If you’re looking for a specialty food market that also carries wine and serves as a cafe, look no further than Taste on Elm in Ludlow, Kentucky.
“Since I was a little girl, I have had a passion for food and wine,” explains founder Lauren Hodge. “I love getting to know the small producers, farmers, and winemakers behind the products, learning their stories and sharing with my customers.”
And since several of Hodge’s family members are in the food, wine, and spirits business, opening a shop like Taste on Elm only made sense. Plus, her husband Challis is also a business builder and entrepreneur with a passion for food, wine, and building community.
A visit to Taste on Elm includes a welcoming, helpful, friendly environment. “We love our customers and treat them like family,” she says. “Whether you are an expert foodie or looking to learn and explore, we treat everyone the same. There are no egos. We love to share, teach, and learn.”
Another thing you’ll find when you visit Taste on Elm is locally sourced products when possible, and nearly all of the products come from small producers. “Craftspeople who grow and produce products that are natural, organic, chemical free, and biodynamic,” she adds.
When it comes to food, there are lunch and dinner options such as soups, panini sandwiches, pastries, quiches, customized cheese and charcuterie boards, and a selection of wines by the glass.
The thing that sets Taste on Elm apart from other stores is the team’s belief in the products they sell. “Every item we carry is selected because we love it,” says Hodge. “There are no filler products. Everything has a story. We always say, if it’s on our shelves at Taste on Elm, it’s on our table at home.”
The wine tastings hosted at Taste on Elm have also given the establishment a name for itself. Hodge says that each event is put together with a thoughtful selection of wines paired with interesting foods that you can make at home. And, as always, there is an educational component to it all.
Hodge says that as part of their mission to build and give back to the community, they have a food truck lot and event space called Ernie’s Yard, also located in the Ludlow Business District. “We’re planning a variety of events for the community including First Fridays with live music, food trucks and vendors, a Sunday farmers market, and lots more,” she says. “And we might be biased but we think our resident taco truck, Taqueria Domingo, has the best tacos around.”
Another thing to keep an eye on from the Hodges is the opening of Conserva, a wine and tapas bar located next door to Taste on Elm. There, they’ll focus on Spanish wine, small plates, vermouth, sherry, and sangria in a warm and friendly environment.
You can find Taste on Elm in the Historic Ludlow Business District. To learn more and check out upcoming events, visit the website or follow along on Facebook and Instagram. You can also keep up with Ernie’s Yard on Facebook and Instagram.
