AZUR Spotlighted In Kentucky Monthly Martini Article

The July issue of Kentucky Monthly magazine came out today and AZUR was fortunate to have two Martinis mentioned. Amber Blaisdell, AZUR Wine & Spirits Manager, dazzled them with the Malibu Hopper and the Kentucky Peach Martini. The full story may be viewed in the July issue of Kentucky Monthly (pages 10-12). Contributor's note: Watch for AZUR restaurant & patio to be the featured restaurant in the August issue of Kentucky Monthly.

Lunch Menus Will Be Changing At AZUR

AZUR is about to release their new summer lunch menus. Although we realize that some of your favorites will be taken off the menu, we hope that you will find new favorites among the new items. It has always been our goal to keep our menus fresh and introduce new concepts at AZUR.

AZUR Awning Fans Are Installed!

After a supplier delay, the awning ceiling fans have been installed at AZUR under the awning. We are very pleased with their metallic finish and curves as they nicely tie into the interior decor. Also, the addition of the down lighting which can be controlled by remote is a great asset to the fixtures. Luckily, they were installed just in time for the first day above 90 degrees in about 1 1/2 weeks. Now that's timing!

Nice Evening for Chef Series Dinner

AZUR had a very nice group for the Nuevo Latin Fusion dinner this evening. Unfortunately, we were not able to obtain the goat meat that we wanted for one of the courses but we were able to substitute lamb which worked out very well. Plus, we showcased some fine Spanish wines that may have been looked over in the past. AZUR has never been afraid to introduce different cuisine and we're proud of it!

AZUR Is Not Really A Secret.

AZUR has received written and verbal comments that "we're a secret". We are not really a secret. Actually, we just do not allocate as much money as others do to advertising. AZUR believes that old-fashion "word of mouth" is the best form of advertising. We would rather put our resources in obtaining the best ingredients than radio, television or print ads. Our greatest satisfaction is hearing one of guests calling a friend to say, "you've got to come over to AZUR". That's just something that you cannot buy.

How AZUR Deals with the Economy

AZUR feels that we should remain true to our original concept which is causal, fine dining. We realize that food prices have increased but we decided not to decrease the quality of our ingredients (e.g. substitute frozen vegetables for fresh). A wise man once said, "Never be afraid to pay for the best because you'll never be disappointed". AZUR definitely agrees. If we compromised our cuisine, we would not be true to what we started so many years ago.

Nuevo Latin Fusion Dinner Reminder

AZUR will be hosting a Nuevo Latin Fusion Dinner for the upcoming Chef Series. It will feature the talents of Chef Rivas, a native of the Dominican Republic. This five course dinner with Latin American wine parings from Republic National Beverage Company will be held on Tuesday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. For more information or reservations, please email us at fwohlstein@azurrestaurant.com or call 859.296.1007. We'll be happy to share the list of exotic dishes.

Cool Temperatures Bringing People Out

After a couple of hotter than normal weeks, AZUR has been fortunate to have people hanging out on the patio during the cooler June nights. An artificial breeze will soon be generated with the new ceiling fans that will be installed under the awning next week. So even when the temperatures climb back up into the 90's (and they will), our guests will be comfortable far into the long summer nights. AZUR is very excited about the fans because they match our existing decor so well. They are curvy, metal with a retro look with very high performance. In fact, they look like the propellers from a B-52. They are definite worth the wait!

Woven Shrimp is a Hit!

The chefs had an idea from the awards AZUR received for the Woven Shrimp entree at Taste of the Bluegrass a few weeks ago that it would be well received. However, we underestimated it's popularity. It's always rewarding to present a new menu item that everyone enjoys. Now, we faced with an pleasing problem in the restaurant business. How do we maintain a steady stream of fresh shrimp?

New Dinner Menus

AZUR will debut the summer dinner menu this Monday (June 16). This menu is very interesting as well as challenging for the kitchen staff to prep each day. One of the featured entrees is Chef Ashby's award winning Woven Shrimp. Also returning are heirloom tomatoes to the menu. Elk has migrated off the menu for now but we most likely will run as a special from time to time because we know how much you love it.

AZUR - Independent and Local

For AZUR being an independent, local restaurant is much more than local ownership. It means purchasing locally grown produce which reduces gasoline usage. It means sponsorship of school programs. It means assisting with community interests. It means hiring other local businesses to provide services. It means we're serving our friends and neighbors not just unknown demographics. It means that everyone and everything matters. Most importantly, it means that AZUR cares.

AZUR Had Music on a Sunday Night?

Yes, AZUR tried something different last night (go figure) and scheduled a band on a Sunday night. We thought that we the high temperatures outside, our guests needed something on the patio to take their minds off the 90+ degree days. Judging from the turn out last night, we were correct! Hence, we decided that we would try it again in two weeks since it's Father's Day this coming Sunday. By the way, we are offering a Father's Day Brunch from 11 am to 3 pm.

Alma Gitana Performs on AZUR Patio

Alma Gitana, a Latin Fusion band, performed last night on the patio which delighted many guests on a hot Lexington night. Temperatures were in the mid 90's and things did not cool down until the sun fell. Some believe that it was still "hot" later into the evening as a result of Alma Gitana's music. Meanwhile, several diners enjoyed their meals in the cool comfort of the dining room with the faint sound of music in the background.

Martini Article

AZUR received a call from Kentucky Monthly magazine yesterday to assist them with an article on Martinis. Though we normally emphasis our cuisine, we have skilled bartenders too. Amber, our spirits manager, whipped up several martinis including one of her own creations. It's also a pleasure for AZUR to assist with promoting Kentucky. We appreciate them thinking of us.

AZUR Receives Second Award!

This morning AZUR restaurant & patio learned that it had received a second award from the Taste of the Bluegrass event this past Friday evening. After the attendees votes were tallied, we were flattered to receive the People's Choice award in the category of "Best Appetizer" as well. This award is especially meaningful to us as it represents the public opinion which demonstates they recognize the level of food we strive for every plate. Thank you Lexington for voting for AZUR.

AZUR June Chef Series Dinner

AZUR has just completed planning for the June Chef Series Dinner. This dinner will be a five course Latin-fusion dinner featuring the talents of Chef/owner Miguel Rivas - a native of the Dominican Republic and trained in New York. He will be showcasing dishes for South America, the Caribbean and Mexico. The date has been set for Tuesday, June 24 at 6:30 p.m. His Latin dinners are very popular.