One afternoon last fall, I put on a little extra makeup and met two friends downtown for a dirty martini and some great conversation - all because I wanted to be a fill-in patron during the taping of a segment for a nationally aired television show. I am normally a very shy person, but to have the side of my face or even an ear poking into view on the Food Network was really a chance that I could not pass up. Fortunately, the taping was open to the public, otherwise I would have had to resort to some sort of classic sitcom disguise to get inside.

The restaurant awarded this network airing is a la lucie on North Limestone. This seventeen-year-old restaurant was selected to appear on The Best Of, a half hour show that recognizes "the best of" in different categories from all fifty states. In each episode, they visit five states and showcase different chefs and unique restaurants, like a la lucie.

It was chosen for an episode entitled The Best Of "Date Plates," which airs February 4th at 9:30 P.M., then repeats on February 9th at 2:00 P.M. and February 18th at 1:30 P.M.

It was really interesting to see behind the scenes. The restaurant is a long and narrow space that ends with the bar and the kitchen is behind that wall so they had priority patrons who were to be interviewed in the tufted booths along the side walls and those of us who had invited ourselves were packed at tables in the middle - NOT looking at the camera, of course.

The show's crew was small, only three people. I watched them interview Lucie Slone, the owner, in the dining room, and she was (naturally) completely calm, a true professional. I asked her later about the interview and she said that she had already been working with them in the kitchen, demonstrating the preparation of several entrees from the dinner menu: veal marsala, paella, smoked salmon with vinegar potato chips and chive Chantilly cream, and bourbon-Tabasco marinated pork chops. Which will be used in the show? We do not know.

Lucie Slone is not only the owner of her namesake but also, Pacific Pearl in Chinoe Centre on Chinoe Road, and Nadine's in Palomar Centre on Harrodsburg Road. In the ads, Pacific Pearl is an "Asian American Bistro" and Nadine's is "Contemporary American Cuisine" which contrasts with lucie's "Hip Continental Cuisine." Each is distinct and fun, but a la lucie, with its leopard print carpeting, large framed paintings, and warm colors, has a sensual feel about it, and is my favorite of the three by a slim margin.

With the opening of the new courthouse just across the street from a la lucie, this cosmopolitan restaurant is now open for lunch. The lunch menu is extensive and includes appetizer favorites from the dinner menu such as escargot served in a special cupped plate, broiled with brie and garlic butter, fried oysters surrounding wilted spinach, and lump crab cake resting on herbed crème fraiche.

You will not find your typical lunch salads. They are decadent, beautiful and difficult to choose. Maybe poached pears over greens with crumbled blue cheese and port dressing or the baby spinach leaves tossed in berry vinaigrette and topped with a grilled chicken breast and slices of warm brie. Even the Caesar salad, with its traditional creamy garlic dressing, is enhanced by the shiny-skinned white anchovies that rim the outside of the plate.

Sandwiches and entrees for lunch are ample and cover a variety of tastes: from the light fried eggplant and roasted tomatoes in pita bread, to the hearty, shaved tenderloin with peppers, mushrooms, onions, and swiss on French bread. Petite versions of some items on the dinner menu (bouillabaisse and beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes) are alongside newer items (veal liver and onions with a red wine sauce and chicken ferreri, a pan-fried chicken breast with bordelaise sauce, topped with artichoke dressing).

Dinner at a la lucie is always something to look forward to, whether it's for a special event and you are having the buttermilk fried quail or just meeting a friend for cocktails and enjoying the fallen goat cheese soufflé on greens with blueberry vinaigrette. Roasted lamb chops Provencal, pastas, and nightly specials are also available and it's sure to be presented beautifully.

Although almost all of the books are full for Valentine's Day, the restaurant is still taking a few reservations for that evening's meal - call soon if this is your destination.

It's exciting to see our local chefs represented nationally and, according to the Food Network representative that I spoke to, although there is not anything in the works at this time, they'll be back in our area soon. Be sure to watch The Best Of "Date Plates," and support our local eateries.

I will be excited to see if maybe my shoulder or the back of my head makes it on camera.