The Cheesecake Factory at the Fayette Mall is scheduled to open on October 28th.

Coba Cocina is adding new dishes to its menu. You will now be able to order sopes trio, chile-rubbed smoked salmon, quinoa and kale salad, veal skirt steak chimichurii, and mezcal-caramel flan.

North Carolina fast-food hamburger chain restaurant Cook-Out has officially opened on South Broadway, at the former site of Stanley Demos’ Coach House and most recently, Casanova Fine Italian Restaurant. The sit-down restaurant includes a drive-thru and serves char-grilled burgers, chicken, BBQ, and hot dogs. In addition, more than forty different types of milkshake are offered.

The Mall has announced the upcoming addition of Travinia Italian Kitchen, a chain restaurant originating in South Carolina. In addition to traditional Italian food, Travinia offers a sizeable collection of wines, cocktails, and desserts.

Empty Bowls 2014 is scheduled for September 20. Moveable Feast Lexington presents this all day event, during which you can receive a free Bourbon n’ Toulouse entree in the Kentucky Mudworks bowl you purchase.

Harry’s at Lansdowne closed on August 23rd and will be undergoing a transformation into a tavern-style restaurant. Co-owners Brian McCarty and Bruce Drake said that the yet-to-be-named new dining place will feature a selection of bourbon, wine, and food offerings. The restaurant is scheduled to open mid-October. The Harry’s in Hamburg will remain open.

On September 10th, from 6 – 10 pm, Jefferson Street will be home to the Jefferson Street Soiree, a block party highlighting the Jefferson Street culinary corridor. It will feature food and drink tastings from restaurants and bars including The Grey Goose, Stella’s Kentucky Deli, Nick Ryan’s Saloon, Wagon Bones Grill, Wine + Market, Enoteca, The Blue Heron Steakhouse, Chase Tap Room, The Green Lantern Bar, County Club Restaurant, Blue Stallion Brewing, West Sixth Brewing and Smithtown Seafood. There will also be live music on a stage between The Grey Goose and Wine + Market. Jefferson Street will be closed from Short to Second streets for the event.

The Mary Todd Lincoln House will hold its annual Lincoln Dinner at Malone’s Banquet Room (Tates Creek) on Wednesday evening, September 17, at 6 pm. The dinner will be followed by a presentation by Thomas Mackie, Director of the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum. Reservations are required by September 12th. $40 for members/ $45 others. Call 859.233.9999 to reserve your space. The Mary Todd Lincoln House is the girlhood home of Mrs. Lincoln. She brought her husband and children to visit the Todd family here in 1847. The first historic site restored to honor a first lady, the museum is operated by Kentucky Mansions Preservation Foundation, a private non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and promoting historic properties.

Thursday, September 18, Maker’s Mark Distillery will open its doors for the second annual Delectable Distillery Tour, a bourbon-inspired dinner and drinks walking tour through the entire distillery. Rob Samuels, Maker’s Mark Chief Operating Officer, and Bill Samuels, Jr., Maker’s Mark Chairman Emeritus, will host the evening’s festivities, though guests should be assured they’ll take no part in the cooking. Instead, the event will feature Maker’s Mark-inspired entrees and cocktails from local award-winning chefs and bartenders, including Chef Dean Corbett of Corbett’s; Chef John Plymale of Porcini; Chef Dallas McGarity of Marketplace Restaurant; Chef Joshua Moore of Volare Italian Ristorante; Joy Perrine, mixologist at Equus & Jack’s Lounge; and Isaac Fox, bar manager and mixologist at Volare Italian Ristorante. Dinner seating times, which can be selected during the ticket purchasing process, are offered nine times between 6 pm and 8 pm. Tickets are $100 each and benefit APRON, Inc.

Every Sunday in September, Moveable Feast Lexington will sponsor a gathering at a different historic, architecturally significant Lexington home with a special host to celebrate art, music, and literature. These events are being called September Sunday Salons. Each event will be uniquely styled by the individual hosts. Also, each will serve up food, drink, and plenty of interaction with the arts and fine art collections. Tickets are $75 and space is limited. Call Moveable Feast Lexington at 859.252.2867 for reservations. All Salons will be from 2:30 pm till 5:30 pm.

Jeff Mayer, Saul Good‘s chef, developed a Bloody Mary cocktail featuring the yellow heirloom tomato and is hoping to use it to compete in a Food Network contest in NYC. Mayer has entered his recipe in the Chopped contest, along with contestants from every state. Other Kentucky entrants are Natasha’s Bistro‘s Robbi McGregor’s Mango Mary and Wild Eggs’ Travis Hall’s signature Bloody Mary.

Ted's Montana Grill has unveiled the new adult Boozy Berry milkshake.
Ted’s Montana Grill has unveiled the new adult Boozy Berry milkshake.

Ted’s Montana Grill has announced a new cocktail menu with adult milkshakes. The new cocktails include the Ruby River, the Buffalo 41, and the Grand Agave (Patron Tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh-squeezed lime juice, and organic agave nectar). Ted’s also serves milkshakes, malts, and floats as complements to its bison burgers. Two new adult milkshakes made with Häagen-Dazs ice cream are the Boozy Berry (vanilla ice cream, Tito’s vodka, Grand Marnier and fresh-squeezed lemonade infused with Wildberry) and The Slide (Ted’s twist on the traditional Mudslide with vanilla ice cream, Kahlua, Absolut vodka, Baileys and Hershey’s chocolate syrup).

On Saturday, September 20, Woodford Reserve Distillery Chef-de-Cuisine and shrimp farmer Nat Henton will harvest freshwater shrimp and serve up a low country shrimp boil. The distillery tour will end at the Dryer House, where the Shrimp Harvest Dinner will be served.  Included with the meal are two Woodford Reserve Cocktails.

Going to Keeneland on a Saturday this fall? On October 4, 11, and 25, the Woodford Reserve Distillery is offering a brunch, signature cocktail, and picks from a well-known, local handicapper. Just minutes off of Versailles Road, the National Historic Landmark is located in horse farm country.  Guests can begin brunch with a tour, then meet and receive detailed selections and analysis from a racing analyst.