Flavors of Kentucky

If you’re in the mood for a simple, freshly made hamburger, you’ll want to try Anthony’s Fat Burgers. Anthony Adams opened the spot at 1539 Eastland Parkway on May 1. Several years back, Adams ran Anthony’s Coney Island at Third and Jefferson streets. “I got out of the business for a while, and now I’m back,” he said.
Adams also serves chili cheese dogs, fish sandwiches, Philly cheese steaks, ice cream, and milk shakes. If you can eat the three-pound Triple D burger, it’s free. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Call (859) 523-2311.

Closed

■ A reader stopped by El Chico Mexican Restaurant at Beaumont Centre last week and was surprised that it was closed. We checked with El Chico corporate office and spokesperson Ellen Courtney said the store closed in January. “The decision to close the Lexington El Chico was a difficult one. El Chico hopes to return to Lexington one day,” she said. Go to Elchico.com.

Memorial Day specials

■ Alfalfa Restaurant, 141 East Main Street, will be serve a holiday brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. Featured will be a farmers market omelette made with ingredients available at Saturday’s market. Call (859) 253-0014 or go to Alfalfarestaurant.com.
■ Staxx BBQ will celebrate Memorial Day weekend with a holiday special Friday through Sunday. When you buy five pounds of pork, chicken, turkey, sausage and/or brisket, you’ll receive four free quarts of sides (baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, green beans, macaroni and cheese). Staxx is at 11 Carson Place in Frankfort. Call (502) 352-2515 or go to Staxxbbq.com.
■ The Grey Goose, 170 Jefferson Street, will have specials for the holiday weekend. Included are bruschetta pizza with an olive oil and garlic base, and the entrée special is sauteed mussels with a white wine butter sauce. Call (859) 233-1500.

 Special events

■ Equus Run Vineyards, 1280 Moores Mill Road in Midway, observes its 15th anniversary with an open house from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Featured music includes the University of Kentucky’s Steel Drum Band and Keith Hubbard and the Hubcats. Call (859) 846-9463 or go to Equusrunvineyards.com.
■ The Beer Trappe, 811 Euclid Avenue, is celebrating its third anniversary Saturday through May 31. The kick-off party is at 2 p.m. Saturday. The craft beer store will tap three to four special kegs every night during the week. Included are: Avery Tweak; Bell’s Bourbon Barrel Batch 9,000; J.W. Lees Harvest 2011; and West 6th English IPA. Call (859) 309-0911 or go to Thebeertrappe.com.
■ Country singer/songwriter Shelly Rann will perform at Natasha’s Bistro at 8 p.m. Sunday, Rann, who lives in Nashville, is a Lexington native who has shared the stage with country stars Vince Gill, Trace Adkins, and Alabama. Cover charge is $10. Natasha’s is at 112 Esplanade. Call (859) 259-2754.

Farmers market report

■ Shelley Johnson, owner of Shelley’s Hand-Picked Asparagus, has a bountiful crop of asparagus this spring. “I’m picking 40 to 60 pounds daily,” she said. Although Johnson isn’t certified organic, she uses no chemicals or pesticides on the asparagus. Varieties are purple passion and Jersey knights and cost is $5 a pound. The farm stand is 9 miles from New Circle Road on Old Frankfort Pike at Hedden Road. Hours are 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call (859) 619-4996.
■ Bluegrass Farmers’ Market will have strawberries, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, baked goods, jams, herb seasoning, beer cheese, lamb, goat, veal, beef, pork, chicken, and eggs on Saturday. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3450 Richmond Road, in the parking lot of Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs. Go to Bluegrassfarmersmarket.org.
■ Lexington Farmers’ Market now is open from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday on the University of Kentucky campus at Alumni and University drives. Included are local strawberries, lettuces, spinach, asparagus, green onions, green garlic, cheeses, eggs, honey, baked goods, flowers, meats, granola, oils and vinegars, and prepared foods. Markets also are open at Cheapside Park on Saturday, Broadway and Maxwell Street on Tuesday and Thursday, and Southland Drive on Sunday. Go to Lexingtonfarmersmarket.com.

The Jax is Lexington’s newest downtown restaurant to join Short Street’s entertainment district.
Owner Aimee Lovitz said the name originated from fond childhood memories of playing jacks with her grandmother. “With jacks, anyplace can become your playground,” Lovitz said.
The restaurant, lounge, and late night and events venue will feature “globally inspired, locally infused cuisine, cocktails and culture,” Lovitz said. Her brother, Brad, is general manager and Natalie Blake, a season nine contestant on Fox Hell’s Kitchen, is executive chef. Aimee Lovitz consulted with Wild Thyme owner Allison Davis to create a menu of dishes sourced with fresh, local ingredients.
Jax is at 101 West Short Street, at the corner of North Limestone and Short Street. Hours are 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday. Call (859) 721-2339.

Announcements

■ Fresh asparagus from Greenwood Farm in Versailles is on the menu at Ramsey’s Diners. Locations are 496 East High Street, 4053 Tates Creek Centre, 3090 Helmsdale Drive, and 4391 Harrodsburg Road. Go to Ramseysdiners.com.
■ Gold Star Chili, 350 Foreman Avenue, has reopened and offers an expanded menu that includes gourmet burgers and chicken sandwiches. The store will celebrate its re-opening with Customer Appreciation Day on June 5, offering Gold Star Chili’s signature 3-ways for $3. Call (859) 317-9240. Go to Goldstarchili.com.
■ Construction workers are at Parkette Drive-In but they’re not there for the Poor Boys. The crew is building a cover for the back patio and installing six garage doors around it. “The decor is going to be a retro ‘50s garage,” co-owner Randy Kaplan said. “With the addition, we’ll add more than 90 seats.” The remodeling should be completed by the end of June. Parkette is at 1230 East New Circle Road. Call (859) 254-8723 or go to Theparkette.com.

 Events

■ The seventh annual Kentucky Ale Brew-Off will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company, 401 Cross Street. Home brewers will be brewing their craft on site as part of the Lexington Craft Beer Week celebration.
The winning brew will be scaled up to a single, commercial-sized batch by Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and sold on draft locally. The winner will also have his or her batch entered into the 2013 Pro-Am Competition at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.
■ Chef Chris Eliopoulos is preparing an Ionian menu for Saturday’s monthly Greek dinner at Panagia Pantovasilissa Greek Orthodox Church, 920 Tates Creek Road. The dinner, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., features a choice of chicken in orange glaze, tilapia in spinach, or pork loin. Cost is $12. Call (859) 266-1921 or go to GreekDinner.com.
■ Staxx BBQ, 11 Carson Place in Frankfort, is celebrating its second anniversary with specials on Friday. Guests can buy any sandwich combo and receive a sandwich combo free from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; buy a pound of pork and receive a pound of pork free from 2 to 5 p.m.; and buy two racks of ribs and receive a rack of ribs free from 5 to 9 p.m. Call (502) 352-2515 or go to Staxxbbq.com.

Farmers market report

■ Bluegrass Farmers’ Market will have spring greens, asparagus, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, baked goods, jams, herb seasoning, beer cheese, lamb, goat, veal, beef, pork, eggs, soaps, veggie plants on Saturday. The market is at 3450 Richmond Road, in the parking lot of Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Go to Bluegrassfarmersmarket.org.
■ The farmers market at Azur Restaurant in Beaumont Centre is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Call (859) 296-1007 or go to Azurrestaurant.com.
■ Lexington Farmers Market vendors will have lettuce, spinach, asparagus, arugula, kale, collards, sweet potatoes, and green garlic. Go to Lexingtonfarmersmarket.com for locations.

Food Network celebrity Giada De Laurentiis’ recent trip to Thailand has inspired Nat Yuttayong to create some special dishes for this weekend at Nat’s Thai Restaurant.
Yuttayong, chef/owner of the restaurant at 111 South Upper Street, read about De Laurentiis’ trip in the May issue of Food Network Magazine.
“She discovered that authentic Thai food is nothing like American Thai food,” Yuttayong said. “The dinners are spicier, the sweets are sweeter. She was inspired by the bold flavors of the country’s signature ingredients: kaffir lime, ginger and Thai chiles.”
He is serving De Laurentiis’ recipes for shrimp and vegetable yellow curry; turkey larb, or lettuce wraps; and spicy mint beef. Call (859) 433-0197. Also, Nat’s patio is now open.

Openings

■ A new frozen yogurt store, Yogli Mogli, is open at 457 Keene Centre Drive in Nicholasville, near Copper River Grill. It offers 16 flavors that are fat-free, low-fat, or no-sugar-added. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Go to Yoglimogli.com.

Cinco de Mayo celebrations

Cinco de Mayo is Sunday. Area restaurants’ events include:
■ Durango’s, 2121 Richmond  Road, will serve special fajitas and margaritas on Sunday. Beef or chicken fajitas for two are $15.95. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call (859) 268-0723.
■ The Grey Goose will party in Mexico style at all locations on Sunday. The menus include Mexican pizza with a chipotle marinara base topped by mozzarella and steak. Locations are 133 East Main Street in Midway, (859) 846-9933; 170 Jefferson Street in Lexington, (859) 233-1500; and 509 Main Street in Paris, (859) 987-4700.
■ Good Foods Market & Café, 455 Southland Drive, will serve a buffet featuring authentic Mexican entrees on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The cost is $7.99 per pound. Call (859) 278-1813 or go to Goodfoods.coop.
■ Old Chicago Pizza, 1924 Pavilion Way, is having a Cinco de Mayo mini tour featuring eight Mexican beers. The special ends Sunday. Call (859) 977-4640 or go to Oldchicago.com.

New menus

■ Gluten-free menus, including sandwiches, are now available at all of Chef Ouita Michel’s restaurants.
“We’ve always accommodated dietary restrictions, including gluten-free requests, at Holly Hill Inn, our fine dining restaurant,” Michel said. “So to help our guests at Windy Corner Market, Wallace Station and our Midway School Bakery who ask about gluten-free options, we evaluated our menus and created special menus that list gluten-free entrees, side dishes and desserts.”
The breads are made at Midway School Bakery, which began the gluten-free menu project. Head pastry chef and manager Carrie Warmbier has created a gluten-free soft bread that’s particularly good in grilled sandwiches. The bakery is at 510 South Winter Street. Call (859) 846-4336 or go to Midwayschoolbakery.com.
Michels restaurants are Holly Hill Inn, 426 North Winter Street, Midway, (859) 846-4732, Hollyhillinn.com; Wallace Station, 3854 Old Frankfort Pike, Versailles, (859) 846-5161, Wallacestation.com; and Windy Corner, 4595 Bryan Station Road, Lexington, (859) 294-9338, Windycornermarket.com.
■ Greentree Tearoom, 521 West Short Street, is featuring the flavors of spring on its May menu. Included are strawberry soup, cream scones, a luncheon hot Brown, cucumber dill and shrimp tea sandwiches, dark chocolate mousse, French wafers, and coconut cupcakes. Call (859) 455-9660 or go to Greentreetearoom.com.
■ Casanova Italian Restaurant, 855 South Broadway, has a new menu for spring. Featured are spaghetti pizzaiola, penne alla Siciliana and baccala (salted cod) napoletana. Call (859) -309-3313 or go to Casanovaky.com.
■ The weekend menu and entertainment at Natasha’s Bistro, 112 Esplanade, has a Cuban theme. The menu includes baked salmon served with hearts of palm. Peruvian singer Carlos Flores will perform. Call (859) 259-2754 or go to Beetnik.com.

Special event

■ Wines on Vine, 400 Old Vine Street, will have a German riesling wine tasting 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Call (859) 243-0017.

Farmers market report

■ Bluegrass Farmers’ Market will have spring greens, asparagus, lettuce, cucumbers, baked goods, jams, herb seasoning, lamb, goat, veal, beef, pork, eggs, soaps, and vegetable plants. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 3450 Richmond Road, in the parking lot of Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs. Go to Bluegrassfarmersmarket.org.

■ Windy Corner Market, 4595 Bryan Station Road, now serves local beef from Colcord Farms BlueGrass Finished Beef in Bourbon County and Wholesome Living Farm in Clark County. BlueGrass provides rib eye steak from Black Angus steers, and the roast beef comes from Wholesome Living.

The children’s menu at Windy Corner has been certified by the Better Bites program, a project of the Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition. The Better Bites certification program for restaurants helps kids and their parents choose delicious, healthy items easily. The restaurant has added whole-grain tortillas for its grilled cheese and adjusted portion sizes, in addition to its lineup of fruit, vegetables and a grain salad. Call (859) 294-9338 or go to Windycornermarket.com.

■ Recipes from historic Williamsburg, Va., are the inspiration for Holly Hill Inn’s spring and summer menus. Included are peanut soup, which dates to the colonial era; salmon collops (collop is an 18th century cooking term meaning a thin slice of meat); pork tenderloin roulade; and Old Louisville rolled oysters. Holly Hill is at 426 North Winter Street in Midway. Call (859) 846-4732  or go to Hollyhillinn.com.

The Holly Hill Inn 1785 Bourbon Society will explain how to create the perfect mint julep on Saturday. Guests also will learn how to mix a version of the Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep. Seatings are at 6 and 7 p.m. at the inn. Cost is $35.

Events

■ Tim Farmer, host of Kentucky Afield and Tim’s Country Kitchen, will demonstrate how to cook morel mushrooms at the Mountain Mushroom Festival at 11 a.m. Saturday in Irvine. The festival is held downtown and features a mushroom market and arts and crafts. Go to Mountainmushroomfestival.org.

■ Oliva Bella’s Olio Rustico from Sicily (2012 harvest) was awarded a gold medal at the New York International Olive Oil Competition on April 18 in Manhattan. More than 700 extra virgin olive oils were entered from 22 countries. You can taste Olio Rustico from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the tasting room, 400 Old Vine Street. Call (859) 983-3567 or go to Olivabella.com.

Specials

■ Once a year the Kwanzan flowering cherry trees “snow” a pink carpet of petals on the patio at Doodles breakfast and lunch. To celebrate, Doodles is serving pink champagne brunch specials from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Doodles is at 262 North Limestone. Call (859) 317-8507 or go to  Doodlesrestaurant.com.

■ Weekend specials at The Grey Goose, 170 Jefferson Street, includes grilled salmon with baked polenta and smoked gouda pizza. Call (859) 233-1500.

Farmers market report

■ Bluegrass Farmers Market will have spring greens, asparagus, lettuce, cucumbers, baked goods, jams, herb seasoning, lamb, goat, veal, beef, pork, eggs, and soaps. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 3450 Richmond Road  in the parking lot of Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs. Go to Bluegrassfarmersmarket.org.

■ Magic Beans Coffee Roasters will introduce “custom-brewed” drip coffee at its new coffee bar at the Lexington Farmers Market Saturday. Customers may choose from any of Magic Beans fresh-roasted offerings. During the 3 minutes or so that it takes to make a cup, brewmaster Keith Hautala will offer tips on how to brew a better cup of coffee at home.

Market hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays in Cheapside Park, next to the old Fayette County Courthouse. Free parking is in the Financial Center garage. The Southland Drive market is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. Go to Lexingtonfarmersmarket.com.

It’s patio season in the Bluegrass and you’ll want to check out the new one that’s lake side at Palmers Fresh Grill and Wine Bar. The restaurant is inside the former Regatta Seafood Grille at The Mall at Lexington Green.

Owned by Lori and Darrell Lewis, the restaurant focuses on local foods and the menu includes slow-roasted chicken piccata, Thai chicken pasta, turkey burger, grilled ahi tuna steak, and bourbon and salted caramel bread pudding. Palmers is at 161 Lexington Green Circle. Call (859) 273-0103 or go to Palmersfreshgrill.com.

Marksbury Farm Market in Garrard County, a meat processing facility for locally produced meats, is providing beef served at the Chipotle Mexican Grill at 345 South Limestone Street.
“We began working with Chipotle a little more than a year ago,” Marksbury’s sales and marketing director Cliff Swaim said. “They purchase the steak they use at the Limestone store from us. At this time that is the only location we can keep up with but our objective is to add more stores as we grow.  They use an average of 300 pounds per week.”
Go to Marksburyfarm.com.

The County Club, at 555 Jefferson Street, opened this week in a garage warehouse that was part of the old Rainbow bread company. “We installed a restaurant in a cinder block garage warehouse,” said chef/co-owner Johnny Shipley. He has worked at Jonathan at Gratz Park, Dudley’s, and Table Three Ten.
Shipley and Chesney Turner are “taking the tradition of American BBQ and applying some twists and turns. The focus of the menu is smoked meats, so we’re using oak and hickory and beech and cooking at low temperatures for a long time. We’re playing it real straight. We’re not covering smoked pork with a sweet red sauce, but sauces will be available,” he said. The menu also is “vegetarian aware,” offering daily composed salads.
Brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Call (859) 389-6555 or go to Countyclubrestaurant.com.

■ Tommy Walters is back in business with another Furlongs.
Walters, a Louisiana native who is known for his great Cajun specialties, has been in and out, and round and about, the restaurant business since 1990. He began his career in Lexington at Laffite’s Rendezvous; opened The Hidden Cove and The Louisiana Café, and the original Furlongs in 1993 at Fayette Place. It closed in 1995, and reopened at 735 East Main Street a year later. It moved to the former Coach House location at 855 South Broadway, and later returned to East Main Street. The name changed after a dispute between Walters and his business partner in 2008. Walters also was a partner in the Riptide Restaurant on the Kentucky River, and most recently has been catering.
The new Furlongs is at 130 West Tiverton Way, in the former Corky’s BBQ spot. Hours are 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 3 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call (859) 523-5500.

Open on Saturday
■ Della’s Diner, 124 North Upper Street, is opening at 7:30 a.m. Saturdays to serve breakfast and lunch to farmers market shoppers. Call (859) 281-1141.
New menus
■ Sabio, 380 South Mill Street, has a new menu for spring. Lunch items include roasted lamb sandwich and fried green tomato salad. For dinner, there’s chicken marsala, fresh ahi tuna, crispy duck breast, and shrimp gnocchi. Call (859) 368-9901 or go to Sabiodudleysquare.com.
■ Bd’s Mongolian Grill, 2309 Sir Barton Way, has joined the National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell program, an initiative designed to help parents make healthful choices for their children when dining out. The Kids LiveWell menu options include teriyaki chicken and a vegetarian item. Other participating restaurants are at Healthydiningfinder.com. Call (859) 264-0686 or go to Gomongo.com.
Events
■ Bluegrass Pride will host an Earth Day event from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Good Foods Market & Café and Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Southland Drive. The Good Foods grill out, 4 to 8 p.m., will feature hamburgers, hot dogs, vegan burgers. Call (859) 266-1572 or go to Bgpride.org or Goodfoods.coop.
■ Wines On Vine, 400 Old Vine Street, is having a French rosé tasting from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Call (859) 243-0017.
■ The Greek Orthodox Church, 920 Tates Creek Road, will hold  its monthly dinner from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Chefs Jim Scalos and Chris Eliopoulos will prepare pasta with a choice of garlic-walnut sauce; artichoke, lemon and olive oil; red sauce with mushrooms, and marinara. Cost is $10. Go to Greekdinner.com.
Specials
■ The weekend specials at Grey Goose, 170 Jefferson Street, include pizza (chili con queso-grilled chicken, roasted poblanos, cilantro, red onion, pico de gallo and fried tortilla strips) and red wine braised lamb shanks. Call (859) 233-1500.
Farmers market report
■ Bluegrass Farmers Market will have spring greens, eggs, sweet potatoes, squash, honey, baked goods, jams, herb seasoning, lamb and goat meats, soaps, and bean soup mix. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 3450 Richmond Road, in the parking lot of Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs. Go to Bluegrassfarmersmarket.org.

Fifth graders at Maxwell Elementary will host Night of Food & Art for the Lexington Rescue Mission on Friday, April 12.

The plan for the fundraiser was created by students Sierra O-Brien, Caleb Robinson, Mason Gohde, and Jenna Gorman. The evening will include a cooking demonstration and food tasting provided by students from Sullivan University, along with an art auction including work from Georgetown Ice House Gallery, turquoise jewelry, personalized painting, photographs on canvas, and water color paintings on cloth.

Lexington Rescue Mission  is a Christian ministry that strives to meet the needs of the city’s poor and homeless throughout the year by serving hot meals and helping people build and maintain independent living through life-skills classes, job-readiness training and counseling.

Maxwell School is at 301 Woodland Avenue.

■ The Local Taco, 315 South ­Limestone, is offering a brunch menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Taco specials include ham and Cheddar featuring Browning’s country ham and white Cheddar cheese, and eggs, smoked brisket, red chile sauce and pickled onions. Call (859) 523-3700 or go to Thelocaltaco.com.
■ Ruth Hunt Candies, 213 Walton Avenue, is offering a series of Second Sunday tastings and events. Samplings of Ale-8-One salsa, barbecue sauce, drinks and suckers will be available from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call (859) 268-1559 or go to Ruthhuntcandy.com.
■ The Bleu Plate Tours are back for the season. The walking food tours are offered at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ­Saturdays. Sunday tours will return in May. By touring the city on foot, you’ll visit tucked-away restaurants and ­establishments that you just don’t see driving by, and take in a few history ­lessons. Go to Bleuplatetours.com.
■ Ramsey’s Diner, 496 East High Street, is offering a Tax Day special this weekend and Monday: lamb fries with choice of three vegetables for $10.40. Call (859) 259-2708. Patios are open
at all Ramsey’s locations. Go to
Ramseysdiners.com.
■ Thai Orchid Café, 1030 South Broadway, is observing the Thai New Year from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday with a Songkran noodle festival.
“We are celebrating with a delicious menu of our favorite noodle dishes,” chef/owner Toa Green said. “The long length of noodles represents our wish for your prosperity, longevity and good luck.”
Specials include somen noodles topped with pineapple, Thai beef and meatball noodle soup, and garlic noodles and veggies. Call (859) 288-2170 or go to Thaiorchidcafe.net.
■ Wine + Market, 486 West Second Street, will offer a cheese class at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Cheeses from France will be sampled. The April beer tasting will be 5 to 7:30 p.m. April 24, and the monthly wine tasting will be at 6 p.m. April 29. Classes are $12. Call (859) 225-0755 or go to Wineandmarket.com.