Stephenson earlier this month about taping an episode.
While burgers, fries and chili are the main attraction, Melton, who is clearly a connoisseur of all things Bard’s, strongly endorses other fried features on the menu.
“Even the sides are phenomenal – cheese curds, fried cheese curds, fried pickles,” says Melton. “And the desserts – deep fried Twinkies, double stuffed Oreos. You can’t beat their food.”
The Food Network’s Ginormous Food host, Joshua Denny, chats it up the long line of customers outside of Bard’s Burgers and Chili
Then there’s the Bardzilla Challenge, of which no man or woman has emerged victorious. The challenge involves the consumption of a Bard’s burger comprised of 11 patties — four to six pounds of beef – plus four pounds of fries, all within one hour. The winner receives a free meal and a t-shirt and a membership to the burgers for life club, which means a burger and a soft drink a week for life.
“Many people I’ve seen try it and they fail miserably after about a half hour,” says Melton.
On Monday, Stephenson presented a new towering burger that was crafted for the Food Network taping, called the Cincinnasti burger which layered hamburger patties, goetta and chili.
The Bardzilla remains a daunting challenge
Whether tackling the burger challenge or a bowl of cheese curds, Melton encourages customers to place a to-go order for dessert for the ride home, because Stephenson’s fried sweets, he says, are not to be missed.
“Put your order in and put an order to-go for dessert — double stuffed Oreos are deep fried. It’s phenomenal, with chocolate drizzle sauce over top,” says Melton. “I’m trying to convince him to find a peanut butter one to do but he can’t find one that’s double stuffed. “
The Bard’s Burgers and Chili episode will air on the Food Network’s “Ginormous Food” in early 2017.
