Local chefs, distillers are up for James Beard awards

Chef Ouita Michel, owner of Holly Hill Inn in Midway, Windy Corner in Lexington, Wallace Station Deli near Midway, Smithtown Seafood in Lexington and Midway Bakery, has been named a James Beard semifinalist for outstanding restaurateur. According to a news release, the category highlights working restaurateurs who set high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship.

In the best chef, Southeast category, two Louisville chefs were named semifinalists: Kathy Cary of Lilly’s and Edward Lee of 610 Magnolia.

Two other Kentuckians are among the semifinalists for outstanding wine, beer or spirits professional: Drew Kulsveen, owner of Willett Distillery in Bardstown, and Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort.

Finalists will be named in March and winners of the 26th annual James Beard Foundation awards will be announced in May.

▪ Pie Five Pizza is celebrating the grand opening Friday of a second pizzeria at 867 South Broadway. The first 50 guests on opening day get a free pizza and a free T-shirt, according to the company. Dallas-based Pie Five specializes in made-to-order pizzas, cooked fast. first Lexington pizzeria opened last year at Fayette Mall.

▪  Uncle Maddio’s, another entrant in the fast customized pizza category, will have its grand opening Feb. 27 at Euclid and Marquis.

▪  The Village Idiot, 307 West Short Street, will be on Food Network’s Burgers, Brew & ’Que. The show, Feb. 19 at 10:30 p.m., will feature the Korean fried chicken sandwich served with house-cut fries and smoked tomato ketchup. According to the episode description, it’s so spicy that host Michael Symon has to cool it down with local craft beer.

▪  Berea cake artist Meghan Smith, a sophomore Eastern Kentucky University student and owner of Doodlebug Cakes, will be on the Feb. 22 episode of Food Network’s show Cake Wars, which airs at 9 p.m. The episode features Smith and her mom, Cristi Simmons, as her assistant. For more information about Doodlebug Cakes, call 859-986-9309.

▪  The Lexington Bourbon Society will hold an inaugural Chevy Chase Whiskey Walk at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24. The walk starts at Charlie Brown’s, 816 Euclid, with an Old Grandad Sour and a shrimp dish, then crosses to Chevy Chase Inn, 833 Euclid, for Ye Ole Blackbird (a shot of Old Crow and a Miller High Life) with drunken chicken sliders, and it finishes at The Macho Nacho, 854 East High Street, for a Love Bite, a cocktail featuring Jim Beam Bonded, and a churro waffle. Tickets are $35, available online at Lexingtonbourbon society.com. The first 50 reservations get a Jim Beam swag bag.

▪  Chef Ouita Michel and her staff at Holly Hill Inn, 426 North Winter Street in Midway, are preparing an authentic Vietnamese menu Feb. 18 to 20 as part of the restaurant’s Winter Dinner Series, Around the World in 80 Days. Dishes include báhn bèo, hot and sour Kentucky whitefish soup, shaking beef with banh nam, butterflied trout and more. It’s four courses for $45. Reservations begin at 5:30 p.m. Call 859-846-4732.

▪  Woodford Reserve chef de cuisine Nat Henton and Danville tea master Bruce Richardson will host the third annual Woodford Reserve Tea Dinner at the Woodford Reserve Distillery, 7855 McCracken Pike in Versailles, on Feb. 26 and 27, beginning at 6 p.m. Reservations are required. Contact catering at 859-879-1953 or catering@b-f.com.

The five-course dinner is $85 plus tax and includes a tour of the distillery, followed by cocktails and a special tasting of Elmwood Inn Fine Teas with owner Richardson, who is just back from the tea gardens of Japan. The first course is smoked breast of duck, crusted in bourbon black tea; second course is a French vervain tea broth with brunoise of carrots, celery, onion and garlic, with orzo; third course is a pu’erh scallop ceviche, with fermented black beans and sweet and spicy kale chips; fourth course is genmaicha roasted pork butt with brown butter jus, popcorn grits and braised mustard greens; and the fifth course features matcha almond shortbread cookie with candied orange peel.

▪  JDI Grille & Tavern, 319 Cedar Street, has launched a new a lunch menu featuring lunch-sized portions, including half sandwiches, salads and soups, available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. JDI also is hosting the Lexington Bourbon Society at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22. Michter’s master distiller Willie Pratt will lead a tasting and there will be a silent auction of Michter’s products. The event is $45. It’s a fundraiser for St. Mary and Elizabeth Cancer Center in Louisville. Reservations are required for the Michter’s event. Call 859-246-0202.

This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 7:59 AM with the headline "Local chefs, distillers are up for James Beard awards."