Posted by chaska on February 2, 2010
Alright, I know I get excited about most of the dinner we here at BVS put together, but this one has a special place in my heart. Not only are we collaborating once again with the mad, creative genius of Stephen Dennison, but the location is one of my top 10 dream sites in Louisville to host a dinner. You truly won’t want to miss this one! And remember, if you’re not a member, you are able to attend one Supper Speakeasy. Once you’ve attended one, you need to become a member to attend future events.
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE DINNER
WHEN: Saturday,February 20, 5:00p*
WHERE: As always, only revealed to those who RSVP
CHEF: Stephen Dennison, of the Before and After Dinner at the Planetarium as well as the amazing French Speakeasy with Maker’s Mark
COST: $75 per person
RSVP: Please call 502.287.2772 or RSVP using the button below. To avoid service charges, please call.

WHAT: All courses will offer guests a choice for their actual dish. This is an adventure in dining where not all guests will received the same meal for each course – but you DO have control over which dish you select.
Life is an adventure, the grand painting produced over time and as personal as one’s fingerprint. Whether explored across the globe or in one’s own backyard the glory of the experience should be savored, as a great meal. We will be offering a five-course meal with appertif and digestif cocktails and paired with wines. As in life, the journey is finest when shared with companions, new and old. Please join us for this next adventure in our shared culinary experience.
While the location can not yet be revealed, it is a long standing cultural and educational center for our fair city. From a dinner that surprises at every turn to the location of the event, this is one dinner you truly won’t want to miss!
1st special guest of honor announced: Specialist Troy Yocum of “Hike for our Heroes.” When Troy Yocum came home from Iraq, he had just one thing on his mind: hike 7000 miles across America while drumming to raise $5 million for Military Families. During our economic hard times one United States soldier is rallying Americans to help veterans. Starting during Thunder Over Louisville on April 17th, 2010, Iraq war veteran Troy will hike day after day for 16 months to spread the word that help is needed. With a great team backing him, he plans on drumming up support in more ways than one.
*NOTE, the timing is a little earlier on this one to provide for all the fun activities we have in store for your evening. Special guests of honor, a unique entertainment experience and a dinner like none other you have seen.
MENU:
All dishes served with wine tastings.
Asiana: ‘Dim Sum’ Seafood
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, Teriyaki Wash OR
Shrimp-Wrapped Bacon Teriyaki
Italia: ‘Pasta’ Vegetable
Fresh Mozzarella Ravioli Tomato Sauce OR
Fresh Pappardelle Gardinia
Franconia: ‘Soup’ Terrine
Lobster Bisque with Asparagus/ Red Pepper OR
Asparagus/ R Pepper Bisque w/Lobster
Germania: ‘Meat’ Beef
Potato and Cheddar Rouladen OR
Cheddar Schpaetzle w/ Tournedos
Americana: ‘Sweets’ Dessert
Lemon Roll-up (Vanilla Sponge Cake) Strawberry Sauce OR
Strawberry Roll-up (Choc Sponge) Lemon Sauce
Posted in Events, Members, Supper Speakeasy, dining | Tagged: Dinner, Events, food, Louisville, Underground Dining, wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by chaska on January 26, 2010
Our first Wine & Wisdom of the year finds us visiting and enjoying the delightful new Spanish restaurant, La Catalana. If you haven’t discovered this little gem yet (next door to Havana Rumba) you really should consider joining us for an evening of food, fun and flamenco.
The purpose of the Wine & Wisdom is to elevate the traditional wine dinner to the next level and create a full cultural and/or educational experience where the food and drink are more of an enhancement versus the focus of the overall event.
WHEN: Friday, February 12 6:30pm
WHERE: La Catalana Restaurant, next door to Havana Rumba
COST: $35 + tip for BVS members, $45 + tip for non-members*
*if you join that evening, the $10 event fee will be applied toward your membership fee
Call 502.287.2772 or email for RSVP You may also purchase through the button below which will include a small service charge. BVS members should contact me directly.

Our evening starts with a conversation with Domino, the owner of La Catalana and will cover the dining traditions of northern Spain. At 7:00, we’ll take over the front of the restaurant for a VIP view of Flamenco Louisville’s performance all while enjoying a delicious dinner of tapas, paella, sangria and more. If you speak Spanish, or have been wanting to practice, this is the evening for you as most of our delightful hosts are all native speakers!
MENU
Tapas:
Huevos rellenos (stuffed eggs with tuna)
Tortilla de Patatas (Potato tortilla/omlette)
Mejillones Tigres (Tiger Mussels)
Berejena a la Parmesana (eggplant parmesan – some of the best I’ve ever had and I’m not a huge eggplant lover!)
Main Course:
Traditional Paella
Black Rice with seafood
Dessert:
Peras al Vino (Pears in Wine)
Pitchers of Sangria and non alcoholic drinks included
Additional wines and cocktails available with special pricing for our event
Posted in Events, Wine & Wisdom, dining | Tagged: dining, Events, Flamenco, food, Louisville, Spanish, wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by chaska on January 26, 2010
Oh yeah, baby…you’ll definitely want to be reading our newsletter (if you’re not on it, you should sign up now) to keep up with all the fantastic events and opportunities we have planned this year – from new partnerships, to new series and some seriously unique “one-off” events – well, there’s a ton of fun to be had! Take a peek:
NEW ART SERIES
F-N Art
For those of you with art in your heart, the F-N Art quarterly event (minds out of the gutters, it just means Friendship and Art), offers a chance to mingle with other artists, art lovers and any one else who feels the desire to express themselves through art. The theme for the first F-N Art series is “Madness” and will be launched in March – see the connection? Clever, no? All forms of art are encouraged. And kudos must be given to my friend Carrie in Birmingham who introduced me the the F-N Art concept.
NEW MUSIC SERIES
Fleur de LIVE
Have you ever wanted to ask a musician a question but were afraid to hear yourself on the radio? Have you been to a live gig, heard a great song and wondered where the artist’s inspiration came from? The Fleur De LIVE event will offer you a chance to see, hear and have a dialogue with local artists in an intimate, unplugged venue that encourages interaction and participation. Series debuts in July.
THEATRE HOP
Think Gallery Hop but with live performances. The return of the Theatre Hop happens in May this year. Our 2nd (nearly) annual event features theatre companies from around the city giving short performances in non-traditional venues. Hop from gallery to bar to restaurant for a 2 hr revolving show clock and finish the evening with a late happy hour and cast party where you can meet the performers.
NEW PARTNERSHIPS:
LEO
While we can’t reveal all the details just yet, I am excited to announce that BVS and LEO have joined forces to offer some spectacular events and experiential advertising options in celebration of LEO’s 20th Anniversary this year. Details to be revealed soon!
mberry
Many of you know my fascination and enjoyment experimenting with Miracle Fruit, but you may not realize my interest in exploring the health benefits (obesity, diabetes, chemotherapy patients) of the berries/tablets as well. With these life enhancing properties in mind, BVS has partnered with mberry, a company based in AZ, who is very proactive in spreading the word on this intriguing fruit. Starting now, subscribers to BVS newsletter are able to purchase through the mberry site and receive a discount of 15% and free shipping. Discount code to be sent in the upcoming newsletter.
Posted in Announcements, Info | Tagged: Art, Attractions, Events, Live Music, Louisville, music, Theatre | Leave a Comment »
Posted by chaska on January 15, 2010


COOKING TO FIGHT CANCER
WHEN: Saturday, January 30, 6:30p
WHERE: As always, only revealed to those who RSVP
CHEF: Alison Mann, most recently sous chef to Chef Curtis Stone of TLC’s “Take Home Chef
COST: $75 per person
RSVP: You may either call 502.287.2772 or click on the button below to purchase online. Service charges will apply to online purchases.

WHAT: All courses focusing on foods to assist in the fight against cancer or assist in prevention! Plus, enjoy the opportunity to hear directly from Kinsey Morrison, 13 yr old cancer survivor recently seen in the Courier-Journal here. More details to develop. Stay tuned. Proceeds to help benefit Gilda’s Club of Louisville.
Enjoy this amazing menu prepared by Chef Alison Mann, while also learning about the benefits of certain foods for fighting and preventing cancer. Alison is a certified nutritionist, and while our menu is not meant as a prescription, we are looking forward to all aspects of healthy living and the nutritional benefits of several foods. This is a first in a quarterly series this year of healthy lifestyle Supper Speakeasys. As always, all courses are paired with wine provided by Bryant Distributing.
Caramelized onion tart with ricotta, gruyere and arugula garnish
Asparagus Veloute
Tomato Tartare salad with roasted garlic, basil oil and micro greens…possibly bay scallops bound by a chive
Pan-seared whitefish over artichoke puree, tomato lobster buerre blanc and steamed spinach
Blueberry creme brulee with rosemary lemon curd ice cream
Posted in Events, Supper Speakeasy | Tagged: dining, Dining Club, Events, food, Louisville, underground dinner, wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by chaska on December 11, 2009

artwork by Jennifer Christy-Penney
I’m excited to announce our next artists in the musical series, Second Sunday Serenades, which will take place – you guessed it – on the 2nd Sunday of every month. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon of acoustic music and conversation with the artist in an intimate setting. If you remember the days of MTV’s Unplugged, this is my attempt to capture some of the fun and closeness of that series – Louisville Style. You may hear jazz, punk, folk, rock… it’s all possible! Admission is on a sliding scale to accommodate all pocketbooks and this is a non-alcoholic and child friendly venue – provided you have a child who is interested in learning and listening.
ARTISTS: Amanda Lucas and Nick Hardesty
STYLE: Pop/Rock/Acoustic
TIME: 2:00-4:00pm
COVER: $5-15, sliding scale. The more you pay the more the artist makes.
A limited menu will be available.
Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP to have your name on the list.
Artists to look forward to:
Jan – Troubadours of Divine Bliss
Feb – Sarah Elizabeth Burkey
Mar – Butch Rice
Posted in Events, Music | Tagged: Events, Louisville, music | Leave a Comment »
Posted by chaska on December 10, 2009
Join Tim Stratman of Vanguard wines for a fabulous Argentinian tasting from the Campo Negro and Finca el Reposo portfolios, including the difficult to find Saint Jeannet. Four-course menu will be delightfully prepared by 60 West Bistro in St. Matthews and all wines will be available for purchase and pre-order through 4 Flights Wine Boutique in Norton Commons.
WHAT: Four Course menu tasting with Wine
WHEN: Monday, December 14, 7:00pm
WHERE: 60 West Bistro, St. Matthews, 3939 Shelbyville Rd (by Burdorf’s, the old Bacons for Louisville folks)
COST: $45 + tax and gratuity (this is not a BVS event, so no member pricing)
RSVP: Call the restaurant to reserve your space – (502) 719-9717
Menu:
Saint Jeannet
Ahi Sashimi with Fresh Gari (Marinated Ginger), Daikon Radish, Shoyu Sauce aside Anise Scented Napa Cabbage Slaw
FR Malbec
Ground Brisket and Black Bean Chili served over a Grilled Rosemary Potato Wedge with Roasted Corn Salsa
CN Malbec
Blackened Bone-in center cut Pork Chop with Rich Mole’ served over Roasted Beet Salad, Sautéed Baby Bok Choy, Toasted Sesame Seeds, and Caramelized Red Onion
Cabernet
Blackberry Mousse with Espresso Creme
Posted in Announcements, Events | Tagged: dining, Events, Louisville, wine, wine dinner | Leave a Comment »
Posted by chaska on November 7, 2009
It’s finally back! We’re up and running with our first Nibble & Sip of the year and it has returned full force. Join us for our ‘Locavore’ Happy Hour at Browning’s at Slugger Field on Wednesday, Nov. 11 between 5:30 and 7:30 pm.
Groove to Butch Rice, be dazzled by Darshwood the Conjuror and enjoy special light bites and drinks that utilize locally sourced ingredients – featuring the fun of pumpkin as we celebrate fall. Show your support for all things local and the CFA.
Sliding scale cover ($5-10 suggested) and members get their first feature cocktail or mocktail free. Featuring Horseshoe Bend Wines, Effen Vodka and Maker’s Mark.
Posted in Events, Nibble & Sip, happy hour | Tagged: Cocktails, food, happy hour, Louisville, wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by chaska on November 7, 2009
Another favorite is back in full force! This time, we’re giving you a preview of our fabulous mobile wine tastings that have been created by Tom Johnson of Louisville Juice. Join us Monday, November 16, 7pm at L & N Wine Bar and Bistro to enjoy a wine tasting with a twist! Learn about wine through the eyes of a beloved holiday classic and delicious dishes by Chef Rick Adams.
MEMBERS: $35 + gratuity (call for promo code if you purchase online)
GENERAL PUBLIC: $55 + gratuity.
Call 502.287.2772 or email for RSVP You may also purchase through the button below which will include a small service charge. BVS members should contact me directly.
Seating is limited to 24 for this event

1st course
Three – 1 oz. servings of today’s artisanal cheese selection. Traditional accompaniments.
Served with the Grecco di Tufo & Furst Riesling.
2nd course
Seared Sweetbreads, Capriole Farms goat cheese grits, Benton Farms bacon & whole grain mustard veal reduction, micro greens.
Served with the Protocolo Tempranillo.
3rd course
Duncan Farms Rabbit, swiss chard, celery root puree, bourbon pepper rabbit stock reduction.
Served with Plungerhead Zinfandel & Chono Cabernet
4th course
Classic Crème Brulee
Served with the Ivy Blondia Moscato
Posted in Charity, Events, Wine & Wisdom, dining | Tagged: dining, Events, food, Louisville, Restaurants, wine | 1 Comment »
Posted by chaska on November 7, 2009
Join us on Sunday, December 6, for a traditional Victorian feast with a menu that will delight and surprise, created by Chef Michael Hargrove, sous chef at the Jefferson Club currently and past executive chef at Primo. We will dine on historical goodies (menu is currently being finalized), including roast goose and Christmas Pudding, all while enjoying the beauty of a historical home from the period, a bit of wassail and the lovely singing of local carolers.
Non-Members: If you have not attended a Supper Speakeasy before, you may attend one before becoming a member.
Cost, as always, is $75 per person. Please call 502.287.2772 to reserve your space or click below to pay securely online. You will save $4 per ticket in service charges by calling.

MENU
Cocktails
Fresh Eggnog
Hot Cider
Wassail
Hors d’oeuvres
Sweet and savory scones with clotted cream and young butter
Candied, spiced and roasted nuts
Charcuterie



Main Course
Roasted goose – Cranberry mustard and Bird gravy
Accompaniments
Mince meat pie
Baked acorn squash
Onion and chestnut dressing
Mashed potatoes
Glazed carrots
Roasted pearl onions with bay and clove
Braised Greens

Dessert
Buche De Noel
…and a few surprises
Posted in Events, Supper Speakeasy, dining | Tagged: dining, Dinner, Events, food, Louisville | 1 Comment »
Posted by chaska on November 5, 2009
In addition to our holiday themed tasting, we have also added other versatile festive options! Whether you just want to add on to an already fabulous fete or you’re looking for us to BE the entertainment, check out what we have in mind for you:
Three mobile wine tastings (all include 5-6 wines):
- It’s a Wonderful Wine
- New Wines for the New Year (wines you’ve probably haven’t heard of but should have)
- The Best of Bubbly
Mobile Mixology. Let Stephen Dennison come out and either teach you how to prepare the perfect cocktail or entertain you with his stories and vivid imagination as he pleases your thirsty palate. Options include:
- The Classic Cocktails
- Culinary Cocktails (featuring cocktails created for Anthony Bourdain and the Idea Festival)
- Before & After Cocktails w/ Light bites featuring Miracle Fruit – originally created for the Before and After Speakeasy in June of 2009
Pricing starts at $20 per person, but may be altered to include heavy hors d’doeuvres or a full dinner. Most tastings are recommended for up to 40 people, but can be arranged for larger groups with some adjustments.
Call 502.287.2772 or email for details or to book your party!
Posted in Announcements, Events, Info, Unusual, dining | Tagged: Events, tastings, Trends, wine | Leave a Comment »