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.

There’s no reason to whine about winter when you can enjoy the cold weather sipping wine in Winchester on Feb. 7.
At the annual Wine About Winter event, downtown ­merchants will serve appetizers and wines from local vineyards — Lover’s Leap, CCC Trail, Harkness ­Edwards, Rose Hill Farm, Generation Hill, ­Wildside, McIntyre’s, Acres of Land and First Vineyard.
Merchants along Main and Court streets are ­participating. Hours are 5 to 8 p.m.

Special events

■ Super Bowl fans can watch the game at Rossi’s Restaurant on Sunday and enjoy food and drink specials. The restaurant, at 1060 Chinoe Road, has three big-screen TVs in the bar, and there will be seating in the main dining room. Call (859) 335-8788 or go to
Rossis-restaurant.com.
■ Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive, will serve San Francisco- and Baltimore-themed food specials Sunday for Super Bowl fans. Included are cioppino, crab cakes and soft-shell crab po’ boys. Call (859) 278-9424.
■ If you have dinner or drinks at Sabio at Dudley Square before University of Kentucky basketball games, you can park free and walk to Rupp Arena.
Sabio’s Detention Bar has some new things happening. On Sunday, it’s ­service industry night; Monday, ­bourbon night and all-you-can-eat chicken “lollipops”; Tuesday, half-price bottles of selected wines; Wednesday, half-price house martinis; and Thursday, $4 margaritas.
Sabio is at 380 South Mill Street. Call (859) 368-9901 or go to Sabiodudleysquare.com.

New menus

■ Addie’s at The Woodford Inn, 140 Park Street in Versailles, has a new mid-winter menu that includes pork chops with Dijon garlic sauce, barbecue bourbon burgers, shrimp and grits, and bourbon maple salmon. Call (859) 873-5600 or go to Thewoodfordinn.com.
■ The February menu for Greentree Tearoom reflects a Valentine’s Day theme. It includes mushroom soup with sherry, a white chocolate scone with cherry curd, French radish tea sandwiches, and ­Amaretto bread pudding. Greentree is at 521 West Short Street. Call (859) 455-9660 or go to Greentreetearoom.com.

Valentine’s Day dinners

■ The Dish, 438 South Ashland Avenue, will serve a four-course prix fixe menu for $50 on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. A wine flight paired with each course is an additional $24. On Feb. 15 and 16, a three-course dinner is $42, with an optional wine flight for $21. Call (859) 317-8438 or go to Thedishlex.com.
■ Georgia’s Kitchen, 900 North Broadway, serves only lunch during the winter but will open for dinner on Valentine’s Day. The menu, prepared by Chef Patrick Wilhoit, will be served 4 to 9 p.m. and will include duck a l’orange balsamico, pan-seared seabass and osso buco. Call (859) 252-6837 or go to Georgiaskitchen.com.
■ Jean Farris Winery & Bistro, 6825 Old Richmond Road, is accepting ­reservations for Valentine’s Day; tables are assigned when reservations are made. A prix fixe menu will be served Feb. 14 to 17. Jean Farris has a new winter menu that includes braised lamb, truffle-crusted cod, lobster, quail and oysters. Call (859) 263-9463 or go to Jeanfarris.com.
■ Woodford Reserve Distillery is ­offering a lantern tour with its Valentine’s dinner 5:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 14 and 15. The cost is $50. Entree choices are pan-seared sea scallops, pork mole poblano, and Stonecross pork belly braised in mole sauce. The distillery is at 7855 McCracken Pike in Versailles. Call (859) 879-1953 or go to Woodfordreserve.com.

Heirloom Restaurant ­owner Henry Wombles and chef/owner Mark Wombles are ­honoring Pine ­Mountain Settlement School on ­Thursday at their Midway eatery.
The second annual fund-raising ­dinner for the 99-year-old ­Harlan ­County school, which offers ­environmental education and ­educational support for local students, will have two seatings, at 5 and 7:30 p.m. The cost is $50; wine and cocktails are not included in the price. Call the restaurant at (859) 846-5565 to make ­reservations
or go to ­Heirloommidway.com or
Pinemountainsettlementschool.com for more information. Heirloom is at 125 Main Street.

Announcement

■ Purple Toad Winery of Paducah won two Concordance gold ­medals at the 2012 Kentucky State Fair ­commercial wine competition Aug. 11. Judges awarded 101 medals to Kentucky wineries in the competition.
Wight-Meyer Vineyard & Winery of Shepherdsville received a Concordance gold medal for its Moore’s Diamond wine. Forest Edge Winery of ­Shepherdsville, MillaNova Winery of Mount Washington and Talon Winery of Lexington each earned gold medals.
Wight-Meyer claimed 15 medals, the most in the 2012 competition. ­MillaNova received 14, Forest Edge and Purple Toad each took home 12, and Brooks Hill Winery of Brooks was awarded 11. For a full list of winners, go to Kentuckywine.com.

Special events

■ Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive, will have a lobster boil from 4 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Whole Maine lobsters will be served with corn on the cob and new potatoes. New England clam chowder and fruit cobbler also are on the menu. Call (859) 278-9424.
■ McConnell Springs is having an ice cream social Saturday. Activities for children include a scavenger hunt and fossil dig. Hours are 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the park, 416 Rebmann Lane, off Old Frankfort Pike. Call (859) 225-4073.
■ Thai Orchid Café, 1030 South Broadway, will present Noodle Fest at West Sixth Brewing Co., 501 West Sixth Street, at 6 p.m. Saturday. Thai fare will be paired with local craft beers. Noodle bowls include basil beef, coconut noodle, and tofu and veggies. Call (859) 288-2170 or go to Thaiorchidcafe.net.
■ Woodford Reserve Distillery ­celebrates its 200th anniversary this month with a dinner and specialty tours.
Guests will get behind-the-scenes access to the birthplace of bourbon, including many historical relics on the property. The 200-year-old Pepper House, an original spring house, will be open. Tours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 27 to 30.
A bourbon feast, 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 25, will be prepared by chef-in-residence Ouita Michel and her culinary team. Included are carved rack of lamb, ­Woodford Reserve smoked prime rib, Stonecross pork roast with bourbon ­barbecue sauce, bourbon-marinated quail stuffed with fresh figs, corn ­pudding, heirloom tomato salad with fresh basil, pickled okra and cucumber, green beans with bacon, corn pones and butter ­biscuits with tomato jam. The cost is $150. The distillery is at 7855 ­McCracken Pike in Versailles. Call (859) 879-1812 or go to Woodfordreserve.com.

Farmers market report

■ Hughes Farm is the newest ­member of Bluegrass Farmers Market. The farm, which raises rabbits and beef cattle, also sells baked goods at the market. Saturday is Customer ­Appreciation Day, and a limited number of  Bluegrass/Wildcat blue market totes will be given away. 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.
■ Lexington Farmers Market’s ­annual Taste of the Farm dinner will be Aug. 25 in Cheapside Park. Go to ­Lexingtonfarmersmarket.com. Fresh at the markets are blackberries, grapes, sweet corn, summer squash, heirloom tomatoes, onions, garlic, potatoes, ­assorted cheeses, wine, honey, prepared foods and cut flowers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

■ Alfalfa Restaurant, 141 East Main Street, will serve its popular holiday brunch on Monday, Labor Day, and the menu includes farmers market omelet and fresh peach pancakes. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The restaurant staff now is using all local free-range eggs. “We use 120 dozen a week so we feel like we’ll have an impact on the local economy while serving our customers a fresher product and a product that has fewer health safety concerns than commercially produced eggs,” Jake Gibbs said. The eggs are from Home Pickins Farm of McKee and Garey Farms of Paris. Call (859) 253-0014 or visit Alfalfarestaurant.com.

■ Staxx BBQ, 11 Carson Place in Frankfort, is offering a Labor Day weekend special: Buy 5 pounds of barbecue (pork, brisket, chicken, turkey, sausage) and receive 4 quarts of sides for free. Sides are jambalaya, baked beans, green beans, coleslaw, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese. The special is good through Sunday. Staxx will be closed Monday. Call (502) 352-2515 or visit Staxxbbq.com.

Announcements

■ Thai Orchid Café, 1030 South Broadway, is closed for vacation and will reopen Tuesday. Call (859) 288-2170 or visit Thaiorchidcafe.net.

■ The Julep Cup, 111 Woodland Avenue, now is accepting the University of Kentucky’s Plus account. To welcome back students, the restaurant will offer 10 percent off its Saturday brunch and Monday night dinners. Call (859) 226-0300.

■ Greentree Tearoom, 521 West Short Street, is turning to fall for inspiration for its September menu. Included are carrot and ginger soup, apple-walnut scone with apple butter, and herbed tomatoes in phyllo cups. Call (859) 455-9660 or visit Greentreetearoom.com.

Events

■ Saul Good Restaurant, 1808 Alysheba Way in Hamburg, is having a mural dedication party 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Artist Jeff Schaller has completed the mural, which depicts the history, personality and progression of Lexington and the Hamburg Place area. Call (859) 317-9200 or visit Saulgoodpub.com.

■ Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive, is kicking off the NFL season with a lobster boil Wednesday. The menu, served 4 to 9:30 p.m., features whole Maine lobster with corn on the cob and new potatoes, New England clam chowder, and fresh fruit cobbler. Call (859) 278-9424.

■ On Thursday, Modern Mercantile and Wine, will introduce Entwine, Food Network’s own brand of wine. The party, 5:30 to 8 p.m., will feature four varietals. The cost is $8. Call (859) 223-0471. The store is at 3101 Clays Mill Road.

■ Holly Hill Inn, 426 North Winter Street in Midway, will have its first-ever vegetarian feast at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The multicourse dinner celebrates the local harvest with okra fritters, stuffed eggplant, and “wacky” tomato dumplings. The regular menu will not be available. The cost is $35. Call (859) 846-4732 or visit Hollyhillinn.com.

Farmers market report

■ The Bluegrass Farmers Market has corn, tomatoes, peaches and beans. Hours and locations are: 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; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Mill Pond Shopping Center. Go to Localharvest.org/blog/29529/.

■ The East End Community Farmers Market will have Customer Appreciation Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For every $5 spent on Electronic Benefits Transfer card transactions, customers get an additional $2.

■ The 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.

■ The Woodford County Farmers 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.

If you enjoy the charm of small towns, take a drive to Millersburg and have lunch or dinner at the 5th Street Café.
Last fall, Robert and Maureen Barker opened a café to complement and support ArtCroft, an artists residency where individuals can do creative work in a rural setting. The café is at the corner of Fifth and Vimont streets in the historic Millersburg Coal and Lumber Co. building, which was founded in the early 1900s.
Dinner is served 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and the menu includes pasta, salmon, chicken and New York strip steak. Lunch hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the menu features sandwiches, salads and soups. The luncheon chef is Julio Silva, and Richard Barrett prepares dinner. Call (859) 473-0552 or visit Fifthstreetcafeky.com.

Events

■ Merrick Inn, 1074 Merrick Drive, is having a wine tasting featuring Brian Fowler with B.R. Cohn Winery in Sonoma County, Calif. Wednesday Wines on the Vine is 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The cost is $23. Reservations are required. Call (859) 269-5417.
■ Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive, is having its annual lobster boil 4:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. The date was incorrect in last week’s Weekender. Call (859) 278-9424.

Accolades

■ Two Winchester bars and a Nicholasville producer won bragging rights at the third annual Beer Cheese Festival in Winchester on Saturday. First place went to Kentucky Beer Cheese from Castano Foods, Nicholasville; Woody’s Bar & Grill, in Winchester, won second, and Full Circle Health Foods Market, also of Winchester, was third. DJ’s Bar & Grill, in Winchester, was voted people’s choice. Winners of the amateur competition were Rouse Hunt, first; Ollie Puckett, second; and Brennan Gilkison, third.

New on the menu

■ Bella Notte, 3715 Nicholasville Road, has a new summer menu. Included are house-made farmhouse spicy sausage; heirloom tomato salad; and strawberry shortcake, limoncello semifreddo, and a trio of sorbets. Call (859) 245-1789 or visit Bellalexington.com.
■ Caramanda’s Bake Shoppe has created a new cupcake. The piña colada is pineapple cake filled with pineapple buttercream, iced with coconut buttercream and rimmed in fresh coconut. Locations are 332 Southland Drive, 3805 Dylan Place, and a kiosk in Fayette Mall. Call (859) 278-7172 or visit Caramandas.com.
■ Shamrock Bar & Grill’s new menu has a professional look and lots of new items. There’s a granny Smith apple and blue cheese salad, Irish Cobb salad, and more “from-scratch” sides, including macaroni and cheese, broccoli casserole and green beans. Locations are 154 Patchen Drive, (859) 269-7621; and 4750 Hartland Parkway, (859) 245-9504.
■ Nick Ryan’s, 157 Jefferson Street, now serves lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Daily lunch specials are priced at $8. Brunch specials are served along with the full lunch menu beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday. Call (859) 233-7900.

A new restaurant in Midway, 815 Prime, was born because its building needed renovating.
When Sarah and Rob Vandegrift bought Quirk Café in 2007, they leased the space that at one time was a hardware store. “The electrical capacity in the building wasn’t sufficient,” Sarah Vandegrift said, “so we purchased the building in 2008 and upgraded the electric, and have been renovating and upgrading … ever since.”
Last year, they renovated the ­basement, which had been a book store for years, and created a full-service pub called Tavern 815. “When the ­renovations were complete, we … realized we had a totally different restaurant and we needed a totally different chef and a totally ­different name to match the extraordinary changes,” she said.
They hired Nicolas Trueblood, a ­Boston native and formerly of The Mansion at Griffin Gate, as executive chef. He calls his menu “contemporary American cuisine with a European flair.”
Lunch is served Wednesday through Sunday, and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is at 131 Main Street. Call (859) 846-4688 or go to 815prime.com.

Here’s the story behind the name:

Why 815?

“It’s not our address so it isn’t that simple. We purchased the restaurant in 2007 and the building in 2008 and since then Rob has worked constantly and diligently to get the improvements completed.  The longest project was the beautiful bar downstairs which took nearly a year to complete and Rob was constantly asked “when’s the bar going to open”?  Rob would reply, “at 8:15 tonight” which became a running joke for many months.  When it came time to name the bar Rob thought it would be funny to call it 8:15 and as it turned out, it opened on 8/15/10 so the name stuck.  The colon did not however.  Several people told us they thought it meant that the bar didn’t open until 8:15 at night and others asked if the 8:15 was a biblical reference.  We dropped the colon but not before I checked biblical references out of curiosity and when I found this one, I knew we had the right name,” Sarah Vandegrift said.

“Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat and to drink and to be merry; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life which God giveth him under the sun”  Ecclesiastes 8:15

Special events

■ The 6 Friends Cafe, 191 Kentucky Avenue, is sponsoring a benefit/concert/
silent auction for the Stephanie Lynn Padgett family from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday. Musicians Sylvia Villegas will entertain at 6:30 and Andrea Wirth at 8:30. Call (859) 309-0123. Donations will be accepted in lieu of a cover charge to help the Padgett family pay the funeral expenses of Chase and McKenna Padgett, who died after a traffic accident in Danville on May 31. Fifty percent of all café proceeds Saturday will be given to the family. Donations also may be made to the Stephanie Lynn Padgett benefit fund at Chase Bank.
Also, Bourbon n’ Toulouse, 829 Euclid Avenue, will donate 20 percent of its proceeds Wednesday to the family. Call (859) 335-0300.
■ The Crossroad on Southland, 286 Southland Drive, is having a pancake breakfast fund-raiser from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday for Lafayette Football Boosters. Chef/owner Steve Atkins will prepare ­pancakes, sausage and fresh-squeezed ­orange juice. “This also will serve as a ‘kick off’ to our weekend breakfast service,” Atkins said. Starting Sunday, breakfast hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call (859) 309-3904.
■ Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive, is having its annual lobster boil ­Wednesday, with New England clam chowder, whole Maine lobster, corn on the cob, new potatoes and fruit cobbler. Hours are 9 to 4:30 p.m. Call (859) 278-9424.
New on the menu
■ Hanna’s on Lime will featuring a farmers market special on Wednesdays throughout the summer. Chef/owner Beth Hanna will present six items selected from Tuesday’s market. The cost is $7.95. Hanna’s is at 214 South Limestone, with parking available in the adjacent Calvary Baptist Church lot. Call (859) 252-6264. Delivery is available.

Farmers market report

■ Bluegrass Farmers Market will have tomatoes, blueberries, green beans, eggs, lettuce, kale, zucchini, rhubarb, onions, herb seasoning, jams, baked goods, cut flowers and floral hanging baskets.
■ Lexington Farmers Market has summer squash and zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, onions, sugar snap peas, raspberries, Southern peaches, fresh pasta, artisan breads and desserts, Abigail’s locust honey, sorghum, bicycle-powered smoothies, sorbetto, fresh flowers, bedding plants, hanging baskets.