Flavors of Kentucky

It’s a busy time next week for restaurants celebrating Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day. Make reservations early if you want to be assured of a seat at your favorite place. Mardi Gras parties will be Tuesday. Valentine’s celebrations will be on Thursday, unless otherwise noted.

Fat Tuesday

■ Tommy Walters, owner of Furlong’s Catering, is the person who will be  going to Louisiana to pick up all those thousands of pounds of crawfish that many of these Lexington restaurants will serve on Fat Tuesday. He’s also getting  andouille sausage, boudain, and oysters. If you need a large order while he’s there, call (859) 913-5611.

■ A la lucie, 159 North Limestone. Call (859) 252-5277 or go to Alalucie.com. The party begins at 5 p.m. and the menu includes gumbos, Creoles, etouffee, bananas Foster.
■ Bayou Bluegrass Catering at The Red Mile Clubhouse, 1200 Red Mile Road. Call (859) 233-0814 or go to Bayoubluegrass.com. Lunch buffet will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $16.50. Dinner seatings are at 5:30, 7 and 8:30 p.m. Cost is $29.50.
■ Bourbon n’ Toulouse, 829 Euclid Avenue. Call (859) 335-0300 or go to Bntlex.com. The party begins at 11 a.m. and the menu features alligator etouffee and King cake. Call by Monday for  take-out orders. Boiled crawfish cannot be pre-ordered. Crawfish boil starts at 6:30 p.m. Extra seating is at The Chevy Chase Inn and The Beer Trappe.  The Mojo Tones play at 6 p.m. followed by The Tall Boys at 9 p.m.
■ Gumbo Ya Ya Cajun Creole, 1080 South Broadway. Call (859) 252-9292 or go to Gumboyayaky.com. The menu features alligator sauce piquant, crawfish e’touffee, shrimp Creole, and free slices of King cake.

■ Meadowthorpe Cafe, 1415 Leestown Road. Call (859) 258-2222. Serving seafood gumbo, red beans and rice, and crawfish etouffee, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

■ Ramsey’s Diners. Locations are at Ramseysdiners.com. Live crawfish will be served, as well as seafood gumbo, red beans and rice, freshly baked French bread, and King cake.
■ Willie’s Locally Known, 805 North Broadway. Call (859) 281-1116. Willie’s first Mardi Gras party will feature a crawfish boil, gumbo, and hot beignets with bourbon caramel sauce. The Baja Yetis will entertain at 7 p.m. followed by Zydeco and Cajun music at 9 p.m.
■ Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive. Call (859) 278-9424 or go to Winchellsrestaurant.com. The Mardi Gras menu includes crawfish etouffee and King cake. On Valentine’s Day, beef tenderloin tips with crabmeat, and pan-seared scallops will be served.

Valentine’s Day

■ Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant at Fayette Mall, 3395 Nicholasville Road. Call (859) 971-0922 or go to Abuelos.com. Valentine specials will run Thursday through Feb.17. Included are fajitas for two, plus free dessert, for $29.99; and a prime rib special.
■ Addie’s at The Woodford Inn, 140 Park Street, Versailles. Call (859) 873-5600 or go to Thewoodfordinn.com. Seatings are at 6 and 8 p.m. Four course meal, including wine, is $90 for two.
■ Alfalfa, 141 East Main Street. Call (859) 253-0014. Valentine’s dinner will be served from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. A vegan entrée is available.
■ The Café at Barnes and Noble, 1932 Pavilion Way. Call (859) 543-8148or go to Barnesandnoble.com. On Wednesday and Valentine’s Day, the café will have specially wrapped Cheesecake Factory cupcakes and cheesecakes for two.
■ Casanova, 855 South Broadway. Call (859) 309-3313 or go to Casanovaky.com. A three-course menu is $45.
■ Equus Run Winery, 1280 Moores Mill Road in Midway. Call (859) 846-9463 or go to Equusrunvineyards.com.  Kisses & Calories — A Choco-holic Affair will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Tim Talbert Trio will entertain from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost is $5.
■ J Morse on Vine Bistro, 102 West Vine Street, is serving a four-course Feb. 14-16. Entrees include  peppercorn crusted pork loin with black cherry reduction, pasta pomodoro with grilled chicken or shrimp, and ribeye au poivre. Cost is $80 a couple. Call (859) 368-9888 or go to Jmorseonvinebistro.com.

■ Minton’s 760, 760 North Limestone. Call (859) 948-1874or go to Mintonsat760.com. Seatings will be at 5:30, 7 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
■ Soundbar, 208 South Limestone. Call (859) 523-6338 or go to Soundbarlex.com. Soundbar’s A Red Affair on Valentine’s Day will benefit AVOL.
■ Stella’s Kentucky Deli, 143 Jefferson Street. Call (859) 255-3354 or go to Stellaskentuckydeli.com. A four-course meal will be $35 with seatings at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Vegetarian options available.
■ Thai Orchid Café, 1030 South Broadway. Call (859) 288-2170 or go to Thaiorchidcafe.net. A Thai tapas feast for two is $45 and will be served from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

 Special events

■ Akielo Temple No. 128, Daughters of the Nile, will hold its annual bean soup dinner at Oleika Shrine Center, 326 Southland Drive,  from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. The menu includes brown or white beans, corn bread, dessert, and drink. Cost is $5. Carry-out is available. Call (859) 277-6869.
■ Holly Hill Inn and Thai Orchid Cafe will exchange chefs on Saturday. Toa Green and her mother, Suda Veerasethakul, who operate Thai Orchid, will cook their Thai specialties at Holly Hill, while  Nat Henton, executive chef at Woodford Reserve Distillery, (The food operation is run by Holly Hill Inn’s culinary team) will prepare menu items at Thai Orchid.
The dinner at Holly Hill, 426 North Winter Street in Midway, will be from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Call (859) 846-4732. Henton will prepare his favorite Thai dishes at Thai Orchid, 1030 South Broadway, from 5 to 10 p.m. Call (859) 288-2170.

If koshari and kebda aren’t familiar foods, you can discover them this weekend at the Egyptian Festival.
Koshari is a traditional Egyptian dish made with cooked lentils, rice and pasta, and served with a spicy tomato sauce. Kebda is a liver sandwich.
The festival menu also features roasted lamb, grilled chicken, falafel and baklava.
Entertainment includes camel rides, a zip-line course, a petting zoo and “Euro bungee.”
The event, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, will be at The Red Mile, 1200 Red Mile Road. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (859) 243-0768 or go to Egyptianfestivallex.com.

Special events

■ Jean Farris Winery & Bistro, 6825 Old Richmond Road, is having a Beast and Barrel lamb roast Saturday. The winery is celebrating the close of the 2012 harvest season by roasting two whole Kentucky lambs over old Jean ­Farris wine barrels on the lawn. The lamb will be offered as the dinner entrée special. Call (859) 263-9463 or go to Jeanfarris.com.
■ Minton’s at 760 is hosting a ­Halloween party Wednesday. Chef/owner Ashley Minton will greet guests as Mrs. Lovett, the character from Sweeney Todd known for her “meat pies” of ­questionable origin, as part a theme based on the Broadway musical. “We will be serving all sorts of pies,” Minton said. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Minton’s is at 760 North Limestone. Call (859) 948-1874 or go to Mintons760.com.
■ Georgia’s Kitchen Café, 900 North Broadway, is having a Halloween party at 7 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $30, and there will be live music and ­dancing. Prizes will be awarded for best ­costumes. Call (859) 252-6837  or go to Georgiaskitchencafe.com.
■ Wine + Market, 486 West Second Street, has two events planned for November. A class on pairing wines and holiday foods will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12. Apiary catering will provide appetizers. The cost is $25. A holiday beer tasting will be 5 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14. Five holiday brews will be available for tasting. Cost is $10. Call (859) 255-0577.

Announcements

■ Alfalfa Restaurant, 141 East Main Street, is helping Friends of The ­Kentucky Theatre raise money to ­renovate the downtown Lexington icon. On Wednesdays until Nov. 21, 20 percent of dinner sales will go to the theater. Dinner hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m. Also, Alfalfa now serves French-press coffee that’s locally roasted by Caffe Marco, and mimosas, wine nd beer at Sunday brunch starting at 11 a.m. Brunch hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (859) 253-0014.
■ Two Lexington restaurants, ­Bourbon n’ Toulouse and Sahara ­Mediterranean Cuisine, have been ­included on UrbanSpoon’s list of ­“America’s most popular cheap eats.” According to the user review-based Web site for restaurants, “these are the ones that received the most coverage in the past year, via blogger reviews, food ­critics and diner votes.” Bourbon n’ Toulouse is at 829 Euclid Avenue, (859) 335-0300, and Sahara is at 3061 Fieldstone Way in Beaumont Centre, (859) 224-1138. The Herald-Leader and LexGo.com contribute their restaurant reviews to UrbanSpoon.

Farmers market report

■ Saturday is Bluegrass Farmers Market’s last day for the season. Items include tomatoes, winter squash, peppers, lamb, honey, lettuce, baked goods, soup bean mix, greens, sweet potatoes, eggs, herb seasoning, jams and pumpkins. 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 Localharvest.org/blog/29529.

Minton’s 760, now open at 760 North Limestone, features a menu that owner Ashley Minton calls “Southern with a twist.” Minton, who also owns Nova Gourmets Personal Chef & Events, said Minton’s will serve many recipes that are “my family’s favorites that I have adapted/changed up,” she said.
Breakfast and lunch are served from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and dinner is served from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
“For dinner we will be doing seasonal dishes. They will change every week and be based on what is in season and what we can get from our farmers. We are using as many local products and foods as we possibly can, and will be making many items from scratch, such as sausage and apple butter,” she said.
Breakfast includes French toast, morning hot Brown, potato omelet, and biscuits and gravy. For lunch, there’s tomato pie, Carolina pulled pork, chicken pot pie, fried green tomatoes with ham salad, and chicken and dumplings. Call (859) 948-1874.

Events

■ Kentucky Mudworks and Bourbon n’ Toulouse’s annual Empty Bowls event on Saturday will benefit Moveable Feast Lexington.  Starting at 11 a.m., customers can donate $15 and choose a handmade bowl and receive a free bowl of Cajun food.
The ceramic bowls were made by local artists at Mudworks. Moveable Feast delivers hot, freshly cooked meals to people living with AIDS/HIV-related illnesses as well as individuals who are patients of Hospice of the Bluegrass. Bourbon n’ Toulouse is at 829 Euclid Avenue. Call (859) 335-0300.
■ The Bourbon Review magazine’s second annual Bourbon Under the Stars will celebrate Bourbon National Heritage Month. The party will be from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday at Fasig-Tipton, 2400 Newtown Pike. Tickets are $135 at the door. Call (502) 333-0086.
There will be a buffet of bourbons and special guests will be Bill Samuels Jr. of Maker’s Mark, and master distiller Jim Rutledge of Four Roses. Jonathan Lundy, chef/owner of Jonathan at Gratz Park, and Jeremy Ashby, chef at Azur, will prepare special dishes.
■ Alfalfa Restaurant, 141 East Main Street, is honoring author Ruth Reichl with special dinners on Friday and Saturday. Reichl is the keynote speaker at the University of Kentucky Women’s Writers Conference this weekend. Alfalfa will feature recipes from Reichl’s memoir Comfort Me with Apples. Chef Evan Gray will prepare Channing Way shrimp curry, made with fresh local vegetables simmered in a creamy coconut lime curry sauce, and served over brown rice with fresh fruit chutney on side. Hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m. Call (859) 253-0014 or go to Alfalfarestaurant.com.
■ Thai Orchid Cafe will host a celebration of local food and sustainable culture on Saturday. Harvest Fest will benefit Seedleaf, a non-profit organization that aims to increase the availability of fresh, wholesome food to people at risk of hunger in Central Kentucky. There will be live music, and food and beverage tastings from Thai Orchid, Good Foods Market & Café, The Wholesome Chef, West Sixth Brewing, and Elmwood Stock Farm. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. at Thai Orchid, 1030 South Broadway. Tickets are $40. Call (859) 288-2170.
■ Marikka’s Oktoberfest begins Friday and runs through Oct. 13. German Music Trio will play on Friday and Saturday nights. The menu features smoked pork knuckle cooked in sauerkraut and served with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes; Munich reuben, made with rye bread, bajuval cheese, sauerkraut, and bratwursts; and seasoned ground beef, mustard, and pickle wrapped in a thin strip of steak then covered with brown gravy. Call (859) 275-1925 or go to Marikkas.com. Marikkas is at 411 Southland Drive.
■ Horseshoe Bend Winery is holding its second Dinner in the Vineyard from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Dustin Staggers, chef at 60 West Bistro in St. Matthews in Louisville, will prepare the menu. The five-course meal with wine pairings is $75. The winery is at 1187 Lawson Lane in Willisburg. Call (859) 375-0296.
■ During September, The Ketch Seafood Grill will feature a Maine lobster clambake, including a 1 ¼-pound freshly steamed lobster, steamed clams, corn on the cob, red skin potatoes, and drawn butter. Call (859) 277-5919 or go to Ketchseafoodgrill.com. The Ketch is at 2012 Regency Road.
■ Grimes Mill Winery, 6707 Grimes Mill Road, is celebrating its first anniversary from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday. There will be live music from 4 to 7 p.m. featuring harmonica and guitar blues. Call (859) 543-9691or go to Grimesmillwinery.com.
■ Chuck’s famous BBQ and old-fashioned cheese grits are on the menu Saturday at Smith-Berry Winery’s dinner/concert. Nervous Melvin and the Mistakes will entertain from 6 to 9:30 p.m. The winery is at 855 Drennon Road in New Castle. Call 1-888-845-7091 or (502) 845-7091 or go to Smithberrywinery.com.

Farmers market report

■ Saturday is the last day for the Bluegrass Farmers Market Willow Oak location, 730 Millpond Road, in the parking lot for the Willow Oak Pool. The main location at 3450 Richmond Road, in the Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs parking lot, will be open for a few more weeks from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Farmers have tomatoes, squash, eggplant, peppers, raspberries, watermelons, bok choy, eggs, herb seasoning, and pumpkins. Go to Localharvest.org/blog/29529.

Smith-Berry Vineyard and Winery in New Castle will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Saturday. The “Winearitaville” dinner/concert will have a Key West theme, and Lunar Beach House will entertain with Jimmy Buffet tunes. The menu features Smith-Berry farm-raised beef burgers, and vendors will offer samples of their Kentucky-made specialties. Producers include Rattlesnack Hill Farm, Flying Leap Farm, Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese, Mr. G’s Kettle Corn, and Primo Oils & Vinegars. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Cost is $22.95 in advance, or $27.95 at the door.  Call (888) 845-7091 or (502) 845-7091 or go to Smithberrywinery.com.

Events

■ Bourbon n’ Toulouse will serve its famous shrimp boil during the Chevy Chase block party on Saturday. The dish features shrimp, corn, Cajun sausage, and potatoes. Also on the menu are atomic fire hotdogs made from the restaurant’s spicy boil recipe. West Sixth Brewing will have a beer trailer in front of the restaurant at 829 Euclid Avenue. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Call (859) 335-0300 or go to Bntlex.com.
■ On Friday, Horseshoe Bend Vineyards is having a Burgers and Banjos party. Sue Massek from Reel World String Band will entertain. Cost is $10 and the menu features burgers and dessert. Hours are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The winery is at 1187 Lawson Lane in Willisburg. Call (859) 375-0296 or go to Horseshoebend-ky.com.
■ Caramanda’s Bake Shoppe is asking customers to choose six new cupcakes to go on its fall/winter menu. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, you can stop by Caramanda’s two locations at 332 Southland Drive and 3805 Dylan Place, to taste three different cupcakes each day. The six cupcakes with the most votes will be added to the menu.

 Specials

■ Nick Ryan’s Saloon, 157 Jefferson Street, has $15 specials every Monday night. Each entree comes with soup or salad, and a small carafe of a boutique wine that changes weekly. The restaurant has added a new dish to its menu: a spicy Asian-style chicken crafted by one of the chefs. Call (859) 233-7900 or go to Nickryans.com.
■ Rossi’s Restaurant is featuring $15 dinner specials for the remainder of August. Rossi’s is at 1060 Chinoe Road. Call (859) 335-8788 or go to Rossis-restaurant.com for menu selections.

Farmers market report

■ John and Becky Moore of Midway have harvested their Colorado peach orchard and will be offering the fruit for sale on Saturday. The peach sale will be in front of their home, 113 North Winter Street, beginning at 8 a.m. until the crates are all sold.
■ Some of the merchants near the Southland Drive location of the Lexington Farmers Market are normally closed on Sundays. But they are opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday and having a sidewalk sale as a thank you and to recognize the market vendors, said Mark Marcum of Hallmark Trophies.
Participating merchants are The Soup Kitchen, Ladybug Landing, Geno’s Formal Affair, Gem Source, Aerus Electroux, and Hallmark. The Soup Kitchen will have samples of Mexican corn bread, which won awards at the Taste of the Bluegrass.
■ The Willow Oak location of the Bluegrass Farmers Market will no longer be open on Thursday, but will continue on Saturdays throughout the growing season. Farmers at both locations will have green beans, tomatoes, squash, eggplant, eggs, herb seasoning, rabbit, and beef. Locations and hours are: 3450 Richmond Road, in the Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs parking lot, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday; and 730 Millpond Road, in the parking lot of the Willow Oak Pool, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Go to Localharvest.org/blog/29529.

Restaurants are celebrating Fat Tuesday with parties and cajun specialties. It’s the day when people eat all they want of everything and anything as the following day is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of a long fasting period for Christians. The events listed take place on Tuesday, unless otherwise noted.

■ A la lucie, 159 North Limestone, is serving cajun favorites such as jambalaya, gumbo, etouffee, and king cake. The prixe fixe menu is $35. Call (859) 252-5277.  Sour Mash Jug Band will entertain.

■ Bayou Bluegrass is having its 14th annual Mardi Gras celebration at the Red Mile, 200 Red Mile Road. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and cost is $15. The menu includes fried catfish, red beans and rice, chicken and sausage gumbo, cajun smoked brisket, chicken creole, and bread pudding.

Dinner seatings are at 5:30, 7, and 8 p.m. and the menu includes boiled crawfish, fried alligator, shrimp etouffee, crawfish pie, king cake, and Na’wlins pralines. Cost is $28. Reservations are necessary. Call (859) 233-0814  or e-mail amfalcone03@earthlink.net.

■ Bourbon n’ Toulouse, 829 Euclid Avenue, will begin its 7th annual Fat Tuesday party at 11 a.m. with king cakes, and Ale-8-One will be giving away drinks and promotional items. Starting at 6:30 p.m., 750 pounds of boiled crawfish will be served. The Tall Boys will be playing at 7:30 p.m. next door at The Chevy Chase Inn. The Beer Trappe will also open at 11a.m. for extra seating. Carry-out orders are available. Call (859) 335-0300 or e-mail Kevin@bntlexington.com.

■ Gumbo Ya Ya, 1080 South Broadway, will be holding its 9th annual celebration and its menu features alligator sauce piquant, crawfish etouffee, crawfish creole, and free slices of King cake. Call (859) 252-9292 or go to Gumboyayaky.com.

■ The Julep Cup, 111 Woodland Avenue, is serving a New Orleans style menu for the weekend, as well as on Tuesday. Included are chicken and andouille gumbo; sole almondine with stewed tomato and okra and crab jambalaya; roasted pork loin with andouille and crawfish etouffee; and New Orleans style beignets with chicory chocolate sauce. Call (859) 226-0300.

■ Don your Mardi Gras costumes for Ramsey’s Diners’ 23rd annual Fat Tuesday parties. “Once again we will be going to New Orleans to bring back live, and thus cooked to order, crawfish to accompany our homemade seafood gumbo and red beans and rice with fresh baked French toast,” owner Rob Ramsey said. Hours are 11 a.m. “till there ain’t no more.” Locations are at Ramseysdiners.com.

■ Windy Corner Market and Restaurant, 4595 Bryan Station Road, will serve popcorn crawfish with remoulade, oysters on the half shell, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice, cajun burger, and gumbo. Dinner specials also include crispy stuffed soft shell crabs with shrimp and andouille, and fresh amberjack griddle-seared with cajun spices. The Pawpaw Pickers will entertain. Call (859) 294-9338 or go to Windycornermarket.com.

Events

■ Thai Orchid Cafe and Seedleaf are having the first “Soups In” fundraising series from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Participants will help prepare Thai Orchid’s roasted butternut squash and coconut soup using fresh local produce from Seedleaf. Cost is $35 a person or $50 a couple. Thai Orchid is at 1030 South Broadway. Call (859) 288-2170.

Seedleaf nourishes communities by growing, cooking, sharing, and recycling food to increase the amount, affordability, nutritional value, and sustainability of food available to people at risk of hunger in Central Kentucky.

■ Heirloom Restaurant, 125 East Main Street in Midway, offers half-price wines on Wednesday and the wines are from Spain. Heirloom has live music, tapas specials, and wine flights on Thursday. Call (859) 846-5565 or visit Heirloommidway.com.

■ The monthly Greek dinner at Greek Orthodox Church, 920 East High Street, will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Entrees, priced from $10 to $14, include lamb, slow cooked with bulgur, vegetables and raisins; shrimp, sautéed in wine, olive oil, onions and bay leaves; and penne pasta with white wine, seasonal vegetables and Greek spices. A la carte items are available. Wines provided by Wight-Meyer Vineyards of Shepherdsville.

■ Wines on Vine, 400 Old Vine Street, will have a wine tasting on Wednesday with guest speaker Tom Kenefick, owner of Kenefick Ranch Winery in Napa. He will present four of his wines from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.

On Tuesday, the topic for the monthly wine class will be how glassware affects the taste and quality of wine. Cost is $20 and includes a magnum level Riedel glass to take home. Hours are 6 to 7 p.m. Call (859) 243-0017.

If you’re looking for a romantic place, or a neighborhood hangout, to take your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, you have plenty of choices. Here are some places that are offering dinner specials on Feb. 14, unless otherwise noted.

■ Alfalfa Restaurant, 141 East Main Street, will serve Valentine dinners on Feb. 11 and Feb. 14. Hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m. Call (859) 253-0014. Menu items are seared half rack of lamb with ginger cherry sauce and roasted asparagus, and lobster and spinach crepes with sun dried tomato white wine cream, topped with Boone Creek Asiago cheese.

■ Brown’s Bakery, 1226 Versailles Road, is taking orders for Valentine goodies. Included are chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate truffles, mini cheesecake, chocolate heart brownies, and assorted Valentine-themed cupcakes. Call (859) 225-8400  or visit Brownbakery.com.

■ CastlePost, 230 Pisgah Pike in Woodford County, is having a semi-formal dinner which begins at 6:30 p.m. with a complimentary champagne reception. Dinner is at 7 p.m., followed by dancing. Entrée choices are Carmel Valley quail stuffed with Swiss chard, goat cheese and foie gras; and sea bass with beurre rouge served with brown butter gnocchi. Dinner for two is $250. Call (502) 553-7852 or visit Thecastlepost.com. Roses for the ladies will be provided by The Best of Flowers.

■ Greentree Tearoom, 521 West Short Street, normally is closed on Tuesdays, but will be serving tea on Valentine’s Day. Here’s the menu for February: French onion soup; poppy seed scone with cherry curd; Low Country shrimp and grits; corn salsa in phyllo cups; white pimento cheese and red radish ribbon tea sandwiches; strawberry cupcakes; and chocolate pots de crème. Call (859) 455-9660 or visit Greentreetearoom.com.

■ Jean Farris Winery & Bistro, 6825 Old Richmond Road, will serve a prix fixe Valentine’s dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 10-14. Cost is $75 a person. The menu features lobster bisque, poached pear salad, sea bass or beef Wellington, and red velvet soufflé. Call (859) 263-9463 or visit Jeanfarris.com.

■ The Julep Cup, 111 Woodland Avenue, will have live music and dinner specials include lobster mac and cheese, beef tenderloin with truffles, and sole in phyllo. Call (859) 226-0300.

■ Thai Orchid Café, 1030 South Broadway, will serve a four-course dinner for two for $49. Entrees include caramel chicken with cashews, chicken curry, and ginger chicken supreme. Call (859) 288-2170.

■ W.C.Wieners, 289 South Limestone, is offering a “Double Dose” special now through Feb. 14. The sweetheart special is classic Polishes, chips, and sodas for two for $6.99. Call (859) 255-0055.

Specials

■ Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive, is offering menu specials for Super Bowl Sunday. Included are New England clam chowder, steamed mussels, New York strip steak, pastrami sandwich, New York style cheese cake. Call (859) 278-9424.

■ Bourbon n’ Toulouse, 829 Euclid Avenue, is serving alligator etouffee in honor of the University of Kentucky-University of Florida game on Tuesday. Alligator will be on the menu on Monday and game day. Call (859) 335-0300 or visit Bntlex.com.

Accolades

■ Cardinal Hill Hospital, 2050 Versailles Road, held its annual Wild Game Dinner & Sport Auction on Jan. 27. Chefs competed for awards and here are the winners. Seth Russell, chef at The Hilary J. Boone Center at the University of Kentucky, won the people’s choice award for fried rabbit and waffles with hazelnut butter, brown sugar bacon, lavender infused maple syrup, and quail egg. The chef’s choice award went to Cardinal Hill chef Cornelious Cunningham for bison and mushroom stroganoff.

Charlie Brown's will have a beer table at the Chevy Chase street fair Saturday

■ The restaurants in Chevy Chase will participate in the neighborhood’s street fair on Saturday by moving outdoors. Charlie Brown’s will have a beverage stand, and other places such as Bourbon n’ Toulouse, The Dish, Buddy’s, Puccini’s, MonTea and Rincon will sell their most popular specialties. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m.

■ The Crossroad, 286 Southland Drive, is going Cajun on Saturday. Mark and the Pentones, a house band at The Funky Pirate on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, will entertain 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. There will be an $8 cover charge, with proceeds to be donated to the Lexington fire department’s toy drive, or guests may bring a new toy.

Chef/owner Steve Atkins will prepare a Cajun/Creole menu that includes sausage and shrimp gumbo; sautéed red snapper with hoppin’ John; cornbread, chicory and arugula salad with duck breast bacon; and bananas Foster. Call (859) 309-3904.

■ Three Suns Bistro at Brannon Crossing is having a seafood weekend Friday and Saturday. The menu features oysters on the half-shell, clams casino, crab-stuffed mushrooms, shrimp boil, stuffed sole, and salmon Oscar. Dessert is milk chocolate bread pudding with white chocolate sauce. Three Suns is at 298 East Brannon Road in Nicholasville. Call (859)-245-0048.

■ The Danville Fazoli’s, 1560 Hustonville Road, is having an all-you-can-eat pasta dinner to raise money for the Stephanie Padgett family. In May, two of Padgett’s children were killed in a car crash and two others were severely injured. The fund-raiser, 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, will assist the Padgett family with costs stemming from the accident. Tickets, $8 for adults and $5 for children age 12 and younger, are available in advance at the restaurant or at the door.

Empty Bowls project benefits Moveable Feast/Photo by Mark Ashley

The purchase of a handcrafted bowl will help Moveable Feast of Lexington deliver healthful meals to people who are ­homebound.
At the third annual Empty Bowls event Saturday, you can buy a bowl, made by creative children or ­local ­artists, for $15. Then Bourbon n’ ­Toulouse will fill the bowls with its ­Cajun specialties. The bowls are ­donated by Kentucky Mudworks.
Hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Bourbon n’ Toulouse, 829 Euclid ­Avenue. Call (859) 335-0300. Go to Bntlex.com or Kentuckymudworks.com.

What’s new

■ The first Nicholasville ­location of Firehouse Subs is open at 451 Keene Centre Drive. The restaurant’s ­firehouse theme is based on the ­founders’ ­combined 200 years of firefighting heritage. The Nicholasville restaurant is decorated with local fire department artifacts and pictures of well-known area fire scenes. Specialty subs include the New York steamer, inspired by New York delicatessens, which combines corned beef brisket and pastrami topped with provolone cheese. The store has the new Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, which offers more than 100 sparkling and still beverages from a single ­freestanding unit. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. ­Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call (859) 882-5011 or go to Firehousesubs.com.
■ Stuarto’s Olive Oil Co., 2200 War Admiral Way, has added some new products to its lineup. Included are 24 varieties of sea salt in 1-, 2-, and 3.5-ounce packages. Prices range from $1 to $8.75. Flavors include chili verde, Himalayan pink, lemon twist, Spanish rosemary, toasted onion, and sun-­ripened tomato. Call (859) 263-0088.
■ Leo Capezzuto, owner of Casanova Italian Restaurant, has just returned from a trip to Italy. “I enjoyed some food that I haven’t eaten for a long time,” he said. They were traditional family reunion dishes served Sundays. He has added three of the dishes to the menu at the restaurant, 855 South Broadway. They are prosciutto e mozzarella, a classic Italian antipasto; rigatoni alla ­Amatriciana; and veal cotoletta alla Milanese. Call (859) 309-3313 or go to Casanovaky.com.

Events

The sixth annual Holly Hill Inn ­harvest dinner will be Saturday at ­Happy Jack’s Pumpkin Farm in ­Frankfort. Holly Hill chef/owner Ouita Michel and her staff will grill just-picked vegetables from Lee Ann and Richard Jones’ fields. The menu also includes grilled chicken; boneless pork chops; calypso slaw; melon salad; succotash; corn pudding; pickled beets; and sliced tomatoes with blue cheese, bacon and sherry vinaigrette. The cost is $45.
Happy Jack’s is at 966 Hickman Hill Road. In case of severe weather, the meal will be served at Holly Hill Inn, 426 North Winter Street, Midway, which will be closed for regular dinner service that evening. Call (859) 846-4732 or visit Hollyhillinn.com.
■ Orchid Flower Restaurant, 3090 Old Todds Road, offers happy hour specials from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The happy roll combo, $10, features a choice of two rolls, soup and salad. Call (859) 543-1126 or visit Orchidflowerrestaurant.com.
■ T.G.I. Friday’s is collecting non-perishable pet toys, treats and items for the Lexington Humane Society through Sept. 8. Customers who donate an item will receive a free appetizer. For ­locations, visit TGIfridays.com.

Farmers market report

■ Bluegrass Farmers Market is at its peak. Check out the locally grown items at 3450 Richmond Road, in the parking lot of Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Hours at the Mill Pond Shopping Center are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 6:30 p.m. ­Thursday. Go to Localharvest.org/blog/29529.
■ East End Community ­Farmers Market will have tomatoes, squash, okra, ­melons, half-runner green beans and honey. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 560 East Third Street at the Pavilion at Midland Avenue and Third Street.
■ Lexington Farmers Market is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Cheapside Park in the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday on Southland Drive near Sav-A-Lot, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at South Broadway and Maxwell Street.
■ Woodford County Farmers’ ­Market will feature a celebrity chef ­cooking ­demonstration Saturday. A chef from ­Addie’s at The Woodford Inn in ­Versailles will prepare fresh produce. Market locations and hours are: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at ­Courthouse Square, 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays in ­downtown Midway and 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays at Versailles ­Presbyterian Church.