Flavors of Kentucky

Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg will ­introduce its 2011 limited-­edition single-barrel bourbon at a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Jonathan at Gratz Park, 120 West Second Street.
Master distiller Jim ­Rutledge selected a 12-year-old bourbon that uses one of 10 uniquely handcrafted recipes. The bourbon is uncut and non-chill filtered. Only 3,600 bottles will be distributed in May.
The menu features local spring lamb sausage with pea shoots and mint julep jelly, vanilla bean-skewered sea scallops with bourbon-macerated mandarin ­oranges and cherries, Berkshire belly-wrapped roast pork tenderloin with goat cheese ­scalloped turnips, and bourbon ball truffle cake. The cost is $65. Call (859) 252-4949.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations

All events are on Thursday, St. Patrick’s Day, unless otherwise noted.

■ An Irish dinner at Alfalfa will feature corned beef from local producers, grilled half-rack of lamb with sweet and sour whiskey chutney, colcannon and soda bread. Dancers from the McTeggart School of Irish Dance will perform. Dinner is served 5:30 to 9 p.m. Call (859) 253-0014.

■ Brown’s Bakery, 1397 West Main Street is baking a variety of shamrock cookies and cupcakes for the youngsters to enjoy. Call (859) 225-8400

■ Alex Jenkins, chef at Good Foods Market and Café, will prepare an Irish buffet that includes Guinness beef stew, salmon croquettes, apple- and potato-stuffed cabbage, and cheesy potato pancakes. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Good Foods is at 455 Southland Drive. Call (859) 278-1813 or go to Goodfoods.coop.

■ Heirloom Restaurant, 125 East Main Street, Midway, will serve an Irish-inspired menu and Irish beer flight from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The menu includes wild mushroom and barley soup, green garlic-chevre flan, cider-braised beef brisket, and Guinness crème anglaise, The cost is $36. Ben Lacy will entertain from 6 to 9 p.m. Call (859) 846-5565 or go to Heirloommidway.com.
■ Merrick Inn, 1074 Merrick Drive, will serve a corned beef and cabbage entrée for $12.95 and green beer. Call (859) 269-5417.

■ Nick Ryan’s Saloon, 157 West Jefferson Street, is serving Guinness-battered fish and chips and corned beef and cabbage. Customers who ride the trolley to Nick Ryan’s can register  for a chance to win a $50 gift card. Call  (859) 233-7900.

■ The Pub Lexington, 3750 Mall Road, starts the ­celebration early, at 10 a.m. Green Kentucky Ale from Alltech Brewery will be served along with Guinness stew, a corned beef reuben, and corned beef and cabbage The Pauly Zarb Band will entertain from 5 to 9 p.m. Call (859) 971-2748.

■ Ramsey’s Diners will ­celebrate by ­adding some Irish favorites to its menu. Included are slow-cooked corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, and Missy’s ­Bailey’s Irish Creme ­cheesecake. Ramsey’s locations are 496 East High Street, 4053 Tates Creek Center, 3090 Helmsdale Drive and 4391 Harrodsburg Road.

■ Both Shamrock Bar & Grille locations will serve spotted dog (corned beef, colcannon, carrots), bogtrotter (corned beef, potato salad and cabbage), traditional (corned beef and potato salad) and shepherd’s pie. There will also be a limited menu of non-Irish fare. Locations are 154 Patchen Drive, (859) 269-7621, and 4750 Hartland Parkway (859) 245-9504. “We will have a bag piper stopping by to play several times at each location and we will have t-shirts for sale.” Heather Trump said.

■ Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive, is serving corned beef and cabbage; shepherd’s pie, soda bread, and green beer. Call (859) 278-9424.

Openings and events
■ The Glitz reopens for the season Thursday. The restaurant at Irish Acres, 4205 Ford’s Mill Road, Versailles, serves a three-course luncheon Tuesday through Saturday. The menu changes every two weeks. The opening menu features roasted cauliflower soup; spinach and brie baby portobellos; tamarind-glazed roasted chicken breast with white cheddar potato gratin; pappardelle with Finchville Farms country ham, ­broccoli florets and Alfredo sauce; and the Nonesuch Kiss. Call (859) 873-6956 or go to ­Irishacresgallery.com.
■ Casanova Restaurant, 855 South Broadway, now is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Traditional favorites include spaghetti and meatballs, lobster ravioli and veal parmigiana. Call (859) 309-3313.
■ California winemaker Mari Wells Coyle of ­David Girard Vineyards will conduct a tasting of her estate-grown wines at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Holly Hill Inn, 426 North Winter Street, Midway. The wine flight will be paired with a three-course tapas dinner. Dinner and wine flight are $20 each. Call (859) 846-4732 or go to ­Hollyhillinn.com or Dgvwines.com.
■ The Gluten-Free ­Lexington group will meet for dinner at Carrabba’s ­Italian Grill at 5:30 p.m. ­Monday. The restaurant, 1881 Plaudit Place, will showcase some of its most popular gluten-free dishes. Call (859) 264-8395.
■ Alfalfa Restaurant, 141 East Main Street, will have a Polish dinner Friday to ­celebrate the birthday of ­Revolutionary War hero ­Casimir Pulaski, for whom Pulaski County is named. Chef Paul Nowaki will ­prepare Polish specials including ­Kentucky Stone Cross Farm kielbasa slowly simmered in beer, then grilled and served with ­sauerkraut, apples, sour cream and house-made ­mustard. Call (859) 253-0014.
Harvest time
Oliva Bella, 400 Old Vine Street, has received its 2010 harvest of Olio Rustico extra virgin olive oil. Shop hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ­Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Call (859) 983-3567.

Elk Creek Vineyards will open The Kentucky Proud Market in the Shops at Lexington Center later this month. The new showroom, formerly occupied by Orvis, will feature the entire selection of Elk Creek wines, along with Jean Farris and other Kentucky wines, and a large variety of Kentucky Proud products, including meats, cheeses, sauces, spices and crafts. Call (502) 484-0005 or (859) 233-4567 or go to www.elkcreekvineyards.com or www.lexingtoncenter.com.
Tea for two: a kid and you
Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, will have a children’s valentine tea and a fashion-themed tour of the historic home on Valentine’s Day.
Hours are 10:30 a.m. for children ages 7 to 12, and 1:30 p.m. for ages 4 to 6 years. Cost is $15, and a child must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations are required.
Ashland is at 120 Sycamore Road. Call Becci Ray at (859) 266-8581, Ext. 12, or e-mail bray@henryclay.org.

A way to help Old Friends
The first Old Friends Along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail dinner and bourbon tasting will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Seelbach Hilton, 500 South Fourth Street, Louisville.
The event will benefit Old Friends Equine in Georgetown, a home for at-risk Thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers are over. Among the champions living at the farm are Ogygian, Sunshine Forever and The Wicked North.
Eight of Kentucky’s master distillers will offer bourbon samples: iHarlen Wheatley of Buffalo Trace, Jim Rutledge of Four Roses, Parker and Craig Beam of Heaven Hill, Fred Noe of Jim Beam, Kevin Smith of Maker’s Mark, Jimmy Russell of Wild Turkey and Chris Morris of Woodford Reserve.
The dinner, prepared by chef de cuisine Nicole Walker. will feature a bourbon- inspired menu featuring sweet potato bisque, kurobota pork shank with polenta, heirloom winter vegetables with bourbon reduction, bourbon-roasted apples, and chocolate bread pudding. Tickets are $100. Call (502) 807-3463 or go to www.seelbachhilton.com.
Old Friends Equine is open daily to tourists by appointment. Call (502) 863-1775 or go to www.oldfriendsequine.org.
Classes are in session
Do you have the winter blues? Get out of the house and take a class at Good Foods Cafe & Market. Here’s the lineup.
Saturday bite fever, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Sample fresh produce and savory soups, and pick up easy recipes.
Intuitive soup making, 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 12 and 26. Learn basic techniques and shortcuts for creating soups without a recipe. Roger Pearson is the instructor. The cost is $25.
Better eating for life: Got calcium? 2 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 14. Beth Loiselle will explain how to plan menus with calcium-rich foods. $12.
Better eating for life: Invincible veggies, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 28. Loiselle’s class will show how to incorporate more vegetables into meals. $12.
Good Foods is at 455 Southland Drive. Call (859)-278-1813 or go to www.goodfoods.coop.
Your creation could be worth a million
Winter is a great time for creating recipes to enter in the 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off contest.
New brands have been added to this year’s contest, the cooking is quicker, and the grand prize is $1 million. Consumers also will have a chance to help determine 10 of the 100 final recipes.
Finals will take place April 11 to 13, 2010, at the Waldorf-Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek hotel in Florida. In 1949, the first bake-off was at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.
New brands that are eligible are Hershey’s cocoa, baking chips or bits, and baking chocolates; Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk; Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations; and Pillsbury refrigerated thin pizza crust.
Four categories define the kinds of recipes consumers may submit: breakfast and brunch; entertaining appetizers, dinner made easy, and sweet treats. Cooks may enter online at www.bakeoff.com through April 20.

If you want someone else to cook the Thanksgiving turkey or the entire holiday feast, here are places to call.
■ Bayou Bluegrass Catering is serving its first Red Mile Clubhouse Thanksgiving Day buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu reflects the cooking styles of the chefs. Matt Falcone puts a Louisiana flair to the menu; Javier Lanza adds a Central American and French twist to the mix, and Jane Webb brings a taste of New England, as well as her Southern favorites, to the table. The cost is $25 adults, $20 seniors, $15 ages 4 to 8. Call (859) 233-0814. Menu items include honey-glazed turkey, traditional baked turkey and Cajun fried turkey.
■ Bob Evans restaurants are offering the Farmhouse Feast, which feeds six to eight people and is $74.99. Included are roasted boneless turkey breast, dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet corn, green beans with ham, cranberry orange relish, rolls, pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie. The heat-and-serve meals can be picked up Wednesday. They also are available during December. Bob Evans restaurants are at 2566 Richmond Road, (859) 269-1003; and 2341 Buena Vista Road, (859) 293-1572.
■ Campbell’s in Paris, 519 Main Street, is having a Southern Thanksgiving buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Included are turkey, country ham, oysters, and salads, sides and desserts. The cost is $27.95. Call (859) 987 5164.
■ Corky’s Barbecue has smoked turkeys for $39.99, available for pick-up from 10 a.m. to noon Thanksgiving Day at the Tiverton Way store. Call at least 48 hours in advance. Corky’s private dining rooms are available for holiday parties. Dinners start at $5.79 a person. Stores are at 2300 Sir Barton Way, (859) 264-7675; and 130 West Tiverton Way, (859) 272-7675 . Go to www.lexcorkys.com.
■ Cheapside Bar and Grill, 131 ­Cheapside, will be open Thanksgiving night. Hours are 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Call (859) 254-0046 or go to www.cheapsidebarandgrill.com.
■ Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is cooking a Thanksgiving Dinner to Go for six. The menu includes: oven-roasted turkey breast with creamy turkey gravy, cornbread dressing, baked sugar-cured ham, sweet potato casserole with caramel pecan topping, choice of three vegetables, cranberry-orange relish, biscuits or corn muffins. Cost is $49.99. Call your neighborhood Cracker Barrel to order. Pies – $8.49 each – include pecan pie, chocolate pecan pie, apple pecan streusel pie, and not sugar added apple pie.
■ Mondelli’s Bake Shop, 3120 Pimlico Parkway, has baked goods to round out your holiday dinner. Included are pumpkin bread, pumpkin cake, jam cake, cherry chews, pies, butterflake rolls, butter biscuits and iced turkey cookies. Call (859) 245-5377. Orders may be picked up by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
■ Ramsey’s Diners will be closed Thanksgiving Day, but their cooks will prepare the holiday meal for you. Ramsey’s Thanksgiving dinner-to-go is $18.95 a person. The menu includes turkey breast, corn bread stuffing, cranberry-apple relish, and a choice of four vegetable dishes. Individual side dishes can be ordered for $15 each. Menus are available at all the Ramsey’s locations, or call (859) 252-7926. The deadline for orders is 5 p.m. Monday; pick-up is Wednesday at the Ramsey’s Commissary, 938 Winchester Road, next to Charlie’s Seafood Market.
■ Three Suns Bistro, 298 East Brannon Road, will be open Thanksgiving Day. The buffet will be served 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. A special dinner menu will be served 4:30 to 9 p.m. The buffet includes: herb-roasted turkey, glazed ham, pecan-fried chicken, beef brisket and fresh catch. The cost is $25 for adults, $19.95 for seniors. Call (859) 245-0048 or go to www.threesunsbistro.com.
Feeding the soul and the body
The Scott County Arts Consortium is continuing its Art for the Soul, Food for the Body luncheon series Monday. It will be at 11 a.m. in the parish hall of Church of the Holy Trinity, 209 South Broadway, Georgetown. Call (502) 867-7564. The cost is $10. The menu includes roast pork loin, potatoes au gratin, mixed vegetable medley and pumpkin pie.

Master distiller offers samples
Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge will be at The Thoroughbred Shop, 2005 Versailles Road, from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday. He will offer samples of single-barrel bourbon. Call (859) 254-0358.