Bites of the Bluegrass

03/25/2025

03/24/2025

03/21/2025

Say hello to – the newest al fresco gem from , now open on the patio of beautiful !

Think self-serve wine, craveable chicken salad, seasonal soups, and garden-fresh salads – all bursting with farm-to-table flavor. It’s casual, charming, and made for long lunches and sunny afternoons.

Swing by and savor something simple and special – just the way Penny would’ve wanted.

Another soft-opening next Friday, 11-2 at Pomegranate | Walk-ups welcome

03/17/2025

☘️IT’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY! Lexington has been featured in and on the as the perfect substitute for Ireland if you can’t make it across the pond. WE DO have rolling green pastures, beautiful horses, even castles! We also have a fantastic street of Irish businesses right downtown (and we’ll probably take you there on a tour).

Peter Kiely and Roddy O’Byrne have been creating a bridge to Ireland for the last 29 years with . This local favorite is named after a nearly 200 year old pub in County Tipperary, where you’ll also find thoroughbred industry giant, . Coolmore’s serves as a Home of Champions in nearby Versailles, where you’ll likely see a Triple Crown winner—maybe even two.

Liza Betz is the beautiful Irishwoman behind (she’s also the VP of the ). For the past 24 years, Liza’s been filling her shelves with wool apparel, paperboy caps, fragrances, traditional trinkets, and lots of imported food. There’s a fridge full of rashers and Irish sausages and you can order lattes and teas at the counter. She’s a ton of fun and if you get her near a dance floor, you will see a Celtic dance💃.

Liza also hosts trips to Ireland each year. You can visit her website to learn how to join the next epic adventure in September.

is owned by creative brother/sister duo Avena and Ray Kiely (also siblings to Peter Kiely). is named for the 1950’s Jimmy Stewart hit, “Harvey”, about a man named Elwood who has visions of a giant rabbit. But, not just any rabbit. Harvey is a pooka, a 6 1/2 foot tall mischievous character from Celtic mythology.

You’ll also find Irish owned , , and in Downtown Lexington. ☘️

03/16/2025

✨What a night! I had the best time at sharing history about some truly fascinating women while brought their stories to life with artful, delicious cocktails and dishes. Fun, community, and a —what more could you ask for? Captured beautifully by ✨

Did you catch Episode 1? You can stream Season 22 on Bravo or Peacock and don’t miss the next episode this Thursday at 9:00!

03/12/2025

03/11/2025

Walking Tours Welcome to Bites of the Bluegrass! Join us in some of Kentucky's historical downtowns where we’ll take you to the best bites in the Bluegrass! Your foodie guide will lead you on an insightful tour of the city's booming food scene and all of the unique southern flavors it has to offer...

03/11/2025

✨LET’S ALL CHEER FOR OUR THE NIGHT BEFORE HER DEBUT! Only a few seats left for the Ladies of Lexington dinner! 🍽️✨

Join us for an unforgettable evening where Top Chef-worthy flavors meet legendary Lexington women. Sip on expertly crafted cocktails 🍸, indulge in courses inspired by history, and savor the stories brought to life by Bites of the Bluegrass.

📅 Wednesday, March 12th
📍 The Manchester Hotel
🎟️ Grab your seat before they’re gone!

https://themanchesterky.com/experiences/ #!/e/dinner-series-ladies-of-lexington-x-bites-of-the-bluegrass-wednesday-march-12th-3427cfd2/

Don’t miss this delicious celebration of bold flavors and even bolder women! 💃🔥

03/10/2025

☀️Spring is here, and it’s time to come out of hibernation! ☀️

Shake off the winter blues and hop into warmer days with a Bites of the Bluegrass walking food & history tour. Stroll through Lexington’s streets and savor local flavors while uncovering the hidden stories behind our city’s past.

This week:

Fri:
Downtown 1:00-4:00
Distillery District 2:30-5:30

Sat:
Cocktails & Bites 4:30-7:30

Sun:
Downtown 2:00-5:00
Distillery District 2:30-5:30

Book your tour now at bitesofthebluegrass.com🤗

03/08/2025

Support Women-Owned Businesses in the Heart of Lexington!

Let’s celebrate the incredible women entrepreneurs who are shaping downtown Lexington! Within just a couple of blocks of the Old Fayette County Courthouse, you’ll find an amazing collection of women-owned businesses—restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops, and more.

Supporting these businesses isn’t just about shopping or dining—it’s about investing in our community, uplifting local women, and ensuring their stories of resilience and success continue to be told.

Here are just a few in the heart of downtown:

.art .lexington .juicebar


And, us! Just a few—many, many more. Who runs the world?

03/08/2025

✨Celebrating the Women of Bites of the Bluegrass on International Women’s Day✨

We couldn’t do it without the incredible women who guide our tours at Bites of the Bluegrass! These women do more than just lead guests through Lexington’s best bites and sips—they bring history to life, share the untold stories of our city, and create a welcoming space for every guest to connect, learn, and laugh along the way.

Their passion, knowledge, and hospitality make each tour unforgettable, and we are endlessly grateful for the heart and soul they pour into what we do. So here’s to the women who walk the streets of Lexington sharing its flavors and stories—your impact is lasting, and your presence is powerful.

03/05/2025

🌟 FoodChain Featured in Broken Palate! 🌟

We’re thrilled to be highlighted in Broken Palate’s latest article, A Weekend in Lexington 🏇✨, showcasing some of the best spots and things to do in our city—including Smithtown Seafood, Bites of the Bluegrass, Pearl’s and The Manchester!

A huge thank you to Martina Barksdale and the team at Visit LEX for always bringing visiting journalists through our space and helping us forge links between community and fresh food. Your support allows us to share our work in sustainable food systems, food access, and education with a wider audience.

Check out the article here: https://www.brokenpalate.com/p/a-weekend-in-lexington

03/05/2025

🌈🎉 Lexington Pride Festival 2025 is coming! 🎉🌈

Mark your calendars! We’re bringing the celebration: LEXPRIDE - OUT and LOUD!

Join us Saturday, June 28th from 11 am to 9 pm as we take over Oliver Lewis Way for a full day of love, joy, and community.

More details coming soon — stay tuned!

02/24/2025

✨There’s never a bad time for a walking food & history tour—especially when there’s a deal involved!

Right now, we’re offering $10 off each ticket through Friday for any 2025 tour booking with code Bites10off.✨

Whether you’re a local looking for a new lens on your city or a visitor craving a fun, food-filled adventure, our tours are like an afternoon dinner party with a side of fascinating stories.

Book now and treat yourself (or someone else) to a delicious journey through Lexington!

📸:

Food stops pictured: Zim's Cafe, Agave & Rye Lexington, Pies and Pints Pizzeria, Buddha Lounge, and Fable Charcuterie and Wine at The Grove Lex 💙

02/20/2025

02/14/2025

I’m so honored to be featured in this series! Sharing our city through Bites of the Bluegrass is truly one of my greatest joys💙

02/12/2025

Happy Birthday, Honest Abe!🇺🇸

On this day in 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born in a one-room log cabin in Hodgenville, Kentucky. He would go on to lead the nation through its most divided years.

Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, and his unwavering belief that a house divided could not stand left a legacy. And his connection to Kentucky goes beyond his birthplace. His wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, was born on Short Street in Lexington, and the Todd family home still stands as a museum in the heart of downtown. Lincoln made several trips to this city and took over an important court case, Todd Heirs v Wickliffe, after Mary’s father died. This case would light a fire in Lincoln to run on an emancipation platform and inspired him to look at the nation and its humanity as a whole.

02/09/2025

🌱 Junius G. Groves: The Kentucky-Born “Potato King of the World” 🥔👑

Born enslaved in Green County, KY, Junius G. Groves rose to become one of the wealthiest Black men in America. After WALKING to Kansas in 1879, he started as a farmhand earning 40 cents per day—but through hard work and smart investments, he built a 500-acre potato empire, producing more than any farmer in the world. His harvests were so massive that Union Pacific Railway built a private track on his land just to transport his crops.

But Groves’ success wasn’t just about farming—he built a grocery store, founded Groves Center, KS, and even constructed a golf course for African Americans, providing spaces for business and leisure when segregation barred Black citizens from many public areas. He helped establish the Negro Business League, a Baptist church, and other organizations to uplift his community.

At his peak in 1925, Groves’ estate was valued at $100,000 (over $1.7 million today), spanning 1,600 acres across Kansas and he was one of the wealthiest Black men in the nation (estimated worth was $30 million in today’s money).

The life of Junius G. Groves remains a powerful story of resilience, entrepreneurship, and Black excellence—rooted in Kentucky. 💙