Published: November 12, 2009 10:40 pm      

TIM PRESTON: Great food in Grayson, dog news 111509

We ended up in Grayson on a misguided mission Monday evening and decided to take advantage of the situation and have dinner at a place I’ve been hearing good things about for a couple of years. We were not disappointed.

I always say I’m not qualified to be anyone’s food critic, but I feel pretty safe in saying anyone who appreciates Italian food would enjoy a meal at Melini Cucina, more commonly known as Melini’s, at 209 S. Carol Malone Blvd.

I wanted to try something new and ordered the Polo Florentine, and my baby played it safe and went for the baked manicotti. I tried the chicken dish at the suggestion of our server (an outstanding waitress named Amber Carper) even though I was a little afraid of the “pine nuts” listed as an ingredient because I’ve honestly never tried pine nuts. As it turns out, pine nuts are pretty tasty. The baked manicotti was reviewed as “delicious” and my baby commented repeatedly about the quality of the ricotta cheese in her manicotti.

I will say my meal practically screamed to be accompanied by a glass of wine, which isn’t available at the Grayson location. I mentioned that to a couple of people who’ve been dining at Melini’s for years and they said that’s the main reason they prefer the Ironton location. For more more information, call (740) 534-5988. Interestingly, each said they think the food is “just a little better” at the restaurant in Grayson, which can be reached by calling (606) 475-1521.

Melini Cucina also has restaurants in Huntington, (304) 399-3000); Morehead, (606) 780-8865, Mount Sterling, (859) 497-7066 and Portsmouth, (740) 355-3141 or you can check out the restaurant’s menu by visiting www. melinicucina.net.

More than just

pumpkin pies

I had fun talking to musician and entrepreneur Michelle Wallace last week about Mama Hazel’s Bakery in Grayson and Mama Hazel’s Market in Olive Hill.

Wallace explained the name of both new shops stems from her all-girl bluegrass band Hazel Holler, and reflects their success selling jams, jellies, fresh homemade salsa and sugar-free glazed pecans alongside their CDs wherever they are performing.

Wallace said Mama Hazel’s Bakery at 222 Ky. 1947 beside Subway has been enjoying customer demand for holiday goodies such as pumpkin pies, pecan pies and pineapple upside-down cakes, and specialties including their made-daily doughnuts and homemade fudge, offered by the pound. Wallace said their peanut butter fudge outsells the cocoa version by 2-to-1. She said they’ve stopped making glazed pecans with sugar because the sugar-free version just tastes better.

Wallace was also quick to credit the skills of Sabrina Hayes, who creates the baked goods in Grayson and has a talent for cake decorating. The bakery is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (606) 474-2418.

Mama Hazel’s Market in Olive Hill, at 15 Tackett Lane across from the BP station just off of Exit 161 from I-64, offers Amish meats and cheeses, candy-making supplies and a supply of baked goods from the shop in Grayson. The market is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (606) 286-2056.

And, if you want to learn more about the all-gal Hazel Holler band, which is based in Morehead and has been playing together since 2003, or catch one of their live shows, visit www.hazelholler.com.

Dog mystery solved

I never expected to get an answer so quickly, but the mystery of the young artist who drew the dog that has been used on every bag since the first days of Sexton Brothers Dog Food has been solved.

Freeman Sexton said artist Andrea “Andi” Sword, wife of local artist Scott Sword, visited with everyone at Willard Milling Company last week and “seemed like the finest person ever — it was like we knew each other all our life.” Sexton said he knew Sword had drawn their dog because she still had the original print.

Sword (who was surprised to find herself reading about herself as she sat on the porch with her Sunday morning newspaper) said her dad, Chuck McCown, was responsible for drawing her out as the feed-bag artist. Sword said she also greatly enjoyed meeting Sexton, as well as his wife and his brother Floyd, while taking a tour of the rural business and surrounding area.

A dog owner herself, Sword said she passed a big bag of Sexton Brothers Dog Food to her dad for his beagle, Jim, noting the food is particularly well-suited to hunting dogs.

Sword, who lives in Catlettsburg, said she was in eighth grade at Summit Junior High when she drew the dog, and was proud to have her work selected by the local company.

“I’ve got the original bag somewhere,” she noted.

Dirty dog?

Bark Avenue owner Cheryl Brandeberry reports strong response to her recent opening of Suds-Ur-Pup Do-It-Yourself Pet Wash at 515 17th St. across from Central Park in Ashland.

The do-it-yourself dogwash facility provides shampoo, towels and professional grade dryers along with instructions for first-time canine cleaners. Big dogs can be cleansed for $20 and it costs $15 for a small breed. For more information, call (606) 326-1781.

Room in the Inn

It’s never easy to spend the holidays with a loved one at a hospital, nursing home or treatment center and I have to salute the Ashland Fairfield Inn for their participation in the company’s “Room in the Inn” program, providing free hotel rooms to guests who are visiting family members at area health care facilities on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve.

For more information, call Ashland Fairfield Inn General Manager Adam D. Hill at (606) 928-1222.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.