LOUISVILLE, Ky. — You would be hard pressed to find a bigger event in Kentucky than the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 4, 2024. There’s a new chef at Churchill Downs who has been tasked with creating a menu for the historic day.

What You Need To Know

  • Official menu of the Kentucky Derby 150 is released

  • First-year chef Robert Lopez created the menu

  • It features Kentucky signature items

  • We share a link to the recipes so you can make the dishes at home

Chef Robert Lopez is the head chef for both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby. He is also the senior executive chef for Levy. Lopez has been a chef and led culinary teams at several horse racing venues across the country and at ballparks and other entertainment venues.

Lopez said, “Any chef who’s created culinary experiences in a sports and entertainment venue dreams of the opportunity of the Kentucky Derby,” Chef Lopez said. “This event has an unmatched taste tradition built on contributions from so many incredible chefs. 150 will never happen again, so our approach in creating the menu was to elevate the classics and take advantage of the wealth of seasonal ingredients in our community and region.”

Churchill Downs Racetrack releases official food and beverage menu for milestone 150th Kentucky Derby on May 4, 2024. (Churchill Downs)

He and his team created a menu that combines southern specialties and spring flavors. Lopez added, “We sourced local ingredients like asparagus, peas, bourbon and cherries to strike a balance between rich, bold flavors of iconic Southern staples and the freshness of spring. My team and I are incredibly excited for guests to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience in every bite.”

The Official Kentucky Derby 150 On-Track Food Menu

 

Spring Pea Pasta Salad

                Locally grown English peas, pecorino cheese, country ham, green onions

 

Spring Panzanella Salad

                Lemons, English cucumber, scallions, sugar snap peas, croutons, asparagus, feta cheese

 

My Old Kentucky Bibb Salad

                Bosc pears, toasted walnuts, blue cheese crumbles, red onion, chives, herbed buttermilk dressing

 

Herbed Gournay Wiesenberger Grits

                Chicken stock/broth, roasted corn, Boursin cheese, green onion, Kenny’s cheddar cheese

 

Roasted Cauliflower & Brussel Spouts

                Garlic cloves, red onion, peppadew peppers

 

Bourbon Cherry Brisket Burnt Ends

                Veal demi-glace, cherry juice, cherry preserves, Levy BBQ sauce, Woodford Reserve Bourbon®, fried onions

 

‘Nduja Shrimp Pasta

                Dry white wine, crushed tomatoes, lemon zest

 

Kentucky Derby 150 Beverage Menu

Old Forester Mint Julep

                Old Forester, simple syrup, fresh mint, crushed ice

Finlandia® Oaks Lily®

                Finlandia, sweet and sour, Triple Sec, cranberry juice, blackberries, lemon wedge, crushed ice

Woodford Reserve Spire

                Woodford Reserve, lemonade, cranberry juice, lemon twist, ice

Herradura Horseshoe Margarita

                Herradura Silver, fresh lime juice, agave nectar, lime wheel, ice

Kendall-Jackson 2021 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Kendall-Jackson 2022 Mendocino County Chardonnay

You can recreate the dishes at home. Churchill Downs has a website that lists each of the items and the recipe for you to follow.

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