Origin Lexington Announces New Hotel Restaurant Name, 33 Staves

LEXINGTON, KY. (July 15, 2019) – With the opening of its boutique hotel in Lexington nearing, the Origin Hotel team announced the hotel’s chef-driven restaurant has been renamed 33 Staves. 33 Staves refers to the number of wooden stave pieces needed to form a full-size oak barrel used to distill bourbon.

The team also announced Bret Hall will be executive chef and Katy McDaniel will be restaurant manager at 33 Staves. The Kentucky natives will curate the food and beverage offerings at the restaurant in Lexington’s newest independent hotel, which The Thrash Group is developing.

“When we originally hired Bret and Katy, we worked through the creative process of designing the restaurant’s persona and recognized an opportunity to give the restaurant a new name that better resonated with the vast history of Kentucky,” said Michael Russell, general manager of Origin Lexington. “The name, 33 Staves, also provides our staff with an interesting storytelling angle.”

33 Staves will feature a focal barrel wall displaying repurposed Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels stacked on reclaimed rickhouse wood beams, which originated from the Jim Beam Distillery.

Bret Hall, originally from northeastern Kentucky, has had a passion for cooking since he learned from his grandparents as a child. Hall moved to Lexington in 2005 and after attending the University of Kentucky for a short period, realized his interest was in the culinary industry. He launched his career with Bluegrass Hospitality Group. After working at Lexington’s premier steakhouse Malone’s for 10 years, six of which were in managerial roles, Hall worked at Tin Roof in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Now he has returned to Lexington to curate a unique Kentucky-inspired dining experience.

“Over the past two and a half years, Lexington has grown tremendously and is quickly transforming into a foodie community,” said Hall. “Through Origin Lexington, I have the opportunity to be creative and help build a new restaurant brand from scratch. I’m really looking forward to serving the eclectic mix of visitors The Summit at Fritz Farm attracts.”

Currently, Hall is working to finalize the menu. Offerings will include a sticky bun with citrus and bourbon icing; chicken and waffles with sorghum and local bacon syrup; the harvest bowl with farro, locally sourced vegetables and a spicy sesame dressing; and 33 Staves’ signature cocktail The Summit, a homage to the Manhattan with a custom twist.

Katy McDaniel is originally from Lexington, Ky., and now lives in Midway. McDaniel began working in the food and beverage industry at age 15 as a hostess and eventually worked her way up to general manager. After nearly a decade, Katy transitioned into a new role with a small company as a wine sales representative. She opened her own wine shop in Midway in 2017 and gained a sommelier certification through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) in 2018.

“While I loved owning my own business, I missed the hustle of working in the restaurant industry and getting to meet new people,” McDaniel said. “In partnership with Bret and the Origin Lexington team, we are bringing a one-of-a-kind food and beverage program to life at 33 Staves, using local ingredients as much as possible.”

33 Staves, which was initially called The Still, will feature a seasonally crafted, southern-inspired menu deeply rooted in Kentucky history. To create the authentic offerings at the restaurant, Hall is curating the menu from a collection of Kentucky cookbooks that have been passed down from generation to generation.

“We want to continue propelling Lexington forward as a great place to visit with celebrated local cuisine,” said Hall.

33 Staves is located in the lobby of Origin Lexington at The Summit at Fritz Farm and features a separate street-level entrance. The restaurant also includes a private dining room which can host up to 30 guests for intimate gatherings, from rehearsal dinners to birthday parties. 33 Staves will be open Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The staff is currently seeking around 25 front-of-house employees.

33 Staves will participate in The Summit at Fritz Farm’s Sip & Shop program, an open-container policy that allows guests to purchase alcoholic beverages from select restaurants and bars to enjoy in branded to-go cups while strolling and shopping at the center.

The Summit at Fritz Farm is Lexington’s only mixed-use development and features 60 retailers and restaurants, the state’s first food hall, office space, multifamily apartments and greenspace for community programming.

In anticipation of the grand opening, Origin Lexington will host a social media contest between July 15 and 21 for the chance to win a prize package featuring local items, including a $100 gift card to 33 Staves. For entry rules and participation, follow the hotel on Instagram and Facebook. To learn more about Origin Lexington and 33 Staves, visit originhotel.com/lexington/.

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