By Megan Friday
NEWS
The Boone Creek Creamery has opened a Kentucky Proud Store at 2416 Palumbo Drive, selling everything Kentucky-made from jams and jellies to cheese and cutting boards.
Billy’s BBQ, a Chevy Chase mainstay since 1978, has closed, and will be replaced by Louisville-based Joella’s Hot Chicken in that location.
Bour-bon in Paris is no longer open for dinner and brunch, but will continue to be available for special events.
Food for Fines Lexpark will be accepting canned food as payment for parking ticket fines. Persons with citations can bring in 10 cans per citation and receive a $15 credit towards their ticket. Last year over 6,200 cans were donated thanks to Food for Fines. Through Dec 18.
Gastro Gnomes and Rooster Brew are partnering on a new venture that will open next summer in the Pepper Distillery District. This will be the first brick and mortar location for the Gastro Gnomes and an expansion for Rooster Brew (located in Paris). They plan to have about 20 local brews on tap, 10 Rooster Brews and 10 from other local brewers, along with a menu that will stay true to what the Gastro Gnomes are known for: street fare. Their location on the Pepper campus will be in the old Pepper Bourbon Barrel House’s first floor. Rooster Brew owner Ralph Quillin says, “I’m looking at what I think the evolution of Lexington is all about. Collaboration with growers, chefs and brewers, chef-inspired menus and absolute excellent service.”
Sharing a patio with the Gastro Gnomes in their new Distillery District venture, plans are also in the works for Lussi Brown Coffee Bar. The full service coffee shop has plans to open January 2016 and will also serve cocktails and pies from Pig & Pepper.
La Madeleine Country French Cafe opened their first Kentucky location at The 90 on UK’s campus. The bakery cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will feature made-from-scratch menu items using classic french techniques.
Lexington Diner chef and owner, Ranada West-Riley is scheduled to appear on an episode of the Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen December 6. “My experience with Cutthroat Kitchen is just fantastic. Reality TV is no joke, they can really put you on the spot and you are left with your wits and your know-how to make it happen,” said Riley. “Alton Brown was very much like he portrays himself on television, very dry sense of humor, sarcastic, witty. He visited our restaurant in March of this year and sent a tweet out about us that reached like tens of thousands of people. It was very similar to Guy’s Grocery Games but a little more stressful because of the challenges and dealing with trying to outsmart the other chefs.” Chef Ranada isn’t done with reality TV just yet, though. “I’m working on Beat Bobby Flay and another show as well.”
The Macho Nacho, a tex-mex restaurant, is scheduled to open December 14 in Chevy Chase. The location will offer plenty of TVs and 24 beers on tap. They will also offer delivery to campus, downtown and the nearby hospitals.
Mellow Mushroom has announced that it will open a second location in Lexington early next year. The new Mellow Mush will be at Lexington Green, next door to Sola Salon Studios.
Sorella Gelateria is scheduled to open soon (as early as this weekend) at 219 North Limestone. The gelato shop will be hosting tastings on December 1 and 2 at 6 pm in preparation for the grand opening.
Starbucks on Main and Broadway released a statement saying they are only closed for renovations. A temporary location is available through the mall doors on West Main.
Shake Shack, “a modern day roadside burger stand” that serves burgers, hotdogs, frozen custard, shakes, beer and wine is coming to the Summit at Fritz Farm in March 2017.
Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen’s Townley location has opened a drive-thru window.
EVENTS
For the month of December, Shaker Village has Children’s tea time with Mrs. Claus on Saturdays, and special breakfast and lunch tea times with Mrs. Claus around the trustees’ table.
Beginning Dec 1st and going until Christmas is the Annual Holiday Luncheon at the Holly Hill Inn. Go enjoy brunch and see the restaurant as it is decorated for the holiday.
The Local Taco is hosting a fundraising night benefitting 4 Paws for Ability on Dec 2, 5 – 10 pm. Five percent of profits will go towards the Lexington litter fund.
Wine + Market is having a Holiday Open House on Dec 4, 5 – 8 pm. Join them for wine, bourbon and beer tastings along with live music, cheese & charcuterie, and champagne and rare bourbon raffles.
The Beer Wag Brewery Hop is partnering with Country Boy, West Sixth and Ethereal Brewing for a night of pints and purpose to support local animals in need on Dec 4, 6 pm. Each brewery will be donating 10% of their sales to the Lexington Humane Society.
Country Boy Brewing is having its 3rd annual Chili Cookoff featuring 50 entries from local cooks on Dec 6, 12 pm. All proceeds and donations go to God’s Pantry Food Bank.
Grimes Mill Winery is having a chocolate and wine pairing event Dec 6, from 1 – 5 pm. Taste handmade bourbon balls, truffles, and other assorted chocolates paired with flights of Grimes Mill wines.
The Manchester Music Hall is hosting a Bluegrass Brunch on Dec 6, 11 am – 1 pm. Food by the Whoo Wants Waffles food truck and a full mimosa bar while you listen to bluegrass music.
Apiary is hosting a cooking workshop fundraiser for Seedleaf on Dec 7, 6 – 8 pm. Learn how to make a seasonal item featuring local ingredients with Chef Renuka Chettri. Items on the menu: Nepalese butternut squash and coconut soup.
Sage Rabbit will have a Wines of Germany dinner on Tuesday, Dec 8. Call for reservations.
Holly Hill Inn Wine Guild: Falling Far? Le Arbre and the Apple State is on Dec 7-8 starting at 6 pm. Join Steve Mancuso, director of the Holly Hill Inn Wine Guild, to taste and compare wines of Bordeaux and Washington State.
Lexington Beerworks is hosting Flight and a Bite: Pig & Pepper and Rhinegeist on Dec 10. The event features a sampling of four beers from Rhinegeist paired with four pieces of pie from Pig and Pepper.
Bring your kids to Joseph-Beth Book Booksellers on Dec 12, 8:30 am, for a holiday tradition of Breakfast with Santa. Enjoy breakfast at Bronte Bistro with Santa while you listen to holiday stories and make a craft to take home.
Forcht Bank on 2404 Sir Barton Way hosts Pancakes with Santa on Saturday, Dec 19 from 9:30 – 11:30 am. Free breakfast will include pancakes, donuts, and fruit. Donations will be accepted for Visually Impaired Preschool. Co-sponsored by Nate’s Coffee and North Lime Coffee and Donuts.
To submit a Lexington, Kentucky food, wine, or spirits news item for consideration in Ace’s Best Bites, email acelist@aceweekly.com. To submit a Lexington Food, Wine, or Spirits Event to be considered for the Ace calendar, please go to the Ace online calendar, and click “Submit” (upper right on the Menu bar). For restaurant advertising, call Ace Advertising at 859.225.4889 x229.
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