This is a wonderful restaurant established in Fall of 2023 by Luis Valera, and operated by his first generation American family, who all seemed to have fun working together. They were delightful and the service was great.

Dos Mundos has a nice selection of wine, beers, and their own signature drinks. The dinner menu includes a variety of fusion items that I have never seen offered before.

We shared an order of Salmon Yakitori; skewers of salmon, bok choy, and scallions with a Passionfruit glaze. This was truly amazing, and I could have easily had many more orders!

My wife had the NY Strip Steak, made with a honey and lemongrass marinade and Viet style Chimichurri. One of her sides included an order of four corn ribs, which are fried corn strips with Kewpie mayo, fried shallots, and scallions.

My order included Ceviche Nikkei. Diced yellowfin tuna, diced Asian pears, white miso leche tigre, microgreens with rice paper chips. What a flavorful and refreshing combination! Of course this was a perfect atch with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Dos Mundos is celebrating its one year anniversary with a special event on November 17, 2024. It will include two 4-course menus; one Peruvian and the other Vietnamese.

We have already discussed staying in the area again, just to visit Dos Mundos!

Dos Mundos, 7021 Shelbyville Rd, Simpsonville, KY 40067

Scott Morris

The post Dos Mundos, Simpsonville KY first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

Stepping off the street into Saffron Social, you become lost in the grandeur of the interior design and furnishings. There are high ceilings, tall beaded interior curtains, beautifully patterned wallpaper, arch and pillar accents behind the bar, dark woodwork and furnishings, and more modern chandeliers.

In addition to the main dining area, there is a private dining room for hosting parties and meetings, for approximately 100 people. This space is also utilized for overflow of regular dining during busy times.

My wife and I stopped in for lunch and were pleased with the menu and professional staff. The menu differs from lunch to dinner, with several selections added or expanded in the latter. At this time, being a new restaurant, menu items change occasionally and may continue to do so in the future depending on the likings of the clientele. They also have a wonderful drink menu including an impressive wine selection. Our server Aubrie was extremely helpful and personable, and enthusiastic in answering questions about the menu and restaurant.

We shared an appetizer of “Crab Tots” with champagne aioli. These were an amazing version of a mini crabcake, but even better because the lump crab was abundant with a very crispy coating. My wife had the “Smash Burger”, which is similar to a classic double but included a house BBQ aioli. She kicked that up with the “Duck Fat Steak Fries”, dusted with truffle with garlic aioli.

I had the “Mahi Tacos and side salad”, but these are not your typical fish tacos. They were made with blackened mahi with chimichurri and yum-yum slaw. The flavor profile for me was a combination of Southwestern with a touch of Asian; delicious! Along with that I enjoyed the side salad with basil vinaigrette dressing, and of course a few wine selections.

We did not feel rushed, and enjoyed taking in the atmosphere and exploring the menus even more. We look forward to returning for dinner and expect Saffron Social will be a future “go-to” with friends and family.

Even though we did not need them for lunch, reservations are recommended, especially for dinner. They can be made by calling (309) 740-0434 or through OpenTable. Parking is available in the public parking deck connected to the restaurant.

I’d like to thank Aubrie for her hospitality and look forward to our next visit.

Saffron Social, 187 SW Washington St, Peoria, IL 61602

Scott Morris

The post Saffron Social, Peoria IL first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

Café Santa Rosa has relocated to the Betty Jane Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts in Peoria Heights, IL. The Grand Opening event took place on September 9, 2023.

This new location provides much more space to hang out and enjoy your coffee or the expanded pastry and bagel menu, meet with a group, host a meeting, or attend hosted events. The beautiful space includes a large room upstairs and stage area on the main floor.

I stopped by recently and Marta is very excited about the new location and how it is furthering their success. I thank her for allowing me to share more photos.

May 12, 2023

I’m always drawn to visit establishments that have a unique or interesting story. I have read several articles about and knew I needed to visit, Café Santa Rosa.

What is the story? I’ll get into that later, but first a few things about the café.

Café Santa Rosa is a quaint place with a small outdoor sitting area with a modest sized sign at the entrance. Once you step inside, you are greeted by Marta and her staff. You can tell the regular customers, because they are called by name in their greetings.

The counter where the magic happens is at the far end of the room. To the left as you enter is a wall of live plants, and to the right is a wall displaying local art. Although, many customers take their order to go, the café is comfortable and quiet, and a great place to just sit an relax and slow down.

The menu includes a wide variety of espressos, brewed coffees, teas, and tea & coffee mocktails. In addition, they offer a small selection of baked goods in the counter display.

Now on to the story: Marta Vidal, mentioned earlier, is a former Peoria Public Schools teacher, turned Owner and General Manager of Café Santa Rosa, which opened in March 2020. Over 14 years ago she and her family purchased a 25-acre farm with 60,000 coffee trees in El Hato, Columbia. Of course, you instantly think “Columbia and coffee, where’s the story?”

What makes Marta and her family unique is their relationship with the more than two dozen farmers, mostly women, who work the farm in Columbia. After purchasing the farm and getting to know the workers and their struggles, they realized they could bring the coffee to America, roast it, and sell it and in doing so, be able to give back to their workers, beyond their paychecks; and they do so in several ways.

One past quote from Marta has been, “We’re able to help mitigate their disadvantages, economic disadvantages in Colombia”.

Some of their generosity includes providing running water to their farmer’s houses and getting a single mother farmer a washing machine. Marta dreams of getting washing machines for all her employees. They have also been able to provide free health care clinics for the workers.

These are stories worth sharing.

For my first visit I chose to try the Aeropress Coffee, which is finely ground coffee steeped for one minute and pressed. I requested the dark roast, black, and it was excellent; very smooth and no bitterness. Of course I had to also try the walnut and cranberry scone. I’m looking forward to returning to try even more of the coffee selections.

Café Santa Rosa, 1327 East Kelly Avenue, Peoria Heights, IL 61616

Scott Morris

The post UPDATE: Café Santa Rosa, Peoria Heights IL first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

Patrons to the farm can visit with the kid goats and Falyn, their resident retiree goat.

For fifteen years they have been crafting cheese at the on-farm creamery, consisting of both goat’s milk and variety of cow’s milk cheeses using milk all locally sourced from animals fed with high quality feed and hay. In addition, they offer fresh organic apples during the fall.

During our visit we tried a sample of several goat and cows milk cheeses.

My wife and I purchased that day:

• Chevre, French Herb – spreadable goat cheese, available plain, French herb, sundried tomato/garlic, Salsa Macha
• Lily Rose – Camembert style-sweet and fragrant goat cheese
• Fromage Blanc – Artisan cow’s milk cream cheese. Plain

The creamery and shop are both located in the short “Evergreen” lined lane that you can’t miss, due to the cow sign at the entrance pointing the way.

Whether you are a cheese aficionado, need to complete that charcuterie board, or are looking for something different, you won’t be disappointed with any selections here.

If you plan to visit, be sure to check out their seasonal hours on their website.

Evergreen Lane Farm & Creamery, 1824 66th Street, Fennville MI, 49408

Scott Morris

The post Evergreen Lane Farm & Creamery, Fennville MI first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

The Crane family purchased the farm in 1916 and in 1967 started promoting Crane Orchards with fruit baskets and then producing cider. It didn’t take long for this to turn into preparing food for customers, leading to what is now the full-menu restaurant and bakery.

As you arrive, the large patio leads you into the hallway, where I can visualize a large line of waiting patrons on those busy days.

From there you are welcomed into the shop and restaurant. In the shop you can purchase all of Crane’s wares, such as: pies (full or by the slice), strudel, donuts, and other pastries, fresh fruit, candy, cider, wine, and souvenirs.

The restaurant area houses the winery’s tasting bar. Although the winery first started in 2014, they have a history of award winning wines. Like many wineries in this region their fruit is all locally grown and produced.

During this visit, my wine tasting included the following selections (*purchased):

• 2021 Chardonnay
• 2021 Pinot Gris
• Montage* – Bordeaux style blend consisting of 43.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Cabernet Franc, and 18.5% Merlot. Aged two years in a combination of American and Hungarian oak barrels.
• Cherry Wine

There are many more wines to choose from, but don’t overlook the cider. Crane’s Farm started pressing cider decades ago. In 1972 along with the restaurant, they started serving cider for 10 cents a glass and did so for 40 years. With the launch of the winery they added production of hard ciders along with the wine.

When you first pull in the driveway, you are are launched into the farming environment from the antique truck , to the main building and surrounding orchards. Throughout the shop and restaurant you find many antiques and World War II and other historic memorabilia on display.

The restaurant has a large menu, serving breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, and open for full menu at 11am the rest of the week. They have a nice selection of appetizers and sandwiches, along with soups and salad. Oh, and don’t forget the pie! Here you can try the Pie Flight (up to four) and can also order a tasting of four wines or cider.

My visit was part of a group of eight people for lunch. Several of us tried the Famous Sloppy Joe sandwich, which is the original that has been served since 1972. It did not disappoint. True comfort food.

There’s something to be said for a family-owned business that builds off its long history of tradition to evolve into this thriving enterprise. It also helps when its all in such a beautiful location.

Crane’s Pie, Pantry, Restaurant, and Winery, 6054 124th Ave, Fennville, MI 49408

Scott Morris

The post Crane’s Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery, Fennville MI first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

The front of the restaurant is donned with vibrant colors with a fitting Italian style. Considering that this is part of the Holiday Manor Shopping Center, this makes it very easy to find.

The exterior may be nice, but the interior is an experience that transports you to another place and time.

Immediately to the left from the beautiful entryway is the bar, which quickly gives you a sample of the majestic decor yet to follow throughout the restaurant.

As we checked in for our reservation, we were asked if we’d like some complimentary Champagne as we are being seated. Of course, this was a definite affirmative!

From there we were led to the main dining area that follows the Italian bistro style with beautiful statues, wall hangings, and furniture. We were just a few steps down to the main floor, where a partial view of the kitchen is visible. Surrounding this floor were several levels of dining spaces, that included multiple balconies and semi-private booths and table arrangements.

Once seated, our server, Justin, and the other staff were extremely friendly and helpful. One of the first orders of business was to offer us now a complimentary small serving of Chianti with which Justin provided a bit of history of the wine and made a toast. Loving this already!

The menu includes authentic recipes, some with unique twists, from both Northern and Southern Italy, and is sourced as much as possible from local farms; the fish is wild and the game/meat is organic or prime.

The portions are very generous. There was a young boy seated with his family near us who was having the lasagna. When you hear serving as big as your head, this was close for him. I’m sure if he is like me at that age, not a bite went to waste!

We started with the Beef Carpaccio, “thinly-sliced beef tenderloin, roasted mushroom, toasted pine nuts, pickled shallot, yuzu vinaigrette, shaved parmesan, citrus salt; grilled house-made focaccia.” The beef was tender and married well with the other ingredients, especially the yuzu vinaigrette.

We both selected the same entrée, Seafood Imperial Pasta, “baked jumbo lump crab, lobster, fresh fish, bay scallops and wild shrimp with cream, pecorino, Chesapeake spice, fresh pasta and bread crumbs.” This was truly amazing. The seafood was definitely the star of this dish with the pasta taking a winning supporting role. Usually similar dishes tend to be heavy on pasta and not so much the seafood. Not the case here. The pasta was excellent though and tasted fresh and perfect tenderness.

Of course, I enjoyed a glass of Vigna del Lauro Sauvignon Blanc with dinner. They have a very nice wine, as well as bourbon, list by the bottle or glass.

When visiting Louisville, take some time to visit Grassa Gramma, and escape the real world for a bit. You’ll not be disappointed.

Grassa Gramma, 2210 Holiday Manor Shopping Center, Louisville, KY 40222

Scott Morris

The post Grassa Gramma, Louisville KY first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

The event was led by Owner, Loui Liagridonis, who was an excellent and enthusiastic host. He educated us on the history and use of olive oil as well as balsamic vinegar. His own family has olive groves located in the Northeast side of the Peloponnese in Greece. Their olive oil is extracted under cold temperature pressing, from the varieties of Manaki and Koroneiki olives.

Grovestone imports olive oil from production in Greece to Champaign, where they are then able to add infusions to provide us with the many flavored options to further enhance their various uses.

Grovestone does not only have olive oil, but also balsamic vinegar infused with a wide variety of flavors. They also have a multitude of other gourmet items such as their own brand of herbs & spices, sauces, mustards, spreads, jams, olives, etc.

The cooking part of the class was led by Chef Steph (Mayotte), who led us through her preparation of the evenings tastings, and also threw in several food preparation techniques.

The menu and recipes presented included:

• Country Style Rib Bites With Mustard Barbecue Sauce
• Smokey Baked Ribs With Espresso Barbecue
• Creamy Bacon Potato Salad
• Zesty Cranberry Apple Slaw
• Peach Cobbler

Wine was available by the glass, but there were also different wines served with the menu items.

Throughout the evening the participants were allowed to sample any of the various balsamic vinegars on the shelves, and our host even added some vanilla ice cream at the end and suggested trying these flavored vinegars on the ice cream. I tried strawberry and raspberry, and they were amazing.

Everyone in attendance seemed to have a great time. I know my group of friends did, and we certainly will be back for future events. Thank you Loui, Chef Steph, and Kostas (our server) for a wonderful and memorable event.

Grovestone, 1707 W Kirby Ave, Champaign, IL 61821

Scott Morris

The post Grovestone, Champaign IL – Putting on the Ribs (08/25/2023) first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

The location itself is very classy with separate entrances directly into the tasting room and bar from the outside patio. The Springfield location is one of over 52 the U.S.

Before stepping in for dinner, we were greeted in the tasting room by Chris. Before discussing the tasting, a bit of information. Cooper’s Hawk winery, located in Woodridge, IL, partners with some of the world’s premier vineyards, importing grapes from many regions, including California, Oregon, Chile, Argentina, Australia and Italy, enabling them to create over 50 varietals of wines.

On the day of our visit, the wine menu had 51 wines from which to choose. That alone was unexpected, and of course very welcome; at least until I had to choose the ones I wanted to try.

It is not often that I participate in a tasting where I like every wine, but I must admit that was the case on this visit. Chris was engaging and was not only knowledgeable about the wines, but was willing to share his personal preferences. My choices for the day are as follows, with their tasting notes my *favorites and +purchases noted:

• Sauvignon Blanc – SIGHT Pale yel­low, green rim NOSE Clas­sic vari­etal aro­mas of lemon/​lime, goose­ber­ry, green herbs, and white flow­ers abound PALATE Light- to medi­um-bod­ied with mouth­wa­ter­ing acid­i­ty; bold fla­vor and a long cit­rus finish PAIRING Seafood, sal­ads, veg­gies, goat cheese
• Chardonnay – SIGHT Straw yel­low, NOSE Pro­nounced aro­mas of baked apple, Asian pear, and grilled pineap­ple are accent­ed by toast, cin­na­mon, and vanilla PALATE Rich and creamy with bal­anced acid­i­ty, this medi­um-bod­ied wine deliv­ers notes of banana, mel­on, and spice PAIRING Smoked cheeses, poul­try, grilled or smoked salmon
• Cooper’s Hawk Lux Chardonnay * + – SIGHT Bright yel­low NOSE A bou­quet of ripe lemon, stone fruits, mel­on, and Gold­en Deli­cious apple inter­twine with smoke, bak­ing spices, and caramel PALATE Dry, full-bod­ied, and round in the mouth, this wine pro­duces a lit­tle heat up front, fin­ish­ing with cit­rus, peach, and spice notes PAIRING Lob­ster or crab, mesquite chick­en, veal, rich sauces
• Cooper’s Hawk Red * – SIGHT Opaque pur­ple NOSE Fruit for­ward with aro­mas of red rasp­ber­ry, black cher­ry, and black­ber­ry lead­ing into tobac­co, vanil­la bean, and cracked pepper PALATE Smooth tan­nins, medi­um weight, and a core of dark berries make this an easy sip­ping wine PAIRING Roast­ed turkey, chick­en parme­san, bratwurst or sausage
• Old Vine Zin * – SIGHT Deep ruby red with pur­ple hues NOSE Lay­ers of fruit rang­ing from straw­ber­ry to black cur­rant are punc­tu­at­ed by pink pep­per, bak­ing spices, and sandalwood PALATE Spice notes and ripe, jam­my fruit is in har­mo­ny with round­ed tan­nins and live­ly acidity PAIRING Any­thing wrapped in bacon (dates, filet, scal­lops), sweet/​tangy sauces
• Cabernet Sauvignon – SIGHT Opaque ruby red NOSE A bou­quet of mixed berries, pen­cil shav­ings, herbs, and a wealth of spices are com­ple­ment­ed by cig­ar box and oak nuances PALATE Dis­play­ing true vari­etal char­ac­ter sup­port­ed by a sol­id struc­ture and great bal­ance, this wine will con­tin­ue to drink well for years to come PAIRING Bone-in steaks, pun­gent cheeses, mush­room risot­to, rich dishes
• Cooper’s Hawk Lux Meritage * + – SIGHT Dark ruby with hints of brick NOSE A dynam­ic nose of mixed berries, anise, toast, truf­fle, dried herbs, vanil­la, and flowers PALATE Firm tan­nins, good acid­i­ty, and full-bod­ied this wine exhibits amaz­ing depth that will devel­op with age, yet drinks well young PAIRING Mediter­ranean cous­cous, game hen, and Ital­ian braciole
• Super Tuscan – SIGHT Red/​purple with gar­net rim NOSE Slight­ly earthy with aro­mas of choco­late, raisins, nut­meg, vanil­la, cher­ry, leather, and tobacco PALATE Full-bod­ied with mod­er­ate tan­nins and acid­i­ty, aro­mas devel­op well with decanting PAIRING Rich, hard cheeses, braised beef, or veal

Although I only purchased two bottles that day, I could easily have chosen many more to take home.

After the tasting, we moved to the beautiful dining room where we had a wonderful dinner. The menu has quite a selection appetizers, pasta, steak, chop, seafood, and chicken items, but I would not call them classic as they all seem to have chef’s own twist. This also applies to the selection of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and vegetarian items. I tried the Blackened Ahi Tuna, and it was amazing!

I truly enjoyed everything about Cooper’s Hawk, and look forward to returning to this and other locations in the future.

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, 2501 Wabash Ave, Springfield, IL 62704

Scott Morris

The post Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Springfield IL first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

A few weeks ago, my wife and I were sitting around home on a Saturday morning and at nearly the same time asked if each other wanted to try the breakfast at the Fox. Of course this was a sign to get moving.

They only serve breakfast on Saturday morning, 9am – 11am, during the English Premier League (Sept-May) and during special events.

The atmosphere is very friendly, and certainly reflects the English theme, from the decor to the menu. The staff were all extremely friendly, and the service quick and professional.

While I selected the Full English Breakfast (Two fried eggs, two slices of thick-cut-lightly-fried English bacon, one banger sausage served with baked beans, sautéed tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms & deep-fried bread) from the menu, my wife had the Chicken & Waffle (Sweet Belgian waffle topped with a boneless, battered chicken tenders served with two fried eggs and a side of pure maple syrup). Typically one of us would not be able to finish everything, but on this visit nothing made it home.

Although the food is not fancy, the menu includes many authentic English items and our food was very delicious and satisfying. Of course, with my breakfast I had to try the spicy Bloody Mary, which was also very good.

Although there were soccer games on the televisions, the staff changed one in our view to the Fighting Illini basketball game, and took time to visit for a few minutes upon finding out it was our first visit.

Of course we plan to return and try the afternoon/evening menu, along with some of the 25 beers they have on tap. Needless to say, we are having fun exploring the Peoria area.

The Fox Pub & Cafe, 7800 N. Sommer Street, Suite 3023, Peoria IL 61615

Scott Morris

The post Fox Pub & Cafe, Peoria IL first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

When you step off the street into Stave, you are walking into a casual yet classy environment that instantly says “wine bar”. The market area near the door holds the bottles of wine available for purchase, the beautiful ceiling reminds you of wooden barrel staves, and I understand that the owner, Greg Rose, designed the interior and created or selected the artwork throughout.

Wine bars, especially in Central Illinois, that do not cater to a larger restaurant scene are hard to find. I love the smaller establishments that focus on serving quality wines and small plates.

The menu at Stave includes a wonderful selection of domestic and international wines; six white wines and six red wines by the glass or bottle. These are rotated out seasonally, approximately every quarter. There are additional wines (not on the menu) by the bottle available. In addition, they have a large variety of craft beers, ciders, and ales.

You certainly cannot pass up the fine selections of charcuterie and cheeses. During my visit I tried the Summer Sausage, which is hand-made locally by Destiny Meats, along with Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor (Goat Cheese). These choices were made by recommendation of my server and were excellent, while my wine of choice was a 2018 Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon.

I’m looking forward to making another trip to Stave, and to share the experience with friends.

Stave Wine Bar & Market, 111 W North St, Normal, IL 61761

Scott Morris

The post Stave Wine Bar & Market, Normal IL first appeared on CU4Wine & More.