News Stew: Majid’s voice mails, Rocky’s brew bargain, Doll’s Market closing, the week’s best bite

Really? Majid said that? This news was a shocker to anyone who knows Majid Ghavami: Just recently, the owner of Majid’s in St. Matthews (also founder and former owner of Saffron’s and former co-owner of Volare) allegedly left death threat messages on the cell phone of an unidentified man who consequently filed federal charges. A WHAS-11 report gives the details, and they’re not pretty.

You can get this fab $4 breakfast burrito only at the Maria Louisa Salsa booth on summertime Saturdays at the St. Matthews Farmers Market. (Photo by Steve Coomes for Insider Louisville)

I know nothing about the situation other than my experience with Ghavami, which stretches back to 1981, when we both worked at Casa Grisanti. He was one of the nicest coworkers I’ve ever had, and in the 30 years since, I’ve never heard a bad word said about the man. Heck, he’s won “Best Host” in Louisville magazine at least twice, I believe.

Yo, Adrian, Rocky’s craft beer deal is the best! My wife and friends are none too happy I’m sharing this little secret, but hey, it’s my job to do so: On the last three days of every month, Rocky’s Sub Pub in Jeffersonville (715 W. Riverside Drive) sells all its draught craft brews for half price ($3 for 16 ounce pints) to ensure its kegs are emptied and to allow new, fresh product to replace it.

Proprietor Thomas Kaphammer’s taste in beer is excellent, and among the 30-odd brews always on tap, nearly all are names serious beer lovers will appreciate.

The trick to enjoying “the sale” fully is to get there early in that three-day stretch. Twice we’ve arrived on the last day of the month only to see several choice taps covered by an upside down cup—the sad and universal signal for a blown keg. Despite that, several good choices remained.

The end is nigh for Doll’s Market: Business First reported yesterday that Doll’s Market is closing. Owner John Doll sent a statement to the paper saying the boutique market couldn’t compete with larger chains, and that a $1.35 million expansion 2001 spurred sales in the short term, but ultimately became a heavy debt burden.

I’m always saddened by closures of local and independent businesses. But after shopping there many times for one of my old personal chef clients who lived nearby, I must say was never overly impressed with Doll’s selection, ambiance or service. And given its impending closure, it’s safe to assume others thought similarly.

I’ve read some online gnashing of teeth blaming big, bad chains for hammering Doll’s into submission, but let’s face facts: customers choose to go where they go for their own reasons. And last I looked, a lot of them are still going to small shops like Burger’s Market, Lotsa Pasta, Old Towne, The Wine Rack … independent operations that offer something that keeps customers coming back despite their higher-than-chain prices.

This week’s best bite is Maria Louisa’s breakfast burrito: You won’t find this at a restaurant or get it off a food truck. To get this darn tasty breakfast burrito you have to go to the St. Matthews Farmers Market (4100 Shelbyville Road on the Beargrass Christian Church campus) on Saturday mornings and head to the Maria Louisa Salsa booth.

For the incredibly affordable price of $4, you get a freshly made burrito made from a flour tortilla and filled with freshly scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, sausage, salsa and cheese.

Truth is, I was so impressed with the burrito that I never even tasted the company’s salsa, which is the whole point of them making burritos. Looks like I’ll have to return for further research. What a shame!