Flavors of Kentucky

Greg Spaulding, manager of Puccini’s Smiling Teeth, and his U.S. teammates scored high marks at the 2012 World Championship of Pizza held in Salsomaggiore, Italy in April.
The U.S. Pizza Team was made up of expert pizza chefs and dough-spinning acrobatic performers from pizza restaurants across the United States. Team member Spaulding won the Best in the U.S. award in the classic pizza category. His colleague Tom Carfrae, owner of Tomaso’s Pizza in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, earned Best in the U.S. in the pan category, while Mike Amheiser, owner of Pizza Dock in Fredericktown, Ohio, took home the Best in the U.S. prize for his gluten-free pie. Go to Pizzatv.com or Worldpizzachampionship.com. The U.S. team was sponsored by PMQ Pizza Magazine. This week, Spaulding is competing in the Global Pizza Challenge in Sydney, Australia. Puccini’s locations are Chevy Chase Place, (859) 269-0404;Beaumont Centre, (859) 219-0101,and 3801 Dylan Place, (859) 223-1588.
Special events
■ Town Branch Market, 233 East Main Street, at the corner of Esplanade, is celebrating its first anniversary on Friday and Saturday. There will be breakfast and lunch specials, and samples of new items, including biscuits and gravy, jumbo cinnamon rolls, and fresh baked personal pizzas. Call (859) 280-2122.
■ Natasha’s Bistro & Bar, 112 Esplanade, is serving farmers market brunch on Sundays. Natasha’s Sunday chef will be shopping at farmers market to buy ingredients for the menu which is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Items include quiche, fruit plate, biscuits and sorghum, and scrambled eggs. Call (859) 259-2754 or go to Beetnik.com.
■ Jean Farris Winery, 6825 Old Richmond Road, is serving dinner, wine, and a movie in the vines this summer. On Friday, guests can watch The Help on the outdoor movie screen overlooking the estate vineyard. When making reservations for the outdoor movie event you must request a movie table. Call (859) 263-9463 or go to Jeanfarris.com.
■ June’s Greek Dinner Night at Panagia Pantovasilissa Greek Orthodox Church will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 16. The church, at 920Tates Creek Road, will have outside dining areas available, weather permitting. The featured vineyard is Chrisman Mill and the menu includes chicken in orange glaze, pork loin, and tilapia with spinach. Go to Greekdinner.com.
■ The patio is open at Addie’s at The Woodford Inn, 104 Park Street, Versailles, where you can enjoy live music. A fish fry will be held Friday, and the dinner special on Saturday is surf & turf. Call (859) 873-5600 or go to Addiesky.com.
■ Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive, will hold its annual lobster boil from 4 to 9:30 p.m. June 13. Whole Maine lobsters will be served with corn on the cob and new potatoes, along with New England clam chowder, and fresh fruit cobbler. Call (859) 278-9424.

Tea menu for June
■ The June menu at Greentree Tearoom will help beat the summer heat. Included are chilled cucumber-avocado soup, tropical chicken salad, tomato aspic, and orange panacotta. Greentree is at 521 West Short Street. Call (859) 455-9660 or go to Greentreetearoom.com.

Farmers market report
■ The Bluegrass Farmers’ Market will celebrate the grand opening of the 2012 market season on Saturday and giving away Wildcat Blue market totes to the first 500 customers. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at 3450 Richmond Road, in the parking lot of Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs. Go to Localharvest.org/blog/29529.
■ The farmers bazaar at Azur Restaurant, 3070 Lakecrest Circle, is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays on the patio. The market features local farmers and artisans. Azur serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Call (859) 296-1007 or go to Azurrestaurant.com.
■ Winchester/Clark County Farmers Market  is open 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 217 South Main Street.
■ Woodford County Farmers’ Market will have beef, eggs, honey, pork and fruit. It’s open 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays in downtown Versailles.
■ Lexington Farmers Market locations are Cheapside Park, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; Southland Drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday; Maxwell Street and South Broadway, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and the parking lot of the University of Kentucky’s Commonwealth Stadium, next to University Drive, 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Go to Lexingtonfarmersmarket.com.

The truth about balsamic vinegar

Jack Bishop,  the resident Italian expert at America’s Test Kitchen, said he doesn’t like balsamic vinegar—at least as it’s used in many American restaurant and home kitchens. “I think balsamic has way too much personality to use in a salad dressing. It’s too sweet. It’s too strong. It’s just too much with delicate greens.

“I do like balsamic vinegar in pan sauces. It reduces into a sweet-and-sour syrup that works very well with chicken and pork dishes. I also love traditional balsamic vinegar (the stuff aged for at least a dozen years and priced at $60 per ounce) drizzled over berries or gelato. This heirloom condiment was used as a dowry among wealthy families in northern Italy — it’s that valuable.

“If you don’t want spent $150 for a tiny bottle of aged vinegar, you can take decent supermarket stuff and reduce it in a small saucepan with either sugar or ideally a little port. Use 1 tablespoon of sweet stuff for every 1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar. Cook this mixture at the barest simmer until reduced by half. The vinegar will now have the silky texture of aged balsamic. If vinegar with dessert is just too odd, a drizzle of aged balsamic (either the real stuff or “homemade”) is a nice way to boost the flavor of grilled meats or grilled fish.”

When you head out to eat this weekend, try some of the winners from the 32nd annual Taste of the Bluegrass, which was last weekend at Keeneland.
Judges named McCarty’s medallions from Sal’s Chophouse as the best entree, Giuseppe’s Ristorante Italiano’s lump crab cake as best appetizer, and The Soup Kitchen’s brown bread as the best bread. The chefs at Sullivan University won best dessert for their local strawberry pavlova.
People’s Choice awards went to ­Louisiana Passion Catering, best ­appetizer/soup; Great Harvest Bread, best bread; Fresh Market, best salad; Sal’s, best ­entree; and Gigi’s Cupcakes, best dessert.
Proceeds from the event go to God’s Pantry Food Bank.

Special events

■ Alfalfa Restaurant, 141 East Main Street, will serve its popular holiday brunch on Monday, Memorial Day. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to the regular menu, there will be items from farmers markets including fresh peach pancakes and omelets made from Kentucky free-range chicken and cheese from Boone Creek Creamery. Call (859) 253-0014 or visit Alfalfarestaurant.com.
■ The 10th anniversary celebration continues at Ted’s Montana Grill with the second phase of its fund-raising efforts for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry. Ted’s also has new menu items including the special anniversary
“No. 10 Burger,” which is a take on Ted’s classic cheeseburger, served in beef or bison with a choice of cheese and house-made sweet and spicy pickles. Also new are a house-made veggie burger and a wild berry cheesecake.
Ted’s also has a new line of private label wines called Bison Ridge. Included are chardonnay, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Ted’s Lexington location is at 2304 Sir Barton Way. Call (859) 263-5228 or go to Tedsmontanagrill.com.
■ Silver Oak, a prized California cabernet, will be the focus of a ­gourmet wine dinner at Portofino on June 6. There will be tastings from ­California’s Napa and Alexander Valleys, with ­vineyard ­representatives leading the ­tastings and commentary. The cost is $125. The reception begins at 7 p.m., followed by dinner at 8. Portofino is at 249 East Main Street. Call (859) 253-9300.
■ Smith-Berry Winery’s summer ­dinner/concert series kicks off Saturday with its 10th ­anniversary celebration. Nervous Melvin and the Mistakes will entertain. The buffet features Chuck’s famous barbecue, grilled chicken breasts, Roma green beans, cheese grits and vinaigrette cole slaw. Call (502) 845-7091 or go to Smithberrywinery.com. The winery us at 855 Drennon Road in New Castle.

Specials

■ Weekend specials at The Julep Cup, 111 Woodland Avenue, include pan-seared corvina over coconut basmati rice topped with roasted ginger carrots, and sautéed veal scallopini with tomato and artichoke hearts. The Beth ­Mankel Group entertains Friday, and John ­Hedger is featured Saturday. Call (859) 226-0300.
■ Natasha’s Bistro & Bar, 112 ­Esplanade, will serve lamb moussaka as a special Friday and Saturday nights. A new summer dish is sesame peanut stir fry made with tofu or chicken and served over basmati rice. Call (859) 259-2754 or go to Beetnik.com.
■ Caramanda’s Bake Shoppe has a new cupcake flavor, black forest. A chocolate cupcake is filled with cherries, swirled with vanilla buttercream and topped with chocolate curls and a maraschino cherry. Locations are 332 Southland Drive, 3805 Dylan Place (off Boston Road) and a kiosk in Fayette Mall.

Farmers market reports

■ Azur Restaurant’s farmers bazaar is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays on the patio. The market features local farmers and artisans. Products include produce, eggs, cheese, meats, pasta, hand-dipped chocolates, flowers, plants, baked goods and crafts. Azur, 3070 Lakecrest Circle, serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Call (859) 296-1007 or go to Azurrestaurant.com.
■ Bluegrass Farmers’ Market is open 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. The farmers have ­strawberries, greens, potatoes, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, Swiss chard, bok choy, Napa and savoy cabbage, herb seasonings, and plants. The market is at 3450 Richmond Road, in the parking lot of Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs. Go to Localharvest.org/blog/29529.
■ Clark County Extension family and consumer sciences agent Jennifer Howard will be at the Winchester/Clark County Farmers Market on Saturday. She will be sampling recipes and giving away kitchen gadgets to the first 50 people. Strawberries, green beans, peaches and corn will be available. The market is open 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 217 South Main Street.
■ Woodford County Farmers’ ­Market will have beef, eggs, honey, pork and fruit. It’s open 8:30 a.m. to noon ­Saturdays in downtown Versailles.
■ Lexington Farmers Market locations are Cheapside Park, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; Southland Drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday; Maxwell Street and South Broadway, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and the parking lot of the University of Kentucky’s Commonwealth Stadium, next to University Drive, 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Go to Lexingtonfarmersmarket.com.

Rosetta opened Tuesday in the former Mia’s spot at the corner of Short and Limestone streets. Chef Brandon Owens named the restaurant for his maternal grandmother Rosetta Napier.  “She’s a classy Southern lady, and an amazing cook and I was always trailing her as a young one,” Owens said. “She’s a little fireball. She’s 81 and she can make a room light up.”
Lunch is served from 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and dinner service will begin Tuesday, opening at 5 p.m. Rosetta’s one-page menu will feature what’s fresh locally, or the whim of the chef.
Lunch features salads, quiche, soups, sandwiches, and desserts such as coconut cream cake and fresh berry crumb cake. The wine list includes 25 wines by the glass, which range from $8 to $18.
“We just want our guests to enjoy every experience. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, we want people to have a good time and do what we do best,” Owens said.
“We plan on being an absolutely good time for everybody. If they’re coming in for dining, or sitting at the bar for cocktails, or enjoying the patio,” he said.
The restaurant will be open for Mother’s Day brunch, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then Sunday Suppers will be served family style, meat and three sides for one price. Before opening Rosetta, Owens was head chef at Baker’s 360. Call (859) 255-1800  or go to Rosettadining.com.

New pizza place

■ There’s more to Chino’s Pizzaria than pepperoni pizza. The spot at 1060 Chinoe Road serves gourmet pizzas such as sesame tofu, seafood with garlic sauce, BBQ chicken, and beef/shrimp/chicken curry. Also on the menu are salads, wings, pasta and oven-baked sandwiches. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Dine-in, carry-out, and delivery are available. Call (859) 335-0333 or (859) 335-0448.

May is a big month for celebrations — Derby, Cinco de Mayo, ­graduations, Mother’s Day — and restaurants are jazzing up their menus for the occasions.

■ Durango’s, 2121 Richmond Road, has opened its patio and will have drink and food specials Friday and Saturday in observance of Cinco de Mayo. Call (859) 268-0723.

■ Alex Jenkins, chef at Good Foods Market & Café, is preparing an authentic menu for Cinco de Mayo. The buffet includes el Colorado beans, papas de mole enchiladas, chili verde, tilapia empanizada, arroz rojo and papas con rajas. It will be served 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The price is $7.99 a pound. Good Foods is at 455 Southland Drive. Call (859) 278-1813  or go to Goodfoods.coop.

■ The Julep Cup chefs are blending Derby favorites with Cinco de Mayo specialties this weekend. Included are salad with roasted cactus, slow-roasted prime rib with Oaxacan mole, sea bass and lamb fries. The Julep Cup is at 111 Woodland Avenue. Call (859) 226-0300.

■ Abuelo’s is celebrating Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day with drink specials and activities. “Mexican flag margaritas” are designed to resemble the Mexican flag. Guests who order one of Abuelo’s signature La Grandeza ­margaritas during the  celebration will receive an additional shot of premium  tequila in a special take-home shot glass for an additional $2.

Moms who dine in the restaurant on Día de las Madres, or Mother’s Day, on May 13, will receive a special greeting card with a recipe for Abuelo’s pescado guerrero. The recipe features tilapia or mahi mahi topped with fresh shrimp, scallops, mushrooms, spinach, roasted peppers and sliced avocado. Abuelo’s is at Fayette Mall, 3395 Nicholasville Road. Call (859) 971-0922.

■ Addie’s at The Woodford Inn, 140 Park Street in Versailles, is serving a brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mother’s Day. Included are a carving station, assorted pastas, fruits, salads and desserts. Call (859) 948-3974.

■ Azur Restaurant & Patio, 3070 ­Lakecrest Circle, is serving brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mother’s Day. ­Entrees include French toast stuffed with bourbon-vanilla cream cheese, scallops and shrimp dumplings, chicken and sage hash, and lamb burgers. Dinner specials will be served from 5 to 10 p.m. Call (859) 296-1007  or go to Azurrestaurant.com.

■ Jean Farris Winery & Bistro, 6825 Old Richmond Road, is offering a three-course prix-fixe menu for Mother’s Day, in addition to its regular brunch and 
a la carte dinner menu. Call (859) 263-9463  or go to Jeanfarris.com.

New menus

■ MonTea, 814 Euclid Avenue, has a new line of spring and summer ­specialty teas. The blends are ­considered ­excellent for iced tea. Included are ­pineapple fruit infusion, piña colada black, summer passion fruit infusion and tropical green. The shop also ­carries a wide variety of steeping systems. Call (859) 268-8327  or go to Monteashop.com.

■ The garden terrace at Greentree Tearoom, 521 West Short Street, is open and offers a less-formal setting for lunch. Here’s the menu for May: strawberry soup, cream scone, asparagus crepe with Mornay sauce, cucumber-dill and shrimp tea sandwiches, and ­chocolate pots de crème. Call (859) 455-9660  or go to Greentreetearoom.com.

Farmers market reports

■ Bluegrass Farmers Market will have plenty of fresh mint Saturday for Derby Day mint juleps. Also fresh from the farm are strawberries, asparagus, ­lettuce, eggs, green tomatoes, ­cucumbers, bok choy, nappa cabbage, jams, herb seasoning, bedding, and herb and vegetable plants. 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 ­Localharvest.org

blog/29529.

■ Lexington Farmers Market’s newest location will open May 23 in the parking lot of the University of Kentucky’s Commonwealth Stadium, next to University Drive. Hours are 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 15. Go toUky.edu/HR/wellness/farmersmarket.html. Other locations are Cheapside Park, open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; Southland Drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday; and Maxwell Street and South Broadway, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Go to ­Lexingtonfarmersmarket.com.

■ Winchester-Clark County ­Farmers Market is in a new spot: 217 South Main Street, in the parking lot next to Bluegrass Heritage Museum, across from St. Joseph Catholic Church. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.