Woven Shrimp for Number 33

October 20, 2011

I turned 33 last week. And I emphasize the word week because the celebrations lasted roughly 7 days. Around here we believe that celebrating just one day simply isn’t enough.

In honor of the big day, there was one specific meal I wanted. Nothing else would do.

That meal was Woven Shrimp from Azur Restaurant and Patio in Lexington, KY.

If you find yourself in Lexington you should find yourself a seat at Azur, but don’t look for it downtown. Azur is actually located in a strip mall on the southwest side of the city. But don’t let the description of the location fool you. This modern establishment which serves lots of local products such as Kentucky beef and Kentucky seafood from our up and coming aquaculture farms, also boasts an inviting patio area.

So back to that Woven Shrimp. Actually let’s go back to the first course because those were equally exciting.

We opted for a Saturday lunch and settled in on the patio with jackets and the space heaters going (it was just too beautiful not to sit outside) and ordered a Kentucky Ale.

Next up for me, well, us, were Truffle Fries. These are one of life’s simple pleasures. No French Frie tastes the same after you’ve had one graced by the presence of truffle oil.

My husband ordered his favorite, Lobster Crepes. Crepes with a creamy lobster-based filling set on top of guava sauce and garnished with microgreens. Sweet, salty, rich – this is the crepe of all crepes.

We enjoyed our starters to their fullest extent and some a bit longer. We had to keep fries on the table and nibbled throughout our meal. You don’t just give Truffle Fries back to the waitress. You finish them even if you are full. I mean, it’s truffle oil!

Now on to the main course which for my husband was actually a starter. He was sold on the Fried Calamari which came topped with sautéed peppers, onions and Napa cabbage. This was a bowl of perfection. The calamari was light and tender. It almost melted in your mouth.

Now for this woven shrimp. To get you thinking in the right direction, consider coconut shrimp with three times the flavor and ten times the creativity.

Woven shrimp is jumbo shrimp covered with shredded filo and fried until crispy. Good, but it gets even better. It is set on top of risotto. Creamy coconut risotto with edamame and corn. Then it’s topped with a chili sauce.

It’s brilliant, classic and a bit breathtaking all at the same time. Hands down my favorite dish at a restaurant.

So remember, Azur, Lexington, Woven Shrimp.

Birthdays aren’t complete without dessert. My mom is a fabulous cake decorator and has owned a shop for years, so growing up I was never without a beautiful birthday cake. Now that I’m all grown up, I usually still get one, but it’s when we are able to get together near my birthday, not always on it.

So I usually have a substitute the day of and this year my husband went to Twisted Sifter, a nearby bakery whom I also mentioned in my post about Danville, Kentucky. On a side note, I might have mentioned rather strongly that I wanted a cake from there.

Inside this beautiful cake was the seasonal flavor, pumpkin pecan with a cream cheese filling covered in buttercream frosting. We kept saying we would freeze part of it, but then we made an excuse everyday as to why we needed another piece. Needless to say, we’ll just have to order another when we get a craving because none made it past my birthday week!

Thirty-two was a big year for me. We got a new pug, I published my first book, I ran my 2nd half marathon and we visited a few new places. All of that has me more than ready to face 33 and excited to find out what’s in store!

You Might Also Like

  • simplynutritiouskate October 20, 2011 at 8:28 pm

    I cant believe ive never been there I need to go!

  • emily (a nutritionist eats) October 20, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    Happy Birthday!
    That restaurant sounds amazing, I would love all of those items and SO very true about truffle fries!

  • Danielle October 21, 2011 at 6:27 am

    Happy Birthday! I love Azur too. I’m sure you knew that the shrimp is award-winning? It won something her locally a couple years back. You can’t fool me, I know you ate outside so you’d have great natural light for your pictures (: It worked because they turned out great.

    Did your mom own a shop locally? What a great substitute, that cake looks and sounds divine!

  • Andrea October 21, 2011 at 8:05 am

    Ahhh truffle fries! I love them! I’m a sucker for a good fry and a good onion ring.

    That shrimp looks so tasty! What a unique presentation and concept. How much do I want coconut risotto now?

    Hooray for great birthday eats!

  • Intuitive Eggplant October 21, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    Happy birthday, and may your new year bring all good things your way!

    Attending the Incredible Food Show was the first I’ve spent any time in Lexington, and Jeremy Ashby’s demo made me want to check out Azur. After reading this post, I’m almost ready to make a special trip 🙂

  • Lori October 23, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    Kate – It is my favorite in town. Unique food and my kind of atmosphere at a good price, especially if you swing by for lunch.

    Emily – Thank you! I never knew fries could be so good. 🙂

    Danielle – Thanks! Ha, ha! I almost put that in the post too. You caught me. I’ll suffer through cold, wind and rain for natural light. 🙂 My mom’s shop is back in my hometown in Indiana.

    Andrea – The risotto really completes the dish. The coconut flavor of it is amazing with the shrimp.

    Intuitive Eggplant – Thanks so much. It is definitely worth the trip!

  • Juliana October 24, 2011 at 6:27 pm

    Feliz aniversario Lori…everything looks awesome…and I’d love to try the woven shrimp…very intriguing.
    Hope you have a great week e novamente parabens 🙂

  • Sonia (Nasi Lemak Lover) October 25, 2011 at 12:23 am

    Happy Belated Birthday Lori! Thanks for sharing this wonderful restaurant with all awesome dishes, sound too delicious!

  • Joanne October 27, 2011 at 4:12 am

    Happy belated birthday my love! This sounds like a birthday meal for the books. Delicious in every way!

  • Want to create beautiful food and product photos that you can't wait to share?!
    Discover your style, control the light, and shoot using the tool you know how to use (yes, your phone included). Learn about free resources, Live Q&As with Lori, and online courses you can take from anywhere in the world!
    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.