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When it comes to the Kentucky Derby, the spectacle isn’t just on the racetrack. The annual event is synonymous with Southern tradition, elegance, and indulgence, which makes it the perfect backdrop for a curated, high-end dining experience. Chef Robert Lopez, Senior Executive Chef at Levy Restaurants and Head Chef at Churchill Downs, has crafted a Derby-inspired menu that blends tradition with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to capture the essence of this legendary horse racing event.

Lopez is known for his attention to detail and deep respect for classic Southern flavors, and he has carefully and thoughtfully selected dishes like the Bluegrass Fields Salad and drinks like the mint julep that evoke both comfort and refinement. You’re in for a treat, as we had the pleasure of speaking with the chef and picking his brain on how he selected these recipes for this year's menu. One of the most popular dishes that he has on there are the slow-cooked beef tips, and we were eager to learn not only how to make beef tips, but also how to do them the Kentucky Derby way.

If you're anything like me and can’t resist picking up a few bottles of that amazing local wine or craft beer while you’re traveling, you’ve probably faced that moment of panic when it’s time to pack. Maybe you went a little overboard at a vineyard in Napa or filled half your suitcase with IPAs from a cool little brewery you stumbled upon. No judgment -- been there, done that. Honestly, local beer and wine make some of the best souvenirs (and gifts, if you don’t end up keeping them for yourself). Here's the big question, though. Can you bring alcohol on a plane?

The short answer is yes. Like with anything else in life, there are rules, and it's important to know them before you head to the airport, including how much and what you can bring. If you're flying with beer or wine, it's also essential to know how to pack the alcohol for the flight. There’s nothing worse than a bottle of red wine breaking in your suitcase and staining everything, or a broken beer bottle making your luggage smell like yeast right before a long-haul flight. With a few smart packing decisions, your beer or wine will be safely waiting for you at the baggage carousel, wherever your final destination may be.

There's something extra fun about personalizing anything -- but especially your coffee. Perhaps this is why Starbucks fans love the detailed mobile ordering system that allows you to customize every component of your order. Similarly, Frazy Bottles enables coffee drinkers to customize every aspect of their coffee concentrate box when placing a personalized order. Building a box with Frazy Bottles made me feel like a kid in a candy store. From selecting my preferred sweetness level to fine-tuning how much caffeine is in each bottle, the whole experience is fun. Here's how I built my own personalized box of iced coffees with Frazy Bottles.
Personalizing your iced coffee

The Frazy Bottle ordering process is pretty simple. First, choose your box size: 6, 12, or 18 bottle packs. I chose the six pack to start with (just to see how I liked it). It's worth noting that the brand also has Boba tea options, but I only tried their coffee selections. After selecting your box size, you'll then move to a page to choose which flavors you'd like in your box. This is where things got especially interesting as I noticed cool and unique coffee flavors such as the Red Velvet Latte and Chocolate Chip Latte. I haven't had a chance to try all the flavors, but of the ones I did try, the Pumpkin Spice Latte was my favorite (you don't need to wait until fall for this).