Welcome to the 1920's where bathtubs were made for one thing only. To make gin! (Ok, maybe two things.) Lots of Gangsters are showing up at "Cherry's Speakeasy" to talk about the turf war going on between the Corneolis and the Buttafucos. Just when we think things are going to settle down, in comes Harry Hyde, (the famous Russian mobster.) He sure does know how to make enemies! Deadly ones!I guess the local constable, Doyle Lonnegan, will come and solve the crime, but not before things get pretty wild! You'll meet crazy characters like Red E. Mix (the concrete salesman), Trixie (the owner of Cherry's) and many others before we find out who put "da finger" on Harry's Hyde! Was it Larry, The Rug? Was it Joey, The Lips? Or maybe J Edna Hoover?
Join us for "Bullets In The Bathtub" and don't forget to wear your zoot suit, gangster hat or flapper for added fun!

A Table For 1 With Two Glasses.

Its not an uncommon thing at Little Hills Winery to see Karen Sue sitting alone on a Friday evening with a bottle of Gewurtztraminer, a book and an empty glass on the opposite side of the table. You see, Karen used to come to the winery with her mother, Cindy, and share a bottle of "Gewurtz". Some Saturdays they would even come in and have a meal and some wine, then go do some shopping on Main Street together and come back and finish the day at Little Hills. Unfortunately, Cindy passed away unexpectedly this past winter. Now Karen comes to the winery to honor her mom and remember the enjoyable times they had together. Its always heartwarming to have Karen visit us and be a witness to the way she remembers and honors her mother. Cheers to you Karen and Cindy.

Red Hats Visit Little Hills

Evelyn Clark and the rest of the Sassy Crimson Charmers, the chapter from the Red Hat Society from St. Charles Missouri, enjoyed a pleasant lunch at Little Hills Winery on Saturday, March 14Th. They came and lit up the place with their trademark red hats and bright smiles. It was a pleasure having them join us on Saturday. Ms. Clark even shared with me a "trading card" with her picture and information about her and their chapter. She is known as the "Sparkling Queen Mum" in her chapter. On the back of Ms. Clark's card she had two quotes, "The break you get is the break you take." and "Grow old outrageously." I am not sure where the quotes originated, but i do think they are both great pearls of wisdom for us all. Come see us again ladies!

Cheers!

Sting To Produce Wine from Italy

Mar 12, 1:38 PM (ET)

ROME (AP) - After singing of "Fields of Gold," British rock star Sting is tending fields of grapes as he prepares to market red wine made at his country estate in Tuscany.

Some 30,000 bottles of wine produced on the property will go on sale in September, mainly in Britain and the United States, Paolo Rossi, the estate's manager, said Thursday.

In 1997 the former Police frontman purchased a 16th-century villa, called Il Palagio, in Figline Valdarno, a small village some 19 miles (30 kilometers) south of Florence.

Over the years he has turned the surrounding 860 acres (350 hectares) into an organic farm that also produces honey, olive oil, fruit, vegetables and Tuscan salami.

"When I came here to Figline I wanted first of all to feed my family," Sting said on Tuesday during an event at the village where the 57-year-old star spoke of the time he spends at Il Palagio.

"I also wanted to use agriculture with practices that would nourish the land and not deplete the land and so we went to traditional methods with farming, we got rid of pesticides, we shunned monoculture, and it works, the farm is also a garden," he said in the remarks broadcast by local television Rtv38.

Rossi did not reveal the name of the upcoming wine. He said it will be a 2007 vintage based on the Sangiovese grape, with a touch of Cabernet and Merlot.

A 2008 Chianti could also go on sale in the fall, but tests on the wine's aging must be conducted before a decision is made, Rossi told The Associated Press by telephone.

The wine, along with other products made on the Sting farm, will also be available at a shop on the property that the singer will inaugurate by June, Rossi said.

A New Beer Adventure

Left Hand, North Coast, Southern Tier. Beer will be coming at you from all directions on Saturday.

That’s when Moulin Events – located in the former Schnaider Brewery Malt House – will host the first St. Louis Centennial Beer Festival. Experts will be on hand to help you navigate more than 50 different beers. Look for your favorite local brews, as well as beers from Bear Republic, New Holland, Arcadia and so many more. Entertainment will be provided by the Melvin Turnage Band, and food and a full bar also will be available. Sauce pick: St. Louis Centennial Beer Festival. Where to get it: March 7 – 7 to 10 p.m., $25 plus tax, Moulin Events & Meetings (in the building with Vin de Set), 2017 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis

Info: 314.241.4949 or http://daily.thedailysauce.com/m/f52GdgeWpNMUmsO5FDV4RnsWNzQnncFaZnvq2Ylv-cjJdCn0Ug

A Note From Our Chef

Hello My name is Skip Larson, I am the Chef for Little Hills Restaurant and Winery. I have run the kitchen for 8 years. I have a dedicated staff to serve and help you in any way. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me.

Pictured from left to right: Darren O'day, Hank Bizelli, Chef Skip Larson and Taylor Harpst

Fine Wine in 2009! Come See Whats New

Little Hills Winery and restaurant is getting ready for the busy spring and summer season. We are hiring new staff and retraining our current staff to put a major emphasis on customer service in 2009. We have remodeled much of the inside and changes are still occurring. Come visit us to see the changes and enjoy our 4 new flat screen TVs with a fine meal and as always free wine tastings of our award winning Missouri wines as well as others from California and around the world.

A Demand Repeat Performance

No their name is not 2 guitars and 3 voices The CTR Trio that played at Little Hills on February 21st will be back by popular demand on March 21st. Come enjoy their accoustic covers of songs from the 70's, 80's and 90's.

Here is a great posting for all you Oscar lovers from the Women and Wine Blog

Februrary 2009

We're always torn at our house whether to join a group of friends to "watch the Oscars" which here on the West Coast means being ready starting at 3 p.m. You can't really watch as seriously with a group of LA movie fans - everyone's busy sharing their gossip, etc.

On the years that we do stay home, we pull out some champagne or make mimosas with some sparkly and load up on the accoutrement's of making a great bagel and lox sandwiches (farmers market tomatoes being the key ingredient). This year we're assuming that everyone is looking for an excuse to make a fun night out of staying home – so PICK you choice for the BEST PICTURE and follow the links for the Movies and Menus suggestions on how to create an experience that will make watching fun. And if you're getting together with a group and want to be really ambitious, try having a potluck with each of the pairings and vote on which you think are the BEST! If you're rooting for:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Getting older (or younger as the case may be) isn't a bad thing when you a contemplating an aged Bordeaux to go with your burger and fries. Wines of Bordeaux are some of our favorites for this pairing. Consider these vintages that are actually better buys right now 2001, 2003, 1999. If you're impatient, like Benjamin, try one from St. Emilion for a best price bet. And while the 2005s are still a little young for my palate, there's a lot to choose from in every price range. To see the Movies and Menus pairing for this film, click here.

Frost Nixon
Around the time of this interview Richard Sanford was hard at work in the Santa Ynez Valley – more specifically the now famous 'Sideways Trail' – with his Sanford Winery and put this area on the map. Richard has moved on from that operation and many new wanna be's are trying to make their mark in this area but his new Alma Rosa Winery has been winning accolades - try the Chardonnay at $18 or one of the fab Pinot Noirs. And if you want to feel like David Frost, drink some Veuve Clicquot or other 'retro' champagne or whip up a 70s cocktail like a Mai Tai. To see the Movies and Menus pairing for this film, click here.

The Reader
I loved this movie (although I'm not picking it as my Best Picture) and enjoy having a dialog with film buffs about whether the Ralph Fiennes character is paying back Kate Winslet at the end for the hurt she caused him or whether it's just closure. Set in 1995 Berlin, the movie flashes back to 1958 and whet my appetite for re-reading the Odyssey, Huck Finn and The Lady with the Dog. Whet your appetite with some well priced wines from Germany – they are readily available nationally and to see the Movies and Menus pairing for this film, click here.

Slumdog Millionaire
We all think this is the shoe-in for Best Picture and is of our absolute favorites of the season. Whether we'll rely on our favorite Indian for take-out – or attempt to make some at home – remains to be seen. And while the Indian wine industry is really starting to gain momentum, I don't think that most of us will find any selections in our local store so we're going with some Indian beers or some of the fabulous new 2007 Sauvignon Blanc selections to "cool the heat". To see the Movies and Menus pairing, click here.

Milk

MSNBC predicted that this film had a 1% chance of winning so don't rule it out as the big surprise of the night. Set in the early 70's in San Francisco, this was the time of the birth of the California Food and Wine Movement with folks like Jeremy Tower and Alice Waters emerging on the scene. Our lives wouldn't be the same without them – much the same as the gay movement really wouldn't have come into it's own without Harvey Milk. And while I was still drinking things like Franz Weber May Wine and Mateus in that era, let us not forget that the infamous Judgment of Paris (where CA wines beat out French ones) was taking place putting CA wine officially on the map. Brands like Freemark Abby, Heitz, Chateau Montelena, Chapellet, Silver Oak, Caymus and Beaulieu come to mind as the perfect way to "go back" to those times. For our Movies and Menus ideas, click here.

The Movie Music Connection What makes the soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire so great is how integral it is to the film. Even when heard out of context, the A.R. Rahmen score has the ability to bring you right back to this standout film, and the feeling the film evoked upon first viewing. This is the type of movie soundtrack we really love, with music that is so connected to the film that it's impossible to think about one without the other.

In the spirit of this type of movie music, we want to turn the spotlight on some scores from the past that are integral to the movies they come from. Alan Rudolph's The Moderns is a revisionist look at 1920's Paris, and the soundtrack composed by Mark Isham does a great job of bringing you back to that time. Ennio Morricone composed the music for a number of classics, including The Mission, Once Upon a Time in America, and a number of spaghetti westerns. Morricone's music really takes you into the movies. For a comprehensive compilation, we recommend Ennio Morricone's Film Music, Vol. 2. It's hard to think of the great Federico Fellini films without thinking of regular Fellini score composer Nino Rota. It really is impossible to separate Fellini from Rota music. We suggest checking out Fellini Rota: Music from the Classic Films of Federico Fellini.

Of course, classical composers aren't the only ones who can create music that connects the audience with a film. Who can think of The Graduate without thinking of Simon and Garfunkel? "Mrs. Robinson" wasn't the only song from the 1960's folk-rock act - their songs were heard throughout the film. The Weitz Brothers-directed About a Boy was punctuated with the music of singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy (aka Damon Gough). Finally, who can think of Purple Rain without immediately thinking of Prince? Although the film may not be considered a classic, the Prince and the Revolution soundtrack that was heard throughout the film most certainly is.

Tell a Friend about W&W We invite you to spread the word about Women & Wine and the new http://www.mmsend3.com/ls.cfm?r=193699536&sid=5927164&m=668957&u=WomenWine&s=http://www.womenwine.com.

Please feel free to visit the site, sign up to become a FREE member, and start posting original content today. And don't forget to Tell a Friend!
Enjoy the Oscars!
Julie

Quintin Howe, He Loves Customer Service!

Quintin Howe is our Service Manager and is one of our newer managers. You will most likely get a chance to meet Quintin on one of your next visits, he oversees the waiting staff and tries to visit as many tables as he can when he is here to be sure you are getting the service you expect during your dining experience. Quintin has plans of attending culinary school this summer with aspirations of becoming a traveling chef. He currently speaks French and English and plans to learn Spanish and Italian. Feel Free to email Quintin any time with your questions.

The Little Hills will be Alive With Music...

Blues Music that is.

Join us this Saturday the 21ST for Live acoustical blues music being played from our upstairs loft from 6:30 to 10:30 pm. Come enjoy the wine, the food and the music of "2 Guitars and 3 Voices".

Missouri Wine Fest

This past weekend I was at the Missouri Wine Fest at Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights, MO. It was a great way to spend the weekend, I spent about 6 hours straight both Saturday and Sunday pouring wine samples without a break. I was able to meet a lot of nice people, some of whom are regular visitors and others that have never been to Little Hills Winery in Saint Charles.

The event was a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I haven't heard any official numbers yet, but organizers said Saturday brought in record numbers in attendance. It will be interesting to get the final numbers and see if the economy had any bearing on how much wine people actually bought. I know we had to bring in more supplies for Sunday to meet the demand. We had lots of great comments concerning our Traiminet and our River's Bend wines. I will post again when I hear about the final attendance numbers and how much was raised for the charity.

This was the 23rd year for the event and I met loads of people who have been coming for at least 10 years in a row. I want to personally thank everyone for their contributions to a great organization and encourage everyone to have the giving spirit year 'round, especially in this economy.

Thanks again to everyone who stopped by to say hello. There were so many good wineries represented. I was too busy at the Little Hills booth to get around to sample other wines, but my wife was able to come share some of the offerings from other wineries.

Congrats to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for another successful Missouri Wine Fest!

Wanting to Host an Event?

Meet Jessica Hinderliter

As the Banquet Coordinator at Little Hills Restaurant, I handle all large banquets and parties. Everything from Rehearsal Dinners to Wedding Receptions, Baby Showers to Birthday Parties. We offer the perfect atmosphere for that special day. Indoor and outdoor seating, great food, a wonderful staff, and beautiful ambiance. Feel free to email me with any comments or questions.

Thank You, Jessica Hinderliter, Banquet Manager

Little Hills Restaurant

Who Knew? I Sure Didn't.

First of all, who would have ever thought of having a book signing event at a restaurant?

Authors Nancy L Holth and Diana L Weiss obviously like to think out of the box. They held the premier of their book and had a book signing at Little Hills Winery this past week to a great success for both the book and our restaurant. We have already had repeat visitors to the restaurant from the event as well as hiring one of the guests to be on our staff.

Below is an email Ms Holth forwarded us from one of their guests who was at the event.

Hi Nancy,I wanted to comment on your location choice for the book signing. One
word “Fabulous”. It was my first visit to Little Hills Winery and
Restaurant and I must confess, I was very impressed. In fact, when I
returned home that evening, I raved about the location to my husband and son
with promises to return with them. Great ambiance, great food, great wine, great
staff and last but not least, great lemonade. I was happy to see some veggie
items on the menu. I ordered the Stir Fry vegetables and let’s just say, if this
had been a crime there was no evidence left on the plate. It was divinely
delicious along with the salad. Incidentally, great book cover. I am still
reading the book so I will hold my comments for now. You were also very gracious
in the reception of your guests. You greeted and treated everyone as if they
were an old friend. I felt very welcomed. I look forward to your next book and
book signing with great anticipation.

Very best regards,Brenda English

Here is a brief description of the book:

Life Got You Down? Lighten Up with Life at the Lemonade
Stand by St. Charles Authors Nancy L. Holth and Diana L. Weiss This "brave,
wise and witty little book" will leave you with a smile. Through a collection of humorous real life tales, the "Lemonade Ladies" prove that it is possible after all, to make lemonade from life's lemons. Author Sam Horn calls it, "...inspiring, a smile-inducing book...read it and reap." while Karen Buxman, Director of the Humor Lab confirms, "The Lemonade Ladies have hit a grand slam with Life at the Lemonade Stand".

Hardcover w/book jacket 19.95 published by Lemon Tree Press, St. Charles, Missouri.

For more information
on how to order, contact onesaltshaker@hotmail.com.

Weekend Planner

Birthday party
What: Happy 200th Birthday, Abraham Lincoln!Why: A bash for the whole fam, complete with cake and hot tea.When: Sun., Feb. 8 – 1 to 3 p.m.Where: The Missouri History Museum, Lindell and DeBaliviere, St. LouisCost: FreeInfo: 314.746.4599 and www.mohistory.org

Performance
What: Cirque du Soleil presents SaltimbancoWhy: It’s a cirque-ular take on the urban landscape.When: Fri. and Sat., Feb. 6 and 7 – 3:30 and 7:30 p.m., Sun., Feb. 8 – 1 and 5 p.m.Where: The Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway, St. CharlesCost: $35 to $90Info: 1.800.293.5949 or www.cirquedusoleil.com

Romance
What: Duets for My ValentineWhy: From ballet to break dance, it’s gonna sizzle.When: Sat., Feb. 7 – 8 p.m.Where: The Roberts Orpheum Theater, 416 N. Ninth St., St. LouisCost: $15 to $60Info: 314.421.4400, www.ticketmaster.com or www.duetsformyvalentine.org

Spectacle
What: Devine Performing Arts presents the Chinese New Year SpectacularWhy: The Year of the Ox dazzles.When: Fri., Feb. 6 – 7:30 p.m., Sat., Feb. 7 – 2 and 7:30 p.m.Where: Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis campus, St. LouisCost: $30 to $120Info: 314.516.4949 or www.touhill.org

Theater
What: Avalon Theatre Company presents The Subject was RosesWhy: The subject is World War II and its affect on one American family.When: Fri. and Sat., Feb 6 and 7 – 8 p.m., Sun., Feb. 8 – 3 p.m. (The show runs through Feb. 15.)Where: Union United Methodist Church, 3543 Watson Road, St. LouisCost: $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniorsInfo: 314.351.6482 or www.avalontheatre.org
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Don't wait too long to plan for Valentines Day. We are fortunate however, to have it fall on a weekend this year. This is good for those of you who have a tendency to wait. But I wouldn't wait one second longer. Reservations for the big day, Saturday, are quickly being grabbed with only a few choice seats still available. We will still be serving our Valentines Specials Friday and Sunday. Reservations are highly recommended and only being taken by phone or in person at the restaurant.

(636) 946-9339.

Our Chef has come up with a very tasty and romantic meal suitable for lovers and first time dates. Below are the highlights and prices for this special weekend.

Appetizer Special:

Shrimp Dijonnaise- Sauteed Shrimp placed atop Vegetable Slaw Drizzled with Red Wine Dijon Cream Sauce $8.99

Entree Choices:

Beef Wellington- 8oz Fillet with Mushrooms Encrusted in Phyllo and Baked to Perfection. $24.99

Wine Recommendation - Little Hills Norton Reserve

Teriyaki Tuna Steak- Teriyaki Glazed Topped with Pineapple Salsa Served on top of Soba Noodles and Toasted Sesame Seeds. $18.99

Wine Recommendation - Little Hills Cobblestone White

Dessert Selection:

Creme Brulee' for Two - Vanilla & Chocolate Creme Brulee' $6.99

These Specials will be available Friday and Saturday after 4:00pm and Sunday 12:00 Noon.

Wine Tasting With My Mom

We do wine tastings all the time at Little Hills. People can taste any of our wines at the restaurant any time during the day or evening that we are open. Most of the wines we carry are also available for tasting at our gift shop down the street.

For this posting though I want to tell a story about my mom. My parents used to live outside of San Fransisco when I was a young adult. I can remember a trip to visit them that we took a bus tour of several wineries in Northern California over a weekend. We got to visit 3-4 wineries a day and tour each of their facilities. Each tour would finish in a tasting room where they had several samples ready in anticipation of the crowd from the tour bus. Every place served in small plastic wine glasses a serving that was slightly smaller than a half glass. Each place we went to my mom would always be the last one to finish her glass as everyone else was piling onto the bus. After two days of this routine being repeated, while we were visiting the last winery of the day and after sampling several glasses per winery, she decided she was not going to allow herself to be the last one done again. So she threw back her sampling of Merlot faster than a frat boy in a chugging contest and slammed her glass down on the table. Unfortunately, this winery chose to serve their samples in real glass. You guessed it, it shattered and sprayed glass all over the nice quiet tasting room of a 150 year old building and the whole room stopped to see where this noise came from.

Wine and Health

Of sommeliers and stomachs

Jul 3rd 2008From The Economist print edition


Red wine exercises its benefits before it enters the bloodstream
FINE food sings on the palate, but pairing it with the right wine creates a chorus. Among those in the know, the plum, chocolate and spice flavours of Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, Pinot Noirs and Sangioveses best accentuate the rich flavours of red meats. Now, however, a group of researchers led by Joseph Kanner of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has discovered that pairing red wines like these with red meat appears to be more than just a matter of taste. If the two mix in the stomach, compounds in the wine thwart the formation of harmful chemicals that are released when meat is digested.

The idea that red wine is actually good for your health is irresistible to the average tippler. But it appears to be true. In particular, red wines are rich in polyphenols, a group of powerful antioxidants that are thought to protect against cancer and heart disease by destroying molecules that would otherwise damage cells. How the polyphenols in wine exercise their beneficial effects, though, has been mysterious. That is because they do not seem to travel in any quantity from the stomach into the bloodstream.


The answer, Dr Kanner has found, lies in the stomach itself. The digestion of high-fat foods such as red meat releases oxidising toxins. One in particular, called malondialdehyde, is implicated in arteriosclerosis, cancer, diabetes and a host of other serious diseases. Dr Kanner suspected that the key to wine’s protective effect is when, precisely, it is consumed. He hypothesised that if the polyphenols arrive in the stomach at the moment when the fats are releasing malondialdehyde and its kin, then this might stop these toxic materials from getting any farther into the body.
To test this idea, he and his colleagues fed a group of rats one of two meals—either red meat from a turkey (a foodstuff shown by previous research to raise malondialdehyde levels in humans) or such meat mixed with red-wine concentrate. An hour and a half after the rats had eaten, they were killed. Dr Kanner then removed their stomachs and analysed the contents. As he reports in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the wine concentrate did indeed reduce the formation of malondialdehyde. It also cut the level of hydroperoxides, another group of oxidising agents that cause cell damage.


Based on these results, Dr Kanner and his colleagues argue that looking for antioxidants from wine in the bloodstream was a mistake; they do not need to be there to be useful. Their research also suggests that the habit of eating fruit at the end of a meal is a healthy one. Many fruits, too, are rich in polyphenols (wine is, after all, just fermented fruit juice). By treating them as dessert, these fruits arrive in the stomach at the point when meat-digestion is poised to do its worst—nipping the problem in the bud, as it were.

Free Coffee!
We like St. Louis Bread Co., aka BreadCo to locals and Panera to the rest of the country. The only problem was (and even the BreadCo folks’ll tell you this) the coffee; it never reached that “hey, let’s get a cup of coffee at BreadCo” level. In fact, if you wanted coffee, you got your food to-go and drove around for a Starbucks, or even McDonald’s. It was that bad. That changes today when BreadCo gives away – for free! – cups of its new light- and dark-roasted coffees based on new small-batch roasting and brewing processes. South and Central American beans form the light roast, while Costa Rican beans make up the dark roast. Get there early enough and you can sample BreadCo’s new breakfast sammiches and strawberry granola parfait. Patrons will be asked to donate a dollar to its Operation Dough-Nation Community Breadbox, which will be matched by each of the chain’s bakery-cafés. Wow, new coffee, breakfast samples and a buck toward a good cause? Makes the weather outside almost bearable. Sauce pick: Free, new coffee Where to get it: Wed., Jan. 28 – 6 to 9 p.m., all St. Louis Bread Co. bakery-cafesPrice: Free, with requested $1 donation to Operation Dough-NationInfo: http://daily.thedailysauce.com/m/0fbGdLII-g8kObGJPNhbW3oUaiAnELv_Mutw_DMouMalea-aZA

Famous Wine Quotes...

Let me know if I missed any,

Quotes on wine tasting and lot more. Enjoy!

"Three be the things I shall never attain: Envy, content, and sufficient champagne."Dorothy Parker

"I am drinking the stars!"Dom Perignon, on his first sip of bubbly Champagne

"What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?"W.C. Fields

"Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of good wine."St. Thomas Aquinas

"Wine in itself is an excellent thing."Pope Pius XII Airen

"One of the disadvantages of wine is that it makes a man mistake words for thoughts."Samuel Johnson

"It had the taste of an apple peeled with a steel knife."- Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)Sebastian Barnack, in Time Must Have a Stop, ch 12 (1944)Assessing a Roederer 1916 champagne.

"By making this wine vine known to the public, I have rendered my country as great a service as if I had enabled it to pay back the national debt."Thomas Jefferson

"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance."Benjamin Franklin

"He who loves not wine, women and song remains a fool his whole life long "Johann Heinrich Voss

"Wine is the most civilized thing in the world."Ernest Hemingway.

"I drink champagne when I win, to celebrate ... and I drink champagne when I lose to console myself."Napoleon

"If penicillin can cure those that are ill, Spanish sherry can bring the dead back to life." Sir Alexander Fleming

"Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized." Andre Simon, Commonsense of Wine

"Remember gentlemen, it's not just France we are fighting for, it's Champagne!" Winston S. Churchill, 1918

"Wine to me is passion. It's family and friends. It's warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It's culture. It's the essence of civilization and the art of living."Robert Mondavi, "Harvests Of Joy," Autobiography

"Drink a glass of wine after your soup and you steal a ruble from your doctor." Russian proverb

"A mind of the caliber of mine cannot derive its nutrient from cows."George Bernard Shaw

"You have only so many bottles in your life, never drink a bad one."Len Evans

"The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars." Benjamin Franklin

"Wine ...moderately drunken It doth quicken a man's wits,It doth comfort the heart." Andrew Boorde, 1562, "Dyetary of Helth"

"In Europe we thought of wine as something as healthy and normal as food and also a great giver of happiness and well being and delight. Drinking wine was not a snobbism nor a sign of sophistication nor a cult; it was as natural as eating and to me as necessary."Ernest Hemingway

"Wine has been a part of civilized life for some seven thousand years. It is the only beverage that feeds the body, soul and spirit of man and at the same time stimulates the mind." Robert Mondavi, "Harvests Of Joy," Autobiography

"Making good wine is a skill. Fine wine is an art." Robert Mondavi, "Harvests Of Joy," Autobiography

"A hard drinker, being at the table, was offered grapes for dessert. 'Thank you,' said he, pushing the dish away from him, 'but I am not in the habit of taking my wine in pills.'"Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, "The Physiology of Taste"

"Fermented beverages have been preferred over water throughout the ages: they are safer, provide psychotropic effects, and are more nutritious. Some have even said alcohol was the primary agent for the development of Western civilization, since more healthy individuals (even if inebriated much of the time) lived longer and had greater reproductive success. " Dr. Patrick McGovern, et al., The Origin & Ancient History of Wine

Cheese and Wine

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Culture: The Word on Cheese

I love cheese, of all types, and think it pairs well with so many foods. Ooey, gooey, melted Monterey Jack on a sandwich, a mound of shredded Parmesan on a salad, chunks of Manchego with some agave nectar, a pungent Gorgonzola ravioli. The options are endless, and eminently delicious.I love visiting a cheese shop, marveling at the incredible diversity of cheese, tasting the unfamiliar and unusual. Give me some bread, cheese and wine and I am very happy. Many times I am happy at a fine restaurant to have a cheese plate rather than a sweet dessert.Cheese and wine share commonalities, and there is much you can learn about both topics. I have read a few books about cheese but know there is much more I still don't know about cheese. And I want to learn more. Thus I was quite pleased to find a new resource, an intriguing magazine devoted to cheese.The premiere issue of Culture: The Word on Cheese has just been released and this is how they describe themeselves. "With every issue you will discover the flavors and textures of great cheeses. You will learn about new cheeses and cheesemakers. You will read about the stories behind the cheeses you love. You will finally have a place to turn to satisfy your passion for all things cheese."I picked up the Winter 2008 ($6.99) at a local Barnes & Nobles book store. This is apparently a special introductory price as it is usually priced at $12.95 an issue. The magazine will be published quarterly and is slightly larger than a normal-sized magazine, yet smaller than a magazine like Wine Spectator. It is a glossy magazine, of 96 pages, with plenty of large pictures inside, many quite enticing images of cheese.Yet this is not just a pretty, but shallow, magazine. I found plenty of interest within the magazine, a wide variety of informative articles. There are some brief news items and trivia. Did you know that Thomas Jefferson was the first US President to receive a massive block of cheese as a gift? I didn't. I was also amazed to learn that cheese consumption in the U.S. increased 106% between 1976 and 2006. In comparison, wine consumption during that same period only increased 38.2%. It certainly seems that the popularity of cheese is growing at an incredible rate.Read about Bob Wills, a Master Cheesemmaker of Cedar Grove Cheese in Wisconsin. Find recommendations for cheese options in San Francisco. Learn about cheese making in Ireland. There is even a Centerfold, though there is no nudity, just a highlight of Winnimere cheese. I especially enjoyed the article on pairing grower Champagne and sparkling wine with cheese as well as the informative essay on the various types of blue cheese.Though I am not a beer person, you can find a brief item on pairing beer and cheese. Some of the recipes in the magazine also intrigued me, including the Farmstead's Cheesemonger's Mac 'n Cheese and Pleasant Ridge Gougeres. You will even find dessert recipes that use cheese. I even ended the magazine with a laugh, amused by an essay in their Stirrings column, the tale of a cheese cart which had a terrible accident.Though some warn of the demise of print magazines, there is also ample evidence that niche magazines stand the best chance of longevity. This is a niche magazine which I suspect will survive and thrive. It covers a fascinating topic, cheese, and has little serious competition, except for food magazines which may occasionally publish a cheese article.I found their articles to be well written, interesting, and supported by some beautiful photography. It is not pretentious and caters to all types of cheese lovers, who will likely learn much within its pages. I heartily recommend this magazine and I will eagerly await its next issue.
Posted by Richard A. at 6:00 AM
Labels: beer, cheese, magazine, Wines

5 comments:
Anonymous said...
Enjoyed this very much ... you should post on the food blog at winecountry.com. Thanks for sharing.
January 22, 2009 10:02 AM
Greg Goode said...
That’s monstrously exciting. I’m interested in everything concerning cheese.... In fact I firmly believe the future should be free of skinnyness and dieting. Instead it should be populated by chubby cheese lovers everywhere.
January 22, 2009 10:10 AM
scottmilhous.com said...
Wine and cheese lovers both know and appreciate the fine smells of both items.Thanks for another fine post.http://littlehillswinery.blogspot.com
January 22, 2009 6:53 PM
Liza S. said...
Cheeeese! I call it my Waterloo! I love everythign about it! In SF, there is an actual Cheese School. Iwent to classes there. Now, I much forn this new magazine! THanks!
January 22, 2009 10:18 PM
Richard A. said...
I am glad to see so many other cheese lovers coming forward. May need a Twitter Taste Live cheese event!
January 23, 2009 9:14 AM

The Passionate Foodie: Culture: The Word on Cheese

The Passionate Foodie: Culture: The Word on Cheese

Watch Super Bowl XLIII Smoke Free

We added our 4 Flat screen TVs just in time to enjoy the NFL playoffs. I have worked behind the bar for each weekend of the playoffs and each week we have drawn a slightly larger crowd.I don't know if its just the normal buildup leading to Super Bowl XLIII or if it has something to do with the St. Louis connection to the Football Cardinals or Kurt Warner, but I have noticed more people coming to Little Hills to watch football. One other thing hit me in the middle of the last game and that is how nice it is to be able to sit in that surrounding with other fans enjoying the game and not have to deal with a smoke filled room. Yes it is possible to enjoy a porting event with a couple of beers, a cocktail or of course a glass of wine and not go home smelling like an ashtray. I am looking forward to this week's game from Tampa Bay and seeing if Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals can move the football against the fierce Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

Wine Time

Join us for Wine Time Little Hills style...

Monday -- Friday 3pm. to 6pm.

Special Complimentary Appetizers, All other Appetizers Half Price and Wine Flight Specials and Free Wine Tasting.

Free WI-FI.

4-Flat Screens for News, Weather and Sports.

$10.00 Buckets of Beer.

Wednesdays Kids eat Free

The Missouri Winefest 2009

I am proud that we are part of the Missouri Winefest 2009 being held at Westport Plaza during Valentines Day weekend. We will be one of the featured Missouri Wineries participating. The event will be held in the indoor pavilion with live entertainment.

Live Musical Entertainment:

2/14--Teddy Presberg

2/15--Billy Engle

Wines will be available to purchase




Entrance fee: $20.00

(includes commerative wine goblet and tickets to sample wines)

For additional information call (314) 576-7100

http://www.westportstl.com/

THE MISSOURI WINEFEST

Sponsored by:

Proceeds Benefit:

Flat Screens Added to Little Hills Winery

We are very excited about adding 4 flat screen TVs to our restaurant.
We have 1 large screen behind our bar and 3 others strategically placed throughout the restaurant.

Each of these TVs provides an excellent opportunity to stay current with news, weather and sports during your dining experience without interfering with your meal or conversation. Owner David Campbell is very careful to make sure the channels selected are appropriate for our customer base and that the volume is only turned on during important news or major sporting event. Other times, you will still be able to listen to the music you have grown accustomed to listening to when you visit us at Little Hills Winery.

Another Great Customer Story to Share

I always enjoy taking some time to meet and talk to as many of our customers as possible. Unfortunately when we are busy, that isn't always possible. Recently though, one evening before our dinner rush, I was able to meet a man and visit with him. His story was very interesting and he gave me permission to share it here. His name is Gene Scheiter and he lives down in the Lake of the Ozarks area. Mr. Scheiter is a Driving instructer and he teaches a driving safety program all over the state. In his travels, he has begun an interesting quest to collect bottles of wine from each and every one of the 75 registered wineries in Missouri.

On the visit to Little Hills, he selected a nice bottle of our Main Street Red, which is a nice chilled semi sweet red.

Mr. Scheiter's began this journey after first having an interest in collecting beer bottles and cans from around the world. He has been on his beer collecting treasure hunt for almost a year. He currently has between 1300-1400 beer bottles and cans, all empty, in his collection. He got the idea for collecting full wine bottles after visiting a micro brewery that also made their own wine and thought it would be fun to collect only Missouri Wine. His wife isn't as excited about his hobby as he is and therefore his collection is forced to live in his basement. He is wanting to build display cabinets to show off his collection.

His visit to Little Hills gave him his 30th bottle. When he left our winery and restaurant in Saint Charles he promised me to come back sometime soon with his wife so he could have her meet someone who didn't think his hobby was so strange.

1 showing left!

"Mayhem in Mayberry" Murder Mystery Dinner

Last Week's Event was a huge success despite the colder outside temperatures. It was plenty warm inside as customers attended the SOLD OUT showing of, "Mayhem in Mayberry" at the Little Hills Winery in Saint Charles, Missouri. Performed by the cast from Bissell Mansion. Be sure to get your reservations today for this coming Friday's showing.

January 23rd - REGISTER NOW
LESS THAN 10 SEATS REMAIN

Time: Appetizers served at 6:30 pm / Program begins at 7:00 pm

Cost: $34.95/person + Tax (Includes Gratuity)
Space is Limited so Advance Reservation and Prepayment is Required.
Complete the Online Registration form or call our Event Coordinator, Julie Eudy, at 314-960-6144 to make your Reservation.

Note: For reservations you will need to provide the names of each person in your party, their entree preference and identify any food allergies they may have.

MENU:
Appetizer - buffet of vegetables and dips, fried artichoke hearts with a garlic and parmesan dipping sauce, southwestern chicken brushetta
Salad - mixed greens, roasted vegetables, almond goat cheese with a roasted garlic balsamic vinegarette.

Entree - grilled airline chicken breast with dried cherry wine glaze or beef medallions with grilled portabella mushrooms topped with Little Hills steak butter. Both served with roasted potatoes.

Dessert - norton poached pears and apples served over ice cream with fresh mint.

Join us for the 10th Annual Mayberry-fest. Everyone is looking forward to the highlight of this event - the Miss Mayberry Contest. Sheriff Andy Trailer is the judge, so the contestants will do their best to "influence" Andy. In fact, Andy has received threatening phone calls, letters, and telegrams from fans of all the contestants. Making the wrong choice could be hazardous to Andy's health.

Not to worry! Deputy Blarney Fife is the head of security and the first alternate judge in the event Sheriff Andy can't perform h is duty. If anything happens to Blarney, this year's second alternate judge is Jethro Boding from Beverly Hills (via Arkansas.)

The contestants will be judged on beauty, poise, cookin' skills and the new category this year - hog callin'. Will the next Miss Mayberry be the vivacious Dazey Doof from Hazzard County? Or the beautiful hillbilly, Elly May Klumpett? Or will it be the lovely Lois Lame from Smallville? Don't count out the charming Paris Hoosier from Hoosierville. She's the main reason the rain stops at Petticoat Junction!Sheriff Andy, Deputy Blarney and Aint Bee invite you to join the fun and mayhem in Mayberry cause it won't be the same without y'all.

This interactive comedy/murder mystery is presented with a 4-course meal to DIE for! Make your reservations now because it would be a CRIME to miss out on this much fun!

The Story of Little Hills Winery

The first recorded deed of the Little Hills property dates back to 1805, one year after Lewis & Clark arrived. The land was purchased for $1,500 with consideration of $500 in animal skins. For approximately 10 years it housed a pharmacy, and eventually became a meat locker and processing plant. During Prohibition, bootleg whiskey was sold out the back door. After Prohibition it became a tavern called The Golden Buffet and remained as such until Little Hills purchased it in 1986.


At Little Hills we offer so much more than just wine! Visit our restaurant and dine in beautiful outdoor garden terraces or intimate indoor seating in our 1820s building. We now serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Stop by the wine bar and savor the moment by tasting free samples of our award-winning wines. Featuring over 20 wines produced from French-hybrid and native grapes, all grown in Missouri.


At the Little Hills wine shop, you'll find unique custom gift baskets for all occasions. The gift shop also carries a huge selection of Missouri wines, and wine-related items, stoppers, openers, wine and grape themed clothing, chillers, acrylic and crystal glasses.

Obama Cookies

Getting ready to celebrate the big presidential inauguration on Tuesday? Attending your own inaugural ball, are you? Well, you just can’t show up empty-handed. Lubeley’s Bakery has you covered. Long known for its German pastries, amazing wedding cakes, pies and themed cookies, the 72-year-old shop baked a special batch of its delicious butter cookies frosted with either edible photos of Barack Obama or the presidential seal. Disgruntled Hillary supporters can choose from the American flag or the Democratic donkey. Think these fun treats will make you the star of the ball? You betcha!

Sauce pick: Inauguration Cookies

Where to get it: Lubeley’s Bakery and Deli, 7815 Watson Road, Shrewsbury

Price: From 99 cents to $1.99 per cookie.

Info: 314.961.7160 or visit http://daily.thedailysauce.com/m/fd4GdQ3qfOO30Stgf22AcyHRMEwnNWpY_P8F8JNQvX7AGn81Zw

U.S. Wine Consumption Grows for a Record 15th Consecutive Year,

but Momentum Slows Articles Wine Spectator

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Leading Wine Appreciation Site Uncorks New Facebook Application

Facebook Gets CorkSavvy: Share Your Wine Favorites with the Online Wine Journal



Nov 19, 2008 8:00 AM CST
NEW YORK– (BUSINESS WIRE) — CorkSavvy (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corksavvy.com&esheet=5835351&lan=en_US&anchor=www.corksavvy.com&index=2), the website where wine lovers get savvy, just launched a Wine Journal and Virtual Bottle Rack for Facebook. With CorkSavvy for Facebook, users can share notes on wines they’ve tasted or purchased with anyone across their social network.

CorkSavvy brings wine lovers a suite of tools that both educate and entertain. Users can keep a detailed wine journal so tasting notes of memorable vintages and dining experiences are always close at hand. The site is enabled for mobile use, so it’s easy to send notes and photographs directly to the CorkSavvy Wine Journal while at a favorite restaurant or wine tasting using an iPhone, Blackberry or other Web-enabled mobile device. CorkSavvy users can also create a virtual cellar, reflecting the wines in their collection. And now both can be shared with Facebook friends anywhere in the world.

“Embracing social networks extends CorkSavvy’s reach to people who may not already be avid wine lovers, but who may be intrigued by a friend’s notes on a particular tasting experience,” said Jill Sloane, spokesperson for CorkSavvy. “At the same time, people who already enjoy wine will easily find out about new places to go and wines to try of which they might not otherwise be aware. CorkSavvy’s new Facebook application makes it easy to share the joys of wine with anyone.”

About CorkSavvy
CorkSavvy.com, the website where wine lovers get savvy - is for wine lovers and connoisseurs alike. Compile a virtual bottle rack and keep track of dining experiences with tasting notes in the wine journal. CorkSavvy also contains a wealth of features including interviews with leading sommeliers, chefs and winemakers, wine related news stories, a Q & A forum, a calendar of events, wine lists from leading restaurants, a comprehensive vineyard listing, advice on food and wine pairings and a searchable vintage database.

CorkSavvy

Jamie Goldman, 877-444-4314

jamie@corksavvy.com

A Nice Story About a Customer

The other day I had time to stop and visit with a customer. He was from out of town on business with Edward Jones and had stopped in for a glass or two of our Norton wine with his dinner of lobster ravioli.

It seems that he travels often and likes to find places similar to ours when he travels. He likes the older buildings with exposed brick that have a personality. He tries to stay away from the "cookie cutter" chain restaurants and look for a place like Little Hills with character. He is a regular visitor to St. Louis and Saint Charles and was interested in learning about other places similar to Little Hills. I shared with him the idea of the Soulard Market area and places like The Sidney Street Cafe. I also suggested a visit to the dog town area. he was already familiar with The Hill and all of its nice places to eat.

He will be visiting our restaurant again on his next visit to town. Does anyone have any other suggestions I can pass on to him? Leave a comment below that way everyone will have the opportunity to see your suggestions as well.

Here is an article I found written in 2006 on the Little Hills Winery from stl Commerce Magazine Online. Although some of the prices and menu choices have changed, a lot of the information and sentiment is accurate.

Little Hills

Winery & Restaurant

By Sarah B. Smith

The Little Hills Winery and Restaurant combines a unique and enjoyable fare, local wines and a warm atmosphere for a great ‘dining and wining’ spot on South Main Street in Historic St. Charles.

Since they purchased the restaurant eight years ago, owners David and Tammy Campbell have grown the St. Charles establishment to include not only the restaurant at 501 South Main Street, but also a working winery, as well as a wine gift shop, just a short walk down the street at 710 South Main, and a nearby cavern where much of the bottling is done. Their vineyard is in Eiola, Mo., which is where they grow their Norton and Vignole grapes. If you’re adventurous, you can purchase a wine making kit at their shop and create your own wine.

You’ll find an inviting and warm atmosphere at the restaurant. Their three level outdoor terrace provides a delightful dining setting and a great people-watching venue. Open fire pits provide both charm and warmth during chilly fall days and evenings. With exposed brick walls, the interior of the restaurant provides an intimate and charming dining setting for up to 100. A small bar provides a casual setting for wine tasting.

Whether stopping for an afternoon snack after shopping along the historic cobblestones of Main Street, or an intimate spot for a quiet dinner, you’ll not be disappointed with their appetizers. Starting at $5.99, Little Hills Winery and Restaurant offers some unusual and delicious options to go along with a selection of their own wines. For example, have you ever tried fried pickle spears? Or asiago and provolone cheese coins, or fried red jalapenos? In addition to these selections, the Winery’s appetizers include baked Brie, as well as a wide array of sausage and cheese selections. All great choices, especially when paired with one of their wine creations, such as Traminette or Riesling.

"What’s interesting about our menu is that it is designed around our wine,” explains David Campbell. For instance, with their popular Little Hills style grilled beef fillet, which is served with a Cabernet sauce, Campbell suggests the Winery’s Norton dry red. With their Cobblestone White, Campbell recommends the lobster ravioli. “It’s semi-dry, with lots of citrus fruit, which brings out the complexity of the lobster,” explains Campbell. Their southwest chicken, served grilled with black bean corn salsa and pepper jack cheese goes well with Seyval. Entrees range from $12.99 to $23.99.

Lunch selections start at $7.99 and include an appealing array of sandwiches, soups and salads. The chicken and Brie sandwich features a grilled chicken breast topped with melted Brie, bacon, and apple onion marmalade. Campbell suggests their Main Street white wine with this selection.

Little Hill’s veggie wrap is another popular lunch item. With its sautéed mushrooms, tomato, lettuce and onions and a sun- dried tomato basil dressing, Campbell recommends the Mon Fils, an off dry red. The Cobb salad and grilled chicken breast salad are some of the more popular lighter choices. A glass of Rivers Bend is a great compliment.

Little Hills wines by the glass are priced starting at $5.25, with bottles available for $16.99 to $28.99.

While Little Hills offers several dessert selections, Campbell’s favorite is the strawberry shortcake. “It’s simple and delicious,” Campbell boasts. Just succulent strawberries served on a generous slice of buttery pound cake and whipped cream. At $4.99, their triple layer “Chocolate Suicide” cake and Snicker Blitz (cheesecake topped with chocolate caramel and nuts) are also delicious endings to your meal.

On weekends, Little Hills serves an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet.

So if you are looking for a unique opportunity to experience premium Missouri wines and delicious dining in one of the region’s most picturesque al fresco settings, include the Little Hills Winery and Restaurant on your list of places to visit.