September means Keeneland sales, Jefferson Street Soiree and food

LEXINGTON – September in Lexington signals the start of two events – yearling sales and soiree.

In conjunction with the Keeneland Yearling Sale, the Jefferson Street Soirée will celebrate local food, drink and music from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14 on Jefferson Street from Short Street to Maryland Avenue.

“Keeneland and the Jefferson Street culinary corridor are uniquely Lexington,” said Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLEX. “For the third consecutive year, this party will showcase one of the community’s culinary and cocktail hot spots for visitors and locals alike.”

Twelve area restaurants and bars will be offering food and beverage tastings, accompanied by live entertainment from The Wooks and Tee Dee Young. Visit http://jeffersonstreetsoiree.com/ for a complete listing.

The Jefferson Street Soiree is presented by VisitLEX’s Beyond Grits in celebration of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Media partners for the event include: WUKY, WLEX-TV and LM Communications.

“The Jefferson Street Soiree has been a resounding success,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale draws clients from nearly every U.S. state and more than 50 countries and gives the Lexington community an opportunity to showcase its unique culture and vibrant downtown culinary scene to a worldwide audience. We’re proud to be a part of such an exciting event.”

New dining guide to be unveiled
VisitLEX will release the latest edition of its dining guide, Beyond Grits, at the soiree. The guide includes several new features.

VisitLEX and Bluegrass Farm to Table are adding a new designation for Beyond Grits that highlights restaurants that source food products directly from Kentucky farms. To receive this new Kentucky direct farm impact designation, the restaurant must:

• Meet the parameters for inclusion in Beyond Grits;

• Be a member of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Restaurant Rewards Program; and

• Have documented spending on Kentucky direct farm impact food products in the previous calendar year as audited by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Restaurant Rewards Program.

A rating of one tractor indicates that the restaurant made up to $14,999 in Kentucky farm purchases between June 1, 2015 and May 31, 2016, two tractors indicates between $15,000 and $29,999, and three tractors indicates more than $30,000.

“Bluegrass Farm to Table is thrilled to partner with VisitLEX to highlight the restaurants in Lexington that regularly source from Kentucky farmers,” said Ashton Potter Wright, Local Food Coordinator, City of Lexington. “We hope that the guide will serve as a tool to educate consumers and generate increased demand for Kentucky farm products.”

Three new categories also have been added to the guide:
• Local Landmarks
• Porches and Patios
• Smoked Meats and BBQ

The other new feature in the guide is the inclusion of six recipes from local restaurants that feature popular bluegrass specialties. Foodies now will have the opportunity to replicate that experience at home.

Stop by the VisitLEX and Bluegrass Farm to Table booth at the Jefferson Street Soirée to get a copy. The new guide also will be available mid-September at the Visitors Center, 401 W Main St. in The Square.