Savoring Kentucky

Beginning in January, Chef Ouita Michel invites guests to her first-ever Winter Dinner Club, which in 2012 will honor celebrated women chefs, at the Holly Hill Inn in Midway.

“We’ve cooked with and/or admired these chefs throughout our careers,” Chef Ouita said. “The food we are preparing speaks comfort, which we yearn for in winter.”

The schedule:

Jan. 6-7, inspired by Susan Spicer of Bayona and Ella Brennan’s Commander’s Palace in New Orleans: Epiphany and Mardi Gras Celebration, $40

Susan Spicer, author of Crescent City Cooking: Unforgettable Recipes from Susan Spicer’s New Orleans, has been cooking in New Orleans almost continuously since 1979. She owns Bayona and MONDA restaurants in New Orleans. Ella Brennan is the matriarch of the New Orleans family that owns 12 renowned restaurants, and is author of The Commander’s Palace New Orleans Cookbook.

Jan. 13-14, inspired by Alice Waters: Winter Vegetarian Feast, $35

Chef Ouita cooked for Alice Waters both at Holly Hill Inn and at Smith-Berry Winery in Henry County, and has made a countless number of her recipes. Waters serves her seasonal prix fixe menus like she is having a dinner party for friends, with hospitality and attention to detail.

Jan. 20-21, inspired by Lidia Bastianich: Italian Homeland, $40

Lidia Bastianich is on the television, in bookstores and on store shelves with her eponymous show, cookbooks and pastas and sauces. Her cooking reflects her Northern Italian heritage with American influences, “the food of Italian-American immigrants, the food of adaptation,” she said.

Jan. 27-28, inspired by Edna Lewis: Southern Comfort, $35

Virginia native Edna Lewis is revered as the expert on Southern cooking. Her four cookbooks include In Pursuit of Flavor and The Gift of Country Cooking, written with her longtime friend Atlanta chef Scott Peacock. She founded the Society for the Revival and Preservation of Southern Food, which, according to the New York Times, was dedicated in part to ensuring that cooks do not forget to use lard.

Feb. 3-4, inspired by Madhur Jaffrey: The Silk Road Returns to Midway, $40

Madhur Jaffrey is an award-winning actress as well as a revered authority on Indian food. She is the author of 15 cookbooks and created a number of television and radio programs on Indian cookery. Her books spirit Chef Ouita away to the Far East, exploring the spice markets and sliding breads into clay ovens. This will be Ouita’s second Indian feast; her first was in 2002 at Holly Hill Inn with with guest chef Ismail Merchant, the filmmaker. Jaffrey starred in several Merchant-Ivory movies.

For Winter 2012 Dinner Club menus and notes from Chef Ouita, please go to www.hollyhillinn.com/events.

Wine flight and cocktail specials featured throughout the Winter 2012 Dinner Club series.

Reservations required for each dinner; please call (859) 846-4732.

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Holly Hill Inn is at 426 North Winter Street in historic Midway, Exit 65 off I-64, minutes from Lexington, Frankfort and Versailles.

Winter 2012 Dinner hours: 5:30-10 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Brunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday

Group reservations available any day of the week. Please call for availability.

Reservations suggested at (859) 846-4732. For menus, events and more information, please visit www.hollyhillinn.com.