Cafe Bonin in Campbellsville , KY

I had the occasion to be in Campbellsville, KY today to meet with a client and then stopped into the Cafe Bonin on Main Street for lunch and to use their Wi Fi hotspot service to check e-mail . This is a nice little restaurant with a French flair and I recomend it to you . Here is their website link :

http://cafebonin.com/

Kentucky Wineries Do Well at Derby Wine Competition

This is from an announcement by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Kentucky wineries strike gold at Derby wine competition

KAN staff report

Kentucky wineries earned 15 gold medals at the Kentucky Derby Festival wine competition March 24 in Louisville.

Eighteen Kentucky and Indiana wineries brought 145 varietals to the competition. A panel of 17 experts from the American Wine Society judged the competition.

Kentucky wineries and the medals they earned included:
Acres of Land, Richmond – two gold medals (Concord and Chambourcin), three silver and two bronze
Black Oak, Princeton – one silver and one bronze
Brooks Hill, Louisville – three silver and five bronze
Elk Creek, Owenton – two gold (Riesling and Petite Syrah), four silver and four bronze
Felice, Louisville – one bronze
Equus Run, Midway – one gold (Derby Chardonnay) and one silver
River Bend, Louisville – two gold (Chambourcin and Pomegranate)
StoneBrook Winery, Louisville – one bronze
Talon Winery, Lexington – two gold (both red hybrids), one silver and one bronze
Wight-Meyer, Shepherdsville – six gold (Moores Diamond, Concord, Chambourcin, Norton, Zinfandel and Moores Diamond Ice Wine), two silver and three bronze

Some of the winners will be featured at the fifth annual Kentucky Derby Festival WineFest April 28-29 at Kroger’s Fest-A-Ville on the Waterfront. Thirteen Kentucky and Indiana wineries will sample 99 varietals at the event.

For more information about the Kentucky Derby Festival and the WineFest, go to www.kdf.org.

For more information about Kentucky’s grape and wine industry, go to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Grape and Wine Program page at www.kyagr.com/marketing/plantmktg/grape.htm. For a complete list of Kentucky medal winners at the Kentucky Derby Festival competition, go to www.kentuckywine.com/news.php

Lexington, Ky Restaurant Venture Opportunity

An established local restaurateur is seeking to raise capital to convert an existing restaurant into a new and exciting concept for Lexington in one of the most desirable trade areas in Fayette County . The amount of capital being raised is $250,000 and ideally they would like to have 10-15 investors who would become partners in this venture . With success of the first restaurant more will follow which will create additional opportunities .

Tough Economy .....try barter

In this tough economy its critically important to conserve cash . I have learned this first hand . Your can leverage your services and products through a barter network and make new business contacts , conserve cash , and expand your business . Two barter groups I am a member of I strongly recommend :

www. imsbarter.com

www. genisis-trade.com

Limestone M&A Alliance created

Kentucky business intermediaries Mark Sievers and Jay Knoblett has created an alliance called the Limestone M&A Alliance www.limestonealliance.com which will work to accelerate "main street " and "mid market" business transaction deal flow in Kentucky and beyond . Services included business brokerage , consulting , troubled company workout assistance , etc...

The Kentucky Paw Paw

pawpaw.kysu provides information on how to grow and use fruit from the North American pawpaw tree.

Coffee Break Cafe Easter Brunch

This year the Coffee Break Cafe' on Harrodsburg Road will have an Easter Brunch from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm .

Adults $12.95 Kids 6-11 yrs $5.95 ( 5 and under FREE )

Barrel Tasting for the Springs

There will be a unique fund raising event for McConnell Springs on Saturday , March 28 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm . Ten regional wineries will participate in the BARREL TASTING for the Springs ............ see link below for information



http://www.mcconnellsprings.org/eventsmission.html

Central Kentucky Chapter of the KRA

The Central Kentucky Chapter of the Kentucky Restaurant Association will have a meeting Monday March 23 at Buddy's Restaurant in Chevy Chase at 3:00 pm . Topics will include the Taste of the Bluegrass and the FEI World Equestrian Games .

Workout plans a viable alternative to troubled food companies

In the current economy many companies are finding themselves in precarious financial situations . This is a link to an article from Franchise Times that explains why developing a workout plan is a good alternative for all involved vs. bankruptcy .

http://www.franchisetimes.com/content/story.php?article=01246

Newport , KY Restaurant Building Available

The building that until recently was the home of Lightfoots Restaurant in Newport, Ky . is for sale . It is located on East 7th Street , is fully equipped , and the second floor could be used as a residence, apartment , extended stay quarters which would be another revenue stream. It could also be used as partial compensation for a manager .

http://www.lightfootsrestaurant.com/


The asking price is $400,000 and if interested please contact me .

Saul Good Pub One Year Anniversary

This evening Saul Good Pub www.saulgoodpub.com will celebrate its one year anniversary . There will be music by " Better Off Dead " from 9:00 to midnight . This restaurant has become a Lexington favorite and it is gratifying to see owners Rob and Diane Perez succeed in the venture .

Restaurant Venture Financing

Following is a link to an article I recently wrote for Business Lexington on the topic of how the current economic environment has impacted restaurant financing .

http://www.bizlex.com/Articles-c-2009-03-03-85411.113117_Economic_turbulence_reshuffles_the_deck_for_restaurant_financing.html

Buzgate - Useful Business Resource

I just discovered a business information resource that many small business operators might be useful . Check out www.buzgate.org .

Emerald Cocktail at Bistro La Belle for St. Paddy's Day

Bluegrass bartender and mixologist Walt Mates at Midway's Bistro Labelle ( owned by Laura Wolfrom ) in historic Midway , Kentucky is rumored to be planning to serve the Emerald Coctail for St. Patricks Day . As I understand it , this is an Irish Whiskey version of the venerable Manhattan .