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.

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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.