My Wine Education

Guest Post: A Culinary Tour of St. Louis (or, where the locals eat)

While Kevin & I are in Alaska, we've asked some friends and colleagues to post on their wine loves, wine experiences and more. For this post we welcome Kara Christopher, who has been a close friend for countless years.  Like me, Kara started blogging around the turn of the century. It's been a while! Kara lives in St. Louis and is, without a doubt, a foodie. She's also a foodie on a mission to get healthy, although you wouldn't know it from the culinary tour on which she's about to take you. St. Louis is a fun weekend trip - I've done it - and I highly recommend eating where the locals eat. Thanks Kara!
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While Shel is away in the wilds of Alaska, allow me to take you on a brief culinary tour of St. Louis. These are some of my favorite places, not necessarily the ones you'd be told to visit if you were in town for a weekend. Until now, at least.

I should probably tell you who I am, though. I'm Kara & I've been blogging about life, knitting, and everything else for a little over 5 years at StarMonkeybrass.com. The name is a play on the Beastie Boys Brass Monkey & came about because I like monkeys. I am a knitter, music geek, graduate student in biostatistics, and I like to eat. When I travel, I don't want to eat at chains, at least not ones that I can also eat at in St. Louis.

So let's say you find yourself in St. Louis for a weekend and you'd like a little guidance on where to eat. If you happen to be driving up from the south, I'd recommend a stop at Dexter BBQ for lunch. There are several locations, but the one in Cape Girardeau is about a mile off the highway and probably the easiest to find. I heartily recommend the sammich with slaw on it. *Drool*

Once you get into town and settle in on Friday night, you're gonna be hungry. I'm sending you to the Highway 61 Roadhouse & Kitchen in Webster Groves. Let's be completely honest: you're here for the fries. The Roadhouse Fries. They are a masterpiece in the world of potato products: waffle fries covered in pulled pork, a creamy cheese sauce, applewood smoked bacon, and scallions. And this is just the appetizer. I can recommend the burgers & pulled pork as entrees if you're feeling traditional. I love a good burger & the folks in the kitchen definitely know how to make one. I'd also recommend going with a side other than the fries since you just gorged on the ones in the appetizer. For a side, I'm a fan of the sweet potato pie. As tempting as it is to order the banana pudding for dessert, don't do it. You'll get dessert in about 20 minutes.

Once you've recovered from the pork-tastic goodness at Roadhouse, head back to Southwest City and stop off at Ted Drewes. There are two locations, but the original is on Chippewa. It's legendary around here and a Friday night is going to be busy. But it's so worth it - I swear they have the best banana split in St. Louis, although the concretes are what most people go for. My favorites are the Hawaiian & the All Shook Up (peanut butter cups & bananas).

Las Vegas: Simon at the Palms

My first night in town, I met up with some of the more party-prone folks at the conference and we hit the town. Our conference was at the Rio, off-strip, so it was natural that we'd head to the nearby Palms. If you follow any celebrity gossip, you know that the Maloofs own the Palms and they've somehow made it a celebrity haven. All I knew was that I was hungry.

We ate at Simon at Palms Place. Palms Place is the adjacent Palms tower (every casino seems to have a special second tower now) that you access via the SkyTube. I thought the SkyTube would be quite exciting, but it's more of an airport people mover. Rather boring for such a trendy hotel.

Simon is on the 6th floor of Palms Place. It's adjacent to a gorgeous pool area - closed in the winter - and surrounded by palm trees and fireplaces on the outside. Inside it boasts stark, clean, and modern lines. An interesting features was a sort of greenhouse in a far room, which was obviously growing herbs and assorted greens.

The by-the-glass wine list was okay, but not overly impressive. I ended up with a 2007 Ferrari-Carrano Sauvignon Blanc because I knew I could trust it. It ran me about $11/glass. The wine list was small but focused. I particularly liked their selection of organic and biodynamic wines. The one that stood out was the "Clor Sacres" Savennieres from Nicolas Joly, which costs $75. To give you an idea of the markups, the bottles in the Spanish section cost about $20 over the retail price. I suspect that was the sweet spot on the list, and I'm rather encouraged by that.

The menu was eclectic. I'm not a food blogger, but I'd say it was nouveau American cuisine + sushi. Chef Kerry Simon brings in fresh, locally grown products and in many cases, organically grown. I've read that since, but it was also pretty obvious to me just from the menu. As many of you know, I'm a complicated eater. I'm picky and I have food allergies. There was plenty on the menu that I would eat, which I found refreshing.

I ordered an endive salad (sans walnuts) followed by citrus-braised short ribs with corn tempura and a bed of grits. It's the first time I've ever had grits and I doubt I'll ever find them quite so soft, fluffy, and un-grit-like again. It was excellent. Several folks at the table had ahi tuna and sushi, both of which received rave reviews.

As far as service, I found the front waiter (er, waitress) to be rather condescending and rather lacking in customer service. That said, the back waiter was excellent. We chose not to have dessert but noticed a table next to us enjoying a huge serving of Cotton Candy. No kidding. We grabbed it and joked around, so the back waiter brought us a small serving of our own Cotton Candy, no charge.

Overall, I rate Simon with a , despite the fact I was so turned off by our server. After all, the rest of our service, from the bus boys to the hostess, was excellent.

Following Simon, we trekked back to the original Palms tower and visited the Playboy Club, which was surprisingly old-school and classy. Yes, both the waitresses and the dealers were wearing bunny outfits. It was a throwback to the '60s and didn't bother me in the least. We followed that up with a trip upstairs to the Moon nightclub. It wasn't my thing at all (a little too techno when I'm all about Sinatra) but I did enjoy the retractable roof and the gorgeous views of the mountains and Las Vegas.

View a complete slideshow of the Palms, including Simon and the Playboy Club here or on Flickr.

How to Host a Party (and not do anything)

I hosted a small dinner party the other night for several couples. Had Kevin let me, I'd have invited about 8 more people, but I had to cut back. (So if you're a dear friend, don't be mad at me. I picked couples I thought would gel nicely and well, our house only holds so many people.)

Usually when we host a party, we shell out at least $500 in food and alcohol. Then we kill ourselves trying to make everything from appetizers through to dessert. Kevin often spends about half of the party in the kitchen and sometimes the food goes awry. This time we tossed that entire model out the window.

I did two things differently. First, I asked everyone to bring an appetizer or a bottle of Spanish wine. This worked beautifully, as we ended up with a gorgeous cheese plate and several dips. Kevin also prepared some mini quiches, baked cheese sticks, and mini herbed goat cheese balls. Good Spanish wine can be found for under $15 - in many cases under $10 - so we weren't asking our guests for too great of an expense.

Everyone brought a bottle or two of wine, which was fantastic. In fact, we emptied 10 bottles plus a magnum. I kept the wine out on our bar and just let everyone serve themselves.

Wine and appetizers. So far, an easy party with very little expense to us. But what about dinner? Well, for dinner we brought in Hector Esteve of Paella at Your Place. Hector arrives with his burner, a giant paella pan, all the ingredients and a great personality, and then he whips up some paella. I was worried about the small size of our kitchen, but Hector requires only a stovetop and a small countertop. Alternatively he can use a garage, or in the warmer months, your deck or patio.

We had a sausage and chicken paella, but he made a portion of it meat free for our two vegetarian diners. He offers other paella combinations of various meats and seafoods as well. Hector also arrives with a great salad and bread that starts off your meal. Once the paella is ready, he brings it to the table and sprinkles it with sherry. Alcohol makes everything better, yes?  Then he serves the paella to your guests.

Hector left our kitchen even cleaner than it was when we arrived. Outside of the appetizers, Kevin and I had no need to even be in the kitchen. It was the easiest party I've ever put together and because of that, one of the most fun. I could actually enjoy my guests instead of worrying about feeding them. In fact, we wouldn't have been in the kitchen at all except that everyone was fascinated with the paella process. Hector will tell you about it, step by step, if you wish, with all the patience in the world.

Hector requires a minimum of 10 people (those pans are big you see) and starts at $10 per person. We fed 15 people, although he can feed a party of up to 150. At those prices, feeding 15 people paella is a cheaper option for us than what we would normally shell out to host a dinner party. Kevin just mentioned that by using Hector, we saved about $200 in party hosting and more than that in time and stress, therefore this is a Recession Tip! Host a party with your own chef and save money - who knew?

I know I'll be bringing Hector back for future parties at this house and once we move in about a year. I recommend Hector and his paella (and apparently his tailgating options as well). In fact, I'm trying to figure out how to get him to the pre-Jimmy Buffett parties out at Riverbend. How perfect would that be?

Not sure how you feel about paella? That's okay. Hector will be dishing up his excellent paella at several local stores in the next few months. You can find him at The Party Source on Jan 31 and March 26. I think, although I'm not positive on this one, that he'll also be grilling up some paella at each Liquor Direct for a Jorge Ordonez tasting on February 27 and 28.

I'm embedding a slideshow or you can view our photos on Flickr.

Contact Hector at PaellaAtYourPlace.com or via email (hfesteve [at] fuse [dot] net) or phone: 513.528.5241.

Happy Birthday Chalk food + wine

Chalk's Birthday (and mine)!

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Chalk food + wine in Covington. I celebrated my birthday there last year, the day after they opened, and I'll be continuing that tradition this year.

Chalk is throwing itself a birthday party on January 15. They'll be hosting a dinner by the bite event, featuring favorite items from their menu over the last year. There will be special cocktail features from Mixologist Molly Wellman, as well as beer specials. Cost is $40 per person and includes dinner bites, select wines, and door prizes.

Additionally, there will be a raffle for a private dinner prepared by Chef Jared Whalen and for a private wine event with sommelier Bryant Phillips, as well as artwork from the restaurant.

There won't be a sit-down dinner per se. I understand that it's more of a cocktail party atmosphere. You'll need to call (859.643.1234) ahead. They'll guarantee your reservation with a credit card. This gets you onto the VIP list. For those of you who want to wing it, you can just show up. Just know that those folks on the VIP list are going to get in before you. (If you do reserve a spot with your credit card, you can cancel up until 24 hours before hand.)

Doors open at 7 pm and the party lasts until 12:30 am. I'll be celebrating my birthday there and I'd love to have you all join me!  You see, Summer Genetti's mini red velvet cupcakes are like some sort of addiction for me. I can't think of a better birthday cake for myself. If you decide to go, leave a comment below or shoot me an email.

Planning New Year's Eve in Cincinnati

**We'll keep this post featured at the top of the blog until New Year's Day. Don't forget to add any events you hear about in the comments!**

It's about time that everyone started making plans for New Year's Eve. Last year, after a not-that-great year, we opted to host our own New Year's Eve party, which was fun and happily low-key. This year, we're also sticking with low-key, but we're headed out on the town.

We're headed to Bouquet Wine Bar in Covington. From 10 pm- 1 am they will be hosting a sparkling wine tasting, with appetizers. The cost is $40. We'll be there with Tim, his lovely wife, and Jessica from Liquor Direct and her boyfriend.  Interested? I'm not sure if there are seats left, but you can contact Danny Gold for more information.

Other events that I've been told about include the following:

Recently added events are denoted by a symbol.

Late Night in Spain

As most of you know, Kevin & I try to be pretty involved with the Young Professionals group for the Opera. In that spirit, I want to let you know about Late Night in Spain.

The Opera Ball itself is sort of like a prom for much older folks. It's fun, the live entertainment is usually amazing, and there is the dinner. Don't want to drop $200+ on a ticket? That's okay. You can come to the Afterparty, which sounds like a blast. Late Night in the Amazon was supposed to be fantastic last year and this year, Late Night in Spain is supposed to top last year's event.

The Late Night events are geared towards young professionals. You can dress up, but ball gown isn't required. You get great music, a midnight buffet, and a DJ. Oh, and it's all "Ibiza-style," which just makes me laugh.

Kevin and I are missing this for the 2nd year in a row. Last year we were on vacation in Arizona. This year? We're judging a wine competition in Tennessee. But I'd love for everyone to attend and then comment on this post. Let me know how it goes!  I'll be jealous we're not there.

Cincy Chic Treat: Economical Holiday Entertaining

When Monika first asked me to write this blog post with Cincy Chic readers in mind, our economy hadn't tanked quite so badly. Now, quite frankly, it's a bit scary. So the post has slightly transformed from Holiday Entertaining Tips to Economical Holiday Entertaining Tips. After all, you can still throw a wonderful party even though your budget is tightening.

Image Credit via Creative Commons

1. Progressive. I wish there were more progressive dinner parties out there. Moving from one house to another is fantastic, spreading out the responsibility of hosting a party so that there is less stress for everyone involved. You can take the progressive theme and spin all sorts of variations: progressive dinner, progressive dessert, or progressive cocktails. (Make sure there is a cab company available if you go with this one.) While it definitely works from house to house, I think this would also be a great way to socialize with your neighbors in an apartment or condo complex - all those people down the hall or down a floor that you've seen but never met. A single building progressive party has several advantages, including never seeing the snow and never being more than a stumble away from home.

2. Potluck. Don't wrinkle your nose. Sure, the name may call up church dinners, but there are so many twists on this old standard. Again, you're spreading the responsibility by asking others to bring a dish. Here are just a couple of ideas:

• Dessert potluck. Host a dessert party with everyone bringing a dessert dish. A lot of fun, fewer dishes, and suitable for slightly later in the evening, reducing the number of hours you're playing hostess.
• Cheese and wine. A friend of mine recently attended a cheese and wine party. Everyone brought their own cheese and wine and shared. Imagine all those bottles and cheeses lined up in a row. Classy and economical.
• Wine. Always, you can provide your own food but ask folks to bring their own bottle of wine to share. You can take this a step further and turn it into a blind wine tasting. You'd be surprised at how much fun this is and how it de-mystifies wine a little when you can't see what you're drinking. Make sure you have a lot of water available for rinsing, and dump buckets. Ice buckets, vases, and pitchers make great dump buckets with a creative twist.

**Bonus Tip** Ask everyone to bring their own wine glass. It adds a touch of fun (people bring some great glassware) and saves you from two things: losing a glass if one breaks and having to wash countless pieces of stemware.

3. Small dishes and comfort food. My mom used to make tiny little cold cut sandwiches to serve at parties and everyone loved them, perhaps because they were so tiny. But for Mom, they were quick and economical. In fact, comfort food makes for some great mini dishes. Dish out macaroni and cheese into ramekins, make grilled cheese sandwiches sliced into quarters and served on a big platter, or make a bunch of mini cheeseburgers. All can be created easily and on a budget.

4. Fondue. Need I say more? A couple of fondue pots (you can always borrow from friends) and some melted chocolate, melted cheese, along with fruits, marshmallows, and more. You can get creative with fondue and still manage to keep the costs down. Make sure you have plenty of napkins and little [disposable] plates on hand. Station fondue pots throughout the house to keep people from gathering in one spot. The hardest part of a fondue party? Cleaning out the fondue pots!

5. Big drinks. If you're not requesting everyone bring a bottle of wine, then you're opening yourself up for a huge bar bill. Kevin and I usually end up spending over $200 on alcohol alone for our parties. There are ways around this - make your drinks in bulk. Don't offer a bar-full of drinks. Offer a signature drink. In the past, I've made sangria, served in martini glasses, as well as crockpot mulled cider. You can make both in bulk cheaply and easily. Limiting the drink choices eliminates the alcohol strain on your budget. The recipe for cider is after the jump, and I've previously written about a recipe for a Sangria-tini you can make in bulk.

6. Finally, think small. Not just small foods, but small parties. Have a small intimate party with just immediate family or closest friends. A small dinner party is more affordable, less work, and often more rewarding than 50 people in and out of your home over the course of an evening. Not up for dinner? Kevin and I once hosted a breakfast party where we served quiche and enjoyed 2 bottles of Champagne with another couple.

However you entertain this holiday season, keep in mind what's important - close friends, family, and a boatload of holiday cheer. Got some creative tips for economical fun this holiday season? I'd love to hear your tips, tricks, and stories in the comments.

Cheers!
Michelle

Cincinnati E.A.T.S.

Cincinnati E.A.T.S. has scheduled their last event for the year, and we're going to actually make it to this one!

Each quarter, Cincinnati E.A.T.S. takes over a restaurant on an "off" night. This time it's the venerable Nicola’s in Over-the-Rhine. Drinks start at 7:00 and dinner is served at 8:00. You pay $37, but that flat fee includes a 3-course meal and a donation to the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, which helps kids in Over-the-Rhine. The center offers documentary workshops, music lessons for children and adults, a women’s outreach group, and child care for kids up to age 12.

At this event drinks (read: wine) will be handled separately and credit cards will be taken at the event to cover those wine-related splurges. While I'm sad that the event does not include a separate wine flight, I still look forward to the event. Nicola's has a soft spot in my heart. Once upon a time, a friend of mine always used to treat my girlfriends and me to dinner there, under the pretext of business. Since then, I've often gone there on semi-business related dinners, as well as pre-Opera meals, and we've never had a bad experience.

Hope to see you there! It's a great opportunity to meet other young professionals, have some great food, and help a worthy cause.

Full event menu after the jump.

Chimay Tasting at Morton's

Being a blogger can have its benefits. Sure, there's pressure to write well and write often, there's blogger's guilt, but there are also things like last night's event at Morton's.

Lauren, from Wordsworth, and the nice folks at Morton's decided to put together a Chimay tasting preview event for a few of [my favorite] bloggers around town. We ran the gamut of blog topics, but we all enjoyed the beer. I should mention that the preview was complimentary. *

The official Chimay tasting, complete with a representative from Chimay, will be held on October 24. The ticket price of $45 per person includes tax and gratuity, plus Morton’s will donate $5 from every ticket to the Make-A-Wish Foundation®. Guests will also recieve a nifty Chimay goblet.

When we first found out about the tasting, we were sad to miss it as we'll be in Sonoma. Lauren came to our rescue, however, when she came up with Beer for Bloggers. In attendance we had Wine Me Dine Me, Buy Cincy, 5chw4r7z and Don't Call Me Mrs, and a West Side Foodie Wannabe. It was a fun group, and we definitely enjoyed ourselves.

I'm not really the food girl, so for a review of the salmon, tuna tartare, and filet mignon sandwiches, I suggest you check out Julie's blog at Wine Me Dine Me. I will say I tried some of the salmon and it was, well, salmon-y. I'm trying to learn to eat it though, so it was a start. Must expand my horizons. However, I was amazingly taken by the Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake. It was 100% nut free and somehow I ended up with an entire cake on my plate while Julie & Kevin split one. I'm not complaining. We all know that I'm a dessert girl, so this really hit the spot. With the diet, I haven't had dessert in weeks and weeks. I blew the diet last night, but folks, there was all this chocolatey gooey goodness in the middle of the sponge cake. It was worth a returned pound or two.

You don't come here for food reviews though, so onto the beer. Since it was a beer tasting, Kevin took the notes. However, I wanted to get this post up today and he's off to a Cirque du Soleil rehearsal (grumble, grumble, envy), so you get my interpretation of his writing. Enjoy our beer thoughts after the jump.