Flavors of Kentucky

Midway School Bakery has a variety of pastries and breads.

Ouita Michel and her culinary team from Holly Hill Inn have opened ­Midway School Bakery.
Pastry chef Carrie Warmbier is running the bakery, at 510 South Winter Street. The menu features currant and oatmeal scones, sugarless blueberry cheesecake squares, and handmade bagels with home-cured lox.
Hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call (859) 846-4336.
Also, Michel will celebrate the ­heritage of the French restaurant with Holly Hill Inn’s first Bastille Day Supper on Saturday.
All summer, Michel’s multicourse Tour de France menus have featured the best and freshest of Bluegrass farm products in her favorite French recipes. The Bastille Day Supper honors the influence of the French Revolution on the modern restaurant. The cost is $50; a sommelier’s pairing of French wines is $35.
Holly Hill is at 426 North Winter Street, Midway. Call (859) 846-4732 or to go Hollyhillinn.com.
Specials
■ Hanna’s on Lime, 214 South ­Limestone, is serving its farmers market specials on Wednesdays. Selections include corn on the cob, kale, squash, eggplant, green beans, peppers, new potatoes, tomatoes and melon. The cost is $8.25. Call (859) 252-6264.
■ Natasha’s Bistro & Bar, 112 ­Esplanade, is offering weekend fish ­specials with seafood provided by Lexington Seafood Co. This week at Natasha’s “All Summer Long Seafood Festival,” the menu features Portuguese-style mahi mahi with savory polenta cakes and grilled green beans. Call (859) 259-2754 or go to Beetnik.com.
■ Ramsey’s Diners are using fresh local corn in a variety of dishes for the next several weeks. The corn is grown in Shelby County by Gallrein Farm. Dishes include corn on the cob, fried corn, creamed corn and Parmesan deep-fried corn. Also on the menu are okra from Berries on Bryan Station and tomatoes from Lincoln County. Go to Ramseysdiners.com for locations.
Events
■ Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive, is having a pig roast from 4 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Sides include baked beans, potato salad and corn on the cob, with fruit cobbler for dessert. The menu ­includes smoked chicken chili. Call (859) 278-9424.
■ The Julep Cup, 111 Woodland Avenue, is celebrating Bastille Day on Friday and Saturday. The menu includes escargot and sweet bread torte, duck confit and frisée with poached egg; sole with vegetable ribbons; and entrecôte, a classic French steak, with house-made fries and French herb sauce. Call (859) 226-0300.
■ Thai Orchid Cafe will hold a Noodle Fest at West Sixth Brewing Co., 501 West Sixth Street, at 5 p.m. Monday. Dishes include basil beef bowl, coconut noodle bowl and won ton nachos. Call (859) 288-2170 or go to Thaiorchidcafe.net.
■ Oliva Bella is planning a trip to ­Sicily, and you can go along to ­experience the olive oil and wine ­harvests. Two 10-day trips are ­scheduled for Sept. 26 to Oct. 6 and Oct. 10 to 20. The cost is $5,882. Call (859) 983-3567 or email Olivabella@olivabella.com
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 is at 3070 Lakecrest Circle. Call (859) 296-1007 or go to Azurrestaurant.com.
■ Bluegrass Farmers Market has corn, melons, tomatoes and berries. 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 and 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday. Go to Localharvest.org/blog/29529.
■ Winchester/Clark County Farmers Market is open 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the parking lot of Bluegrass Heritage Museum, 217 South Main Street.

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.

Seasonal vegetables served at Bluegrass Pizza & Pub in Danville are ­guaranteed fresh from the farm. Owner Colin Masters is starting an organic farm that will supply fresh produce to the restaurant at 235 West Main Street.
Thorny Meadow Farm on Bluegill Lane has been certified by Kentucky Proud. The pub serves specialty pizzas such as pesto chicken and ­Mediterranean, bread sticks, salads, and craft micro brews from across the United States. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call (859) 236-7737 or go to Bluegrasspizzaandpub.com.

Specials

■ Addie’s at The Woodford Inn, 140 Park Street in Versailles, has new weekly specials on its menu: Monday, 2-for-1 margaritas; Tuesday, kids eat free; Wednesday, Italian; Thursday, fried chicken; Friday, fish fry; and Saturday, surf and turf. Call (859) 948-3974.
Hunter Macey, assistant sous chef at Addie’s, will be a guest chef at the Mountain Mushroom Festival on ­Saturday in downtown Irvine. Macey will cook fresh morels at the ­mushroom tent. Macey is a graduate of ­Sullivan University and has worked at ­Smashburger and Dudley’s Restaurant.
■ Caramanda’s Bake Shoppe has a new flavor of cupcake. The peanut ­butter and jelly cupcake is white cake with strawberry buttercream filling; it’s topped with a swirl of peanut ­butter buttercream icing, and a dollop of strawberry jam. Call (859) 278-7172. Caramanda’s is at 332 Southland Drive, 3805 Dylan Place (off Boston Road), and a kiosk in Fayette Mall.
■ Beginning Monday, The Pub, 3750 Mall Road, is offering a limited “Pub lunch deal” menu that offers smaller portions and value items. Included are grilled chicken sandwich, pint-size fish and chips, smoked gouda and chicken rigatoni, and pot roast sliders. The lunch deal is available 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (859) 971-2748.
■ The Julep Cup, 111 Woodland Avenue, is serving lobster tostada with avocado, chile-rubbed prime rib, and lamb fries as specials this weekend. ­Entertaining will be Johnny Roy and The Rubtones on Friday, Paul and Yoonie on Saturday, and John Hedger on lute and guitar during Sunday brunch. Call (859) 226-0300.

Special events

■ Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive, is celebrating the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo on May 5. Specials include posole stew, carne asada tacos, chicken enchiladas, and tres leches cake. Call (859) 278-9424.
■ Tony Roma’s is observing its 40th anniversary. The first Tony Roma’s opened in 1972 in North Miami, Fla., and now there are 170 locations worldwide, with one in Lexington at The Mall at Lexington Green. Guests may enter to win a house party for 30 at Tonyromas.com through July 3.
The anniversary celebration, May 9 to June 26, will feature a ­combination dish of ribs, filet medallions and shrimp; shrimp scampi pasta; and tuxedo cake. Call (859) 272-7526.

Accolades

■ Ted’s Montana Grill has been
named “best gluten-free restaurant chain” in the 2012 About.com
Gluten-Free ­Readers’ Choice Awards.
About.com readers nominated and ­voted on their favorite gluten-free ­products and options. Ted’s introduced its gluten-free menu in 2005 and added a gluten-free salt-and-pepper trout entrée this spring. Ted’s in Lexington is at 2304 Sir Barton Way. Call (859) 263-5228 or go to ­Tedsmontanagrill.com.

Farmers market report

■ Bluegrass Farmers Market will have strawberries, asparagus, lettuce, eggs, green tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, kale, jams, herb seasoning, bedding and herb and vegetable plants 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. Saturday. Go to Localharvest.org/blog/29529.
■ Lexington Farmers Market is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Cheapside Park; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday on Southland Drive. The Tuesday and Thursday market at Maxwell Street and South Broadway opens Tuesday. 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.

A rite of spring is upon us: Two of ­Lexington’s farmers markets are ­opening for the season this weekend.
Bluegrass Farmers’ Market opens 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. Farmers will have locally produced spring vegetables, baked goods, herb seasoning, eggs and jams. Go to Localharvest.org/blog/29529.
Lexington Farmers Market opens ­Saturday for its 37th season. Items available will include eggs, meats, cheese, bedding and garden plants, honey and wine. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The market is in Cheapside Park. Parking is free in the Financial Center garage. The Southland Drive market opens Sunday for the season. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Tuesday and Thursday market at Maxwell Street and South Broadway opens May 1. Go to Lexingtonfarmersmarket.com.

Openings, new hours and menus

■ Coles 735 Main is the newest ­tenant at the restaurant spot at East Main Street and North Ashland Avenue that has had a long list of proprietors, most recently Furlong’s and Onizim’s.
Cole Arimes is the chef/owner and has returned to Lexington after spending 18 years in Cincinnati. His menu includes a bit of everything, from burgers and steaks to Greek, French and Latin American specialties. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call (859) 266-9000.
■ The second Lexington location of Five Guys Burgers and Fries is open at 3090 Helmsdale Place, in Brighton Place Shoppes. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Call (859) 263-5555. Go to Fiveguys.com.
■ Stuarto’s Olive Oil Co. will open its second location Saturday at 804 Euclid Avenue in Chevy Chase. The store sells extra virgin olive oils, gourmet oils, ­balsamic vinegar and wine vinegars, from around the world. The store’s other location is at 2200 War Admiral Way. Call (859) 269-0088.
■ Asian Wind, 3735 Palomar Centre Drive, has new hours. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Call (859) 223-0060. Also, children eat free on Tuesday nights with the purchase of an adult entree.
■ Cheapside Bar and Grill, 131 ­Cheapside, now is open for brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The menu features “cowboy eggs,” Southwest Benedict, “un-holey doughnuts,” a “rise-and-shine burrito,” and croissant breakfast sandwich. The dinner menu is served beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. Call (859) 254-0046.
■ Jean Farris Winery & Bistro has a new menu for spring. Included are duck pistachio terrine, Newsom’s Kentucky prosciutto, house-made sausage, house-cured smoked salmon, sea scallops, lamb rack, seared duck breast, Kentucky dry-aged rib-eye and striped bass. The winery is at 6825 Old Richmond Road. Call (859) 263-9463.
■ The Julep Cup, 111 Woodland Avenue, is serving lamb fries with red-eye gravy as the weekend special. Also available are chipotle-roasted prime rib with Maytag bleu cheese soufflé and Greek yogurt marinated lamb kebabs.Call (859) 226-0300.
■ Ramsey’s Diner is bringing back its popular chicken salad and fresh local asparagus for spring. Go to ­Ramseysdiners.com for locations of the four Ramsey’s Diners.

Special events

■ Sondra Strunk, owner of Sondra’s Wine Creations, will offer samples of her new product Friday and Saturday at the Kentucky Proud Market in the ­Lexington Convention Center, 410 West Vine Street. Strunk is making ­pineapple wine jelly from her ­homemade ­pineapple wine.
■ Thai Orchid Cafe is celebrating Songkran, the Thai new year, with ­special noodle dishes through ­Sunday. In Thai culture, the long length of ­noodles represents happiness and longevity, owner chef Toa Green said. Dishes include super noodle bowl, drunken spaghetti, spicy tom yum noodle bowl, and curries over egg noodles. Thai Orchid is at 1030 South Broadway. Call (859) 288-2170 or go to Thaiorchidcafe.net.

Announcements

■ Berries on Bryan Station is ­adding a pick-up point for its community-­supported agriculture clients. It’s at Wild Thyme, 1060 Chinoe Road, from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays. The farm is at 4744 Bryan Station. Call (859) 293-0077.

Kentucky Crafted: The Market returns to the Lexington Convention Center this weekend and is open to the public Saturday and Sunday. In addition to fine art and crafts, the show features locally produced artisan foods. Kentucky Proud producers include Kentucky Specialty Sauces, Screamin Mimi’s Salsas,  Hillbilly Specialties, Shell-Bee’s Homemade Gourmet Sea Salts & Spices, The Sweet Shoppe, Mom Blakeman’s Candy, Ruth Hunt Candy, Elmwood Teas and Boone Creek Creamery. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. One-day tickets are $10, two-day, $15. Discount tickets are available online at 1.usa.gov/sn2Qou.

Events

■ Addie’s Restaurant & Bar at The Woodford Inn, 140 Park Street in Versailles, will have a fish fry at 5 p.m. Friday. The menu includes lobster bites, jumbo shrimp, fish fillet, clams, coleslaw, and hush puppies. The cost is $13 for choice of two, $15 for a platter. Call (859) 873-5600 or visit Thewoodfordinn.com.

■ Alfalfa Restaurant will have its second annual Casimir Pulaski dinner 5:30 to 9 p.m. March 9. Pulaski, after whom Pulaski County is named, was a Polish army officer who fought and died in the Revolutionary War. Alfalfa chef Paul Nowaki will prepare specials including Marksbury Farm Kentucky-made kielbasa, sauerkraut and house-made potato cheddar pierogies, stuffed cabbage and chicken Kiev. Polish beer will be served. Alfalfa is at 141 East Main Street. Call (859) 253-0014.

■ The Bleu Plate Confidential’s next tour will be March 10. The location, chef, food and all aspects of the dinner are kept a secret until two days before the event. The location is an unconventional spot and is never a restaurant or typical dining spot. “A local chef preparing a four-course meal in a location without a kitchen is quite a feat in itself,” said Bleu Plate Tours owner Laura Mize. “I strive to locate interesting places, and guests not knowing where they are going is a large part of the fun.”

Guests are sent an address, along with passwords that each guest is required to reveal for entry. Tickets are $85. Call (859) 893-1011 or visit Bleuplatetours.com.

■ WineStyles, 2535 Nicholasville Road, will host Pere Gomes from the Agricola Falset Marca winery in the Catalonia area of Spain on Friday. Gomes will have selections from the Priorat region of Spain and will discuss the wines from 5 to 8 p.m. The cost is $8. Call (859) 278-9463.

Specials

■ Weekend specials at The Julep Cup include osso bucco with fresh gremolata and risotto Milanese, and sole Milanese served with potato croquettes and roasted asparagus and bell peppers. John Hedger entertains on Friday and Bruce Lewis on Saturday. Call (859) 226-0300.

■ Rossi’s Restaurant, 1060 Chinoe Road, has nightly dinner specials and happy hour at the bar 5 to 7 p.m., and all day on Sunday. A glass of chardonnay or cabernet for $3, or any well liquor for $2.50. The Tuesday special is half-price bottles of wine. Call (859) 335-8788 or visit Rossis-restaurant.com.

New menus

■ Heirloom Restaurant in Midway has a spring menu that includes coconut yogurt mousse, eggs Heirloom, mache salad, sautéed chicken livers, crabcakes, beef tenderloin, pan-seared Chilean sea bass and duck. The Mary burger is named for chef/owner Mark Womble’s grandmother. Heirloom serves maple-bacon scones for breakfast 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. On Wednesdays, the feature is half-price wines, and there’s live entertainment on Thursdays. Call (859) 846-5565 or visit Heirloommidway.com.

■ The menu is going green at Greentree Tearoom, 521West Short Street, for March. The menu features potato leek soup; Irish oatmeal scone; hot brownette; salmon mousse, Benedictine and pesto chicken tea sandwiches; pistachio cupcakes; and grasshopper creams. Luncheon tea is served at noon Wednesday through Saturday. Call (859) 455-9660 or visit Greentreetearoom.com.

Stanley J’s New York Style Deli closed in September to the dismay of many, but now an Italian deli has taken its place. ­Rosalia’s Old World Italian Deli serves authentic recipes from the Italian grandmother of owners and sisters Claira Reynolds and Noelle Rayan.

Rodney Reynolds and Khalid Rayan have joined their wives in helping them realize their dream of owning an Italian restaurant that has the flavor of their Italian grandmother’s kitchen on Sundays.

The women grew up in the restaurant business. Their father, John Mione,  owned several Mione’s delis in Southern California, but the love of Italian food was born at the table of their grandmother Catherine “Rosalia” Mione.

The menu includes corned beef, Reuben and pastrami sandwiches, soups, salads, cannolis and tiramisu. Coffee is 25 cents. The dinner menu offers spaghetti and lasagna. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call (859) 223-3354  or go to Rosaliasoldworld.com.

Special events

■ Jonathan at Gratz Park, 120 West Second Street, is having a wine dinner Tuesday featuring wines from Justin, a winery in Paso Robles, Calif., on the state’s central coast. Justin makes Bordeaux-style blends and single varietals, combining Old World tradition with New World techniques. Wines include Justin chardonnay, 2008; Justification, 2008; Isosceles, 2008; and Obtuse, 2009. The five-course dinner, at 7 p.m., is $75. Call (859) 252-4949  or go to Jagp.info,  or Justinwine.com.

■ Rodney’s on Broadway, 222 North Broadway in Georgetown, will have a wine dinner at 6 p.m. Wednesday featuring wines from Austria, Australia and Argentina. A guest speaker from Winebow Imports will introduce each wine. The cost is $60. Call (502) 868-7637.

■ Hanna’s on Lime, 214 South Limestone, will celebrate Leap Day on Wednesday by offering turkey and dressing as the daily special for $7.95. Side dishes include mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, kale, green beans, ­macaroni and cheese, baked sweet potato, corn pudding, broccoli casserole, and lima beans. Delivery is available. Call (859) 254-6264  or go to Hannasonlime.com.

■ As part of the Community Table at Oliva Bella series, owner Lea Ann Vessels and guest Paolo Capretti will co-host “Eat, Drink, Learn Italian” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 7. On Wednesday evenings for four weeks, a different region of Italy will be featured and guests will learn about the food, wine, culture, and basic Italian language. Puglia is the first region to be spotlighted. The cost is $100. Oliva Bella is at 400 Old Vine Street. Call (859) 983-3567.

Specials

■ The Julep Cup, 111 Woodland ­Avenue, is offering ahi tuna sashimi with tempura rock shrimp; black ­grouper with mixed grains; and red curry lamb stew as weekend specials. Phil Copeland and Friends will entertain Friday and Bruce Lewis on Saturday. Call (859) 226-0300.

■ Thai Orchid Café, 1030 South Broadway, is having a seafood feast on weekends through Easter. The menu includes shrimp and coconut cream soup, Thai shrimp trio, salmon hot pot and seafood coconut curry. Call (859) 288-2170 or go to Thaiorchidcafe.net.

■ The Town Branch Market & Deli, 233 East Main Street, has expanded its deli menu to include breakfast biscuits and English muffins with sausage or bacon, egg and cheese. The store now sells donuts from Donut Days Bakery. For lunch, the deli is now preparing hot pressed sandwiches, chili dogs and 7-inch pizzas. Call ahead at (859) 280-2122, and your order will be ready when you arrive.

■ On Fridays through April 6, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is having Friday Night Fish Fry at the Trustees’ Office Dining Room. Hours are 5:30 to 8 p.m. The cost is $12.95. Call 1-800-734-5611, Ext. 360.

■ Rossi’s Restaurant, 1060 Chinoe Road, offers daily dinner specials and happy hour at the bar from 5 to 7 p.m. every night, and all day Sunday. Also featured are half-price bottles of wine on Tuesdays. Call (859) 335-8788  or go to Rossis-restaurant.com.

■ Detroit Coney Island is serving its fish sandwich for the Lenten season. Locations are 1301 Winchester Road in Eastland Shopping Center, (859) 280-9138; and 825 Lane Allen Road, (859) 278-3982.

Openings

■ Jeff and Kim Bullock, former owners of Friends & Co., are now back in the same location with The Secret Bar & Grill. The restaurant at 841 Lane Allen Road now serves some of the original Friends & Co.’s favorite homemade pies. New menu options include ­Calabash seafood. Call (859) 317-8673.

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.

At the new W.C. ­Wieners, W.C. stands for Windy City, or Wildcats maybe, but no matter, the locally owned restaurant serves authentic Vienna Beef hot dogs from Chicago and Polish sausages in a variety of ways.
The menu includes cowboy ­doggies, fiery Fido and rural Rover. Homemade chili dogs are a specialty and are on the menu occasionally.
The restaurant, at 289 South ­Limestone (at Maxwell Street), opened Dec. 31. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Call (859) 255-0055.

Specials

■ Alfalfa Restaurant, 141 East Main Street, will serve its popular Martin Luther King Jr. Day brunch on ­Monday. Included are apple pie pancakes and ­omeletes made with Boone Creek Asiago cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and bacon. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (859) 253-0014.
■ The Night Hawk special is back at Columbia Steak House. The 8-ounce tenderloin, cooked in garlic butter, is served with a baked potato and a Diego salad for $12.99 for a ­limited time. ­Locations are 201 North ­Limestone, (859) 253-3135, and 2750 Richmond Road, (859) 268-1666. Go to ­Columbiassteakhouse.com. ­Columbia Steak Express is at 125 Southland Drive. Call (859) 313-5300 or go to Columbiassteakexpress.com.
■ The January menu for Greentree Tearoom features corn chowder and pasta de’Medici. Also on the menu are white chocolate and cranberry scones; mini club, caper egg salad, and ­jeweled pepper tea sandwiches; dark hot ­chocolate; and Italian cream cake. Greentree is at 521 West Short Street. Call (859) 455-9660 or go to ­Greentreetearoom.com.
■ Gloria and Marcos Moreno, ­owners of La Marquesa Mexican ­Restaurant, 165 East Reynolds Road, are making dessert tamales. The pineapple and cinnamon-raisin tamales will be free 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Call (859) 225-4840.
■ The Julep Cup, 111 Woodland Avenue, is featuring foie gras brulée and roasted quail this weekend. Also on the menu are fresh cod in a Kentucky Ale beer batter, Napa slaw, roast pork with Brazilian hoppin’ John, and fried bananas. Call (859) 226-0300.

Special events

■ After an absence of three months, TAI on Rye, the pop-up deli at Temple Adath Israel, will be back from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. Its New York-style offerings include corned beef, pastrami and turkey sandwiches, and homemade chopped liver. Sunday’s special is ­bourbon bread pudding. The full menu is at Lextai.org/tai_on_rye. The temple is at 124 North Ashland Avenue.
■ Kanya and Jonathan Weiss, ­owners of Baan Isaan Thai Gourmet, will celebrate the grand opening of their ­restaurant, at 115 North Locust Hill Drive, Jan. 26 to 29. Tickets are $39.99 for adults, $9.99 for ages 6 to 12, and free for ages 5 and younger. Hours are 5 p.m. to midnight Jan. 26, and 11 a.m. to midnight Jan. 27-29. The four-day party includes Thai music and dancers and all-you-can-eat table service, which is a sampling of the entire menu. The reservations deadline is Jan. 25. Call (859) 309-0534.
■ Addie’s Restaurant at The ­Woodford Inn in Versailles and the Woodford Humane Society are teaming for Dine Out to Donate on Friday. Ten percent of guests’ checks will go to the humane society. Dinner specials include surf and turf for $18.99. Woodford Inn is at 140 Park Street. Call (859) 873-5600 or go to Thewoodfordinn.com.

New menus

■ Thai Orchid Café, 1030 South Broadway, has added some lighter items to its menu. Included are fresh Thai rolls, grilled salmon salad, soupy noodle bowl, and steak salad. Call (859) 288-2170 or go to Thaiorchidcafe.net.

Farmers market report

■ The Lexington Farmers Market in Victorian Square will have beef and chicken, eggs, kale, collards, winter squash, beets, turnips, dried beans, ­garlic, onions, fresh milk, hot sauce, sweet and sourdough breads, ­coffee, jams, jellies, relishes, sauces and ­mustards. The market is open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Old Friends ­Thoroughbred Retirement Farm has partnered with the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and Nick Ryan’s Saloon to present Hall of Fame Day on Monday.

The event will honor Hall of Fame legend Skip Away, who recently was laid to rest at Old Friends, and Hall of Fame greats Noor and Precisionist, also buried at the farm.

The event starts at 3 p.m. at Old Friends, 1841 Paynes Depot Road, Georgetown, and will be followed by a benefit hosted by Nick Ryan’s at 6. The menu includes barbecue ribs and pulled pork. Roger Bondurant will entertain.

Festivities also include a barbecue sauce bake-off. A classic recipe from Nick Ryan’s chef will face off against a zesty Cajun-style sauce by Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux and a tangy blend created by staffers at Old Friends. Guests will have the chance to vote on their favorites. Tickets are $50. Call Old Friends at (502) 863-1775.

Special events

■ The Bigg Blue Martini at the Hilton Lexington/Downtown Hotel, 369 West Vine Street, will host a tailgate party ­Friday in celebration of Big Blue ­Madness. The first open practice of the 2011-12 season for the University of Kentucky’s men’s and women’s ­basketball teams will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Rupp Arena. Bigg Blue’s tailgate party will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and after the practice. Festivities will include live music by Plan B. Go to Thebiggbluemartini.com.

■ Once a month, the Greek Orthodox Church at 920 Tates Creek Road serves authentic Greek dinners. The October dinner, prepared by chef Jim Scalos, will be 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Go to Greekdinner.com.

■ The Oleika Shrine Temple Legion of Honor will have its annual all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $6 for adults; $3 for children; half-price for ­active-duty military members, ­firefighters and police officers; and free for ages 6 and younger. The temple is at 326 Southland Drive.

■ The Crossroad on Southland, 286 Southland Drive, will celebrate its first anniversary Friday. The menu includes Italian beef with house-made giardiniara; smoked Texas links; smoked beef brisket; and pirlau, a South Carolina fish and rice stew. Call (859) 309-3904 or go to Thecrossroadonsouthland.com.

■ Cameron Irvin, executive chef at CastlePost, will be the guest chef Thursday at Dinner at Wingspan art gallery. The four-course prix fixe dinner is $40 and includes a choice of seared diver ­scallops with vegetable confetti or braised veal bourguignon. Wingspan Gallery, 191 Jefferson Street, serves dinner once a month. The reservations deadline is noon Tuesday. Call (859) 225-5765.

New menus, items and hours

■ Jeremy Simpson, the new chef at Bellini’s, 115 West Main Street, has created a new menu for fall. It includes organic chicken or veal marsala, roast pork stuffed with rabbit and chorizo, pan-roasted halibut with parsnip purée, and rabbit leg with ricotta ­gnocchi. Simpson, a graduate of Sullivan ­University in Louisville, has worked at Jack Fry’s, Basa and Avalon in ­Louisville. Call (859) 388-9583.

■ Ramsey’s Diner is celebrating its second annual fall harvest festival. In addition to 22 side items, the menu includes sweet pickled beets, Parmesan deep-fried corn on the cob, organic baked acorn squash and sweet ­potatoes, and sweet potato casserole. The ­produce is from Abell Organics in Scott County. Ramsey’s has four locations. Go to Ramseysdiners.com.

■ The Dish, 438 South Ashland Avenue, has a new fall menu that includes pan-seared sea scallops on a bed of blanched julienne celery root, lemon-honey brined and roasted airline chicken breast, and pork cheeks slow-cooked in apple juice. The patio, which has a fireplace and heaters, will remain open for a few more weeks. Call (859) 317-8438 or go to Thedishlexington.com.

■ Della’s has added a dish to its breakfast and brunch menu. The Nola Bell, named for owner Tom Morris’ grandmother, features two biscuits topped with sausage, fried green tomatoes, eggs and Hollandaise sauce. Della’s, 124 North Upper Street, now carries locally produced Marlow ­Granola. Call (859) 281-1141.

■ Stinky & Coco’s, 1 North Main Street, Winchester, will be open for ­dinner starting next week. Dinner will be served until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Call (859) 744-8100 or go to ­Stinkyandcocos.com. The restaurant opens at 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

■ Alice and Greg Keller have taken two Kentucky favorites and jazzed them up to make them specialties at JK’s Café, 50 South Main Street, Winchester. “We don’t use the traditional Mornay sauce on the hot Brown, but we do use country ham,” Greg Keller said. “We’ve gotten great reviews on our burgoo, which is close to Keeneland’s.” Call (859) 744-4255.

■ Detroit Famous Coney Island, known for its giant fish sandwich, now is making the sandwich with whitefish from the northeastern United States. “It’s a better quality of fish,” owner Charles Martha said. Locations are 825 Lane Allen Road, (859) 278-3982, and 1301 Winchester Road, (859) 280-9138. Go to Detroitconeyisland.com.

Specials

■ Thai Orchid Café, 1030 South ­Broadway, is offering a lineup of fall dishes for the weekend, including butter­nut squash and coconut soup, pumpkin curry, and caramel apple roti. Call (859) 288-2170 or go to Thaiorchidcafe.net.

■ Sarah’s Corner Cafe BBQ, 4300 Winchester Road, offers a plate lunch special for $5.95. Call (859) 309-1220.

■ Rossi’s Restaurant is featuring fresh oysters prepared a variety of ways through October. Also, the restaurant, at 1060 Chinoe Road, has a new wine and martini list. Call (859) 335-8788 or go to Rossis-restaurant.com.

■ Weekend specials at The Julep Cup, 111 Woodland Avenue, include ­Berkshire pork loin with pumpkin ­gnocchi, sweetbreads with charcuterie sauce, and andouille-dirty rice-stuffed quail. Call (859) 226-0300.

Accolades

■ Four awards were presented to marketplace exhibitors at the Kentucky Proud Incredible Food Show on Saturday. Judges chose the best sweet, savory and booth display, and show attendees voted for their favorite product.
Best sweet: Applecreek Orchards; honorable mention: Lexington ­Chocolate Co.
Best savory: Kentucky Specialty Sauces; honorable mention: Good ­Shepherd Cheese.
Best booth display: Hillbilly ­Specialties; honorable mention: ­Howard’s Creek Authentic Beer Cheese.
People’s Choice Award: Dad’s ­Favorites.
Gail Greer of Lexington won the God’s Pantry March Madness Dream Dinner, to be prepared by Jonathan Lundy, chef/owner of Jonathan at Gratz Park. Visit Incrediblefoodshow.com.

Farmers market report

■ Bluegrass Farmers Market will have tomatoes, heirloom beans, pumpkins, squash, eggplant, garlic, baked goods and mums. The market is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at 3450 Richmond Road, in the parking lot of Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs. Go to Localharvest.org/blog/29529.

■ Woodford County Farmers Market will have customer appreciation day from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in the Versailles’ Courthouse Square. Farmers will have tomatoes, greens, peppers, beans, pumpkins, squash, gourds, baked goodies, homemade breads, beer cheese, fresh eggs and honey. The market also is open 3 to 6 p.m. Monday on Main Street in Midway.

Chef Ouita Michel will be touting her Wallace Station bourbon mustard at the Incredible Food Show.

You can eat your way through the Incredible Food Show at Lexington Center on Saturday.
Samples of beer cheese, wine, chocolates, olive oil, honey, barbecue sauces, ­pasta and Italian ­sausages will be offered. Cooking ­demonstrations will feature Top Chef contestants Bryan and Michael Voltaggio and Sullivan University students.
Food vendors include ­Sunflower Sundries, ­Browning’s Country Hams, Applecreek Orchards, Chef Doug’s Gourmet Foods, Marlowe Granola, Trifecta Sauce and Stuarto’s Olive Oil.Chef Ouita Michel will be touting her Wallace Station bourbon mustard at the Incredible Food Show.

Restaurateur and chef Ouita Michel will introduce the first item in a new line of retail ­products at the food show. ­Michel will offer samples of ­Wallace Station bourbon ­mustard at the Kentucky Specialty Sauces booth from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The mustard was developed for Wallace Station’s reuben sandwich, and it’s served on hot dogs at Woodford Reserve ­Distillery; burgers at Windy Corner Market; and in barbecue sauce, vinaigrettes and as a sauce for rabbit and pork at Holly Hill Inn.
The mustard is $5.95 for a 9.8-ounce jar and is available at Windy Corner Market, 4595 Bryan Station Road in Lexington, and Wallace Station Deli and Bakery, 3854 Old Frankfort Pike, outside Midway. For mail order, call Kentucky Specialty Sauces at (859) 396-9568.

Openings and new menus

■ Kelly and Neal Harris, ­owners of Neal’s Smokebox BBQ on Polo Club ­Boulevard, are opening a second ­location. The Wagon Bones Grill opens at noon Saturday at 591 West Short Street. It serves barbecued pulled pork, sliced brisket, ribs and chicken, grilled corn, potato salad, cole slaw, and macaroni and cheese.
“We smoke our meats for hours and use a Memphis-style with the ­Western Kentucky spin dry rub to form a savory crust,” Kelly Harris said. “Then pull them by hand for the ideal mix of crusty, smoky tender and juicy meat from the inside out. Then we finish them with one of our homemade sauces: a tangy, semi-sweet barbecue sauce or our Western Kentucky dip sauce to complement the spicy rub and smoky meat.”
Call (859) 523-2400 or ­Smokebox BBQ at (859) 293 9300.
■ Saul Good Restaurant & Pub has added a Fall Fondue Festival to its menu for a limited time. Included are cheese and wine, Grand Marnier and dark chocolate, and white chocolate and raspberry fondues. Saul Good is at 3801 Mall Road in The Plaza at Fayette Mall and at 1808 Alysheba Way in Hamburg. Call (859) 317-9200 or go to Saulgoodpub.com.
■ Bella Notte, 3715 ­Nicholasville Road, has a new fall menu. Included are crispy polenta, butternut squash soup, wood-roasted chicken, spice-grilled pork chop, autumn spice crème brulee, and pumpkin ricotta torte. Call (859) 245-1789 or go to Bellalexington.com.

Specials

■ The Julep Cup, 111 ­Woodland Avenue, is serving prime rib and fresh Alaskan halibut this weekend. Call (859) 226-0300.

Farmers market report

■ Bluegrass Farmers’ ­Market will have heirloom beans, herb ­seasoning, pumpkins, squash, eggplant, garlic, baked goods and jams at 3450 Richmond Road, in the parking lot of Pedal the Planet and Fast Signs. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Go to Localharvest.org/blog/29529.
■ Lexington Farmers Market is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Cheapside Park, 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.