Lexington’s foodiest street party, Jefferson Street Soiree, is back

The Jefferson Street Soiree, a celebration of one of Lexington’s booming dining districts timed to coordinate with the Keeneland September yearling sale, is 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Participating restaurants will include Wagon Bones Grill, Stella’s Kentucky Deli, Smithtown Seafood, Blue Heron Steakhouse, Enoteca, Grey Goose, Wine+Market, Nick Ryan’s and the Green Lantern bar. Blue Stallion Brewery and West Sixth Brewing also will be there. The event is cash only.

Jefferson Street from Short to Maryland will be blocked off for the festivities, with parking available at the lot under the Jefferson Street viaduct.

▪  The Keeneland September yearling sale starts at 3 p.m. Monday, and besides some terrific horses and people-watching, the public can sample some new food items. Keeneland Fall Ale, created by Country Boy Brewing, returns for a limited time, and Keeneland executive chef Marc Therrien has new menu items in the sales pavilion’s Limestone Café, including chicken etouffee, battered fish burritos, togarashi (Japanese chili spice) fries, French dip, smash burgers, barbecue, pizza and new salads.

▪  Jim Beam master distiller Fred Noe will host the first Great Distillery BBQ Cook-off at Saturday at the Jim Beam American Stillhouse, 526 Happy Hollow Road in Clermont. Ten four-person distillery and cooperage cook teams from The Bardstown Bourbon Company, Barton Brands, Heaven Hill Distillery, Independent Stave Company, Jim Beam Distillery, Maker’s Mark Distillery, Wild Turkey Distillery and more will compete with bourbon-inspired barbecue for the ultimate prize-bragging rights.

The competition includes three categories: rib eye, St. Louis-style ribs and chicken legs. If that makes you hungry, you can sample barbecue from the on-site café, Fred’s Smokehouse, while supplies last. Tickets for regularly scheduled distillery tours and specialty cocktails at the Jim Beam Bourbon Bar will be available to guests of legal purchase age throughout the day.

▪  Alfalfa, 141 East Main Street, will donate 20 percent of its profits on Saturday evening, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., to Harvey relief efforts: 10 percent will go to Houston Habitat for Humanity and 10 percent to BARC, the Harris County Animal Shelter in Houston. For more information, call 859-335-0300.

▪  I will discuss food and restaurant news with Sylvia Lovely, chef Jeremy Ashby and Twitch on the Food, News and Chews Radio Show, 1 p.m. Saturday on WVLK, 590 AM.

▪  The Madam, Eatery and Juke Joint apparently has moved from 102 West Vine Street. According to a Facebook post on Aug. 10, the bar is now above Ole Hookers Bait and Tackle, 205 South Limestone.

The restaurant space at 102 West Vine is available again, according to a “for lease” sign on the building.

▪  Grimes Mill Winery, 6707 Grimes Mill Road, is celebrating its sixth anniversary Saturday. From 1 to 5 p.m., you can sample the latest wine release, Malbec Rosé and enjoy food from the grill. Dan Hill will play music from 3 to 5 p.m. It’s free. Call 859-543-9691 for information.

▪  Good Foods Co-op, 455 Southland Drive, is now offering 20 percent off all purchases for owners during Owner Appreciation Days, Friday through Monday. Special orders picked up during that time also qualify for the discount, so make your orders now. September’s Give Where You Live charity partner is God’s Pantry Food Bank. Last month, $2,958 was donated to Seedleaf through the program.

▪  Still looking for tailgating options? Willie’s Locally Known, 286 Southland Drive, is offering an entire barbecue meal party pack. Or, for an early day tailgate, they have breakfast burritos. Call 859-281-1116 to order.

▪  Lyric Theater, 300 East Third Street, is hosting its Feed the Soul luncheon events on the second Wednesday of each month. Lunch from Lexington’s Dupree Catering begins at 11:30 a.m., with live music at noon. On Wednesday, the artist will be Enrique Gonzalez. The buffet-style lunch is $20 in advance or $25 the day of; to order, call the Lyric box office at 859-280-2218 or buy online at Lexingtonlyric.tix.com.

▪  North Lime Coffee and Donuts, 575 North Limestone, is celebrating five years in business from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with doughnuts, coffee and family activities.

▪  Jessamine Growers Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday behind City Hall at Main and Rice streets in Wilmore, will have locally grown tomatoes, green beans, squash, potatoes and other seasonal vegetables, herbs, local honey and eggs, cut flowers and perennials.

▪  Bluegrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Liquor Barn, 1837 Plaudit Place in Hamburg, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Azur, 3070 Lakecrest Circle, will have beans, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, eggs, honey, jams, beef and pork.

▪  Nicholasville Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 717 North Main Street, will have peaches, tomatoes, watermelons, sweet corn, lettuces, squash, green beans, cucumbers, carrots, beets, greens, candy onions, flowers, jams and jellies, baked breads, black Angus beef, specialty roasted coffees and items from Kentucky artisans.

▪  Lexington Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Cheapside Park and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Southland Drive, will have corn, okra, tomatoes, watermelon, beans, peppers, peaches, eggplant, greens, cut flowers, lettuces and tomatillos.

▪  Chevy Chase Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at 316 Ashland Avenue, will have fresh seasonal local produce, and pastured meats and eggs.

This story was originally published September 6, 2017 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Lexington’s foodiest street party, Jefferson Street Soiree, is back."