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December 30, 2006
Top Drawer makes first offers of new year
The Top Drawer, Mariemont's needlepoint store, is hosting a sale on many of its canvasses. So, if you are a needlepointer, or someone who has been thinking about learning how to be a needlepoint artisan, stop on in the shop between now adn Jan. 6, 2007, to take advantage of the lowered prices.
Also, The Top Drawer is hosting a "Snowman Class" on Feb. 10. Participants will be given the materials and knowledge to create their own three-dimensional snowman. Cost for the class is $120 per person.
And it is not too late to sign up for the "Ornament of trhe Month" club, which only costs $65.
For more information regarding the store or when classes begin, call 271-6691 or visit www.topdrawer-needlepoint.com
Posted by johnston at 04:31 PM
Winding '06 down, so, what's for dinner?
The year 2006 is winding down. Here is a look at what's cookin' for leading up to New Years. The following are the specials through Monday, Jan. 1, 2007.
For the National Exemplar:
* Lake Walleye~cornmeal crusted, mandarin-cranberry compote. Served with garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and mushrooms $18.99
* Bone-In Ribeye~aged choice ribeye, ancho-coffee rubbed, ancho mushroom sauce. aServed with pan roasted red skin potatoes and grilled asparagus $31.99
* Lamb Rack~spring lamb rack marinated in mint and garlic, grilled and served with basil and mint pesto. Served with garlic mashed potatoes, sautéed yellow squash and zucchini $25.99
And for the Dilly Deli:
Champagne, Champagne!
Your sparkling bubbles are covered. For an extra special celebration there's the Krug 1988, perhaps the world's best, at $190. They also have Dom Perignon in stock $150. If you'd rather get three or four bottles of fine French champagne for that price, the bar and eatery has a great selection. Peruse their stock of grower-champagnes, true estate-bottled champagnes from small producers that grow all their own grapes (as opposed to the big houses that purchase their grapes from literally hundreds of these same growers). Sometimes called "farmer fizz", these individual, increasingly highly sought-after offerings tempt you with their own uniqueness the same way, say, small Napa producers of cabernet might. There's three great bubblies from Duval-Leroy (the champagne John-Robert serves at Pigall's): the '96 Vintage Brut ($52), the non-vintage Brut ($37) and the festive Cuvée Paris ($44). There's also the familiar: Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label Brut and the ever popular Moet White Star ($53 and $45).
Still too high? There is also the Roederer Anderson Valley Estate from California for $23, the Baumard crémants from the French Loire for $18, and the Gruet from of all places New Mexico for $16.
Chef Eric Sending '06 Out With a Bang
The Dilly Deli figures that with New Year's resolutions just a few days away, this is the last weekend of the year to treat yourself to a special meal.
Entrées
Duo of Lamb
Lamb Tenderloin on a Mint Rissotto Cake and
Mini Rack of Lamb finished with a Chipotle Pepper Reduction
served with Mushroom Polenta and Haricots Verts $28
Surf & Turf
Bacon-wrapped Filet Mignon with Wild Mushroom Demi-glace and
Cold Water Lobster Tail with Lemon Compound Butter (each 4oz)
served with Mushroom Polenta and Asparagus $24
Veal Roulade
Thinly sliced veal wrapped around a Parmesan and Mushroom duxelles filling
sautéed and topped with a Pancetta cream sauce and served
with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Haricots Verts $22
Appetizer
Dungeoness Crab Salad
Dungeoness Crab meat tossed in a light Lime Aioli
and served with fresh Spinach and Basil $9
Posted by johnston at 04:14 PM
December 22, 2006
Dilly Deli celebrating the holidays. Don't miss out!
What's on tap the Dilly Deli for the holidays? Let's take a close look:
First, the holiday hours. The Dilly Deli will be open their regular hours 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 10 a.m. -11 p.m. Friday and Saturday except for
Christmas Eve--Closed (always closed on Sunday)
Christmas Day--Closed
New Year's Eve--Closed (Sunday)
New Year's Day--Closed
New Year's Day plus One--Closed
Chef Eric's Weekend Specials keep getting finer -- keep the Dilly Deli in your sights for dinner this weekend before Christmas.
Appetizers
Maple-Bourbon Smoked Duck Breast Crostini
Crab & Avocado Salad
Entrees
Roasted Rabbit over wild mushroom risotto finished with truffle cheese
Braised Lamb Shank with root vegetables and roasted garlic mashed potatoes
Spiced Brined Double-Rib Pork Chop grilled and topped with caramelized onions preserves served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes
Swordfish Provencal sauteed and served over gnocchi with kalamata olives, roma tomatoes & red onion in a saffron shellfish broth
Champagne for New Years!
The Dilly Deli has Krug 1988 Champagne available. According to the owners:
"The world's most prestigious Champagne--even more so than Dom Perignon--is Krug. Fortunately that's not just bluster: it is haunting, majestic, fathomless wine that will leave an impression long after you've finished it. The first time I had this wine, I felt as though I had just walked into my mom's kitchen after a too-long absence: familiar surroundings with wonderful new smells"
Also be sure to check out these wines!
Arietta 2002 Hudson H Block
Axios 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
Dunn 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
Pahlmeyer 2003 Red Wine
Ridge 2002 Monte Bello
Robert Foley 2004 Claret
Rombauer 2000 Diamond Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (Just released yesterday!)
Sea Smoke Pinot Noirs "Southing" and "Ten"
Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon (many vintages!)
Spottswoode 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
Terre Rouge 2002 Syrah "Ascent"
And Magnums!
Pine Ridge Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon
Summit Lake Cabernet Sauvignon (in a beautifully etched bottle)
And, of course, plenty of Montrachet, glorious Red Burgundies and Brunellos, and such perennial faves as Kistler, Silver Oak, Far Niente, and Caymus.
Posted by johnston at 05:04 PM
December 19, 2006
Clock is ticking for last minute holiday gift
Heileman & Co. Jewelers, located in The Strand across from Starbucks and adjacent to The Dilly Deli, is now offering 20 to 30 percent off all of their watches, just in time for the holiday season and new year.
The jeweler has a wide variety of watches by Maurice Licroix. The sale runs through mid-January; there are also other running specials on pieces of jewelry periodically throughout the year. Call the jeweler at 561-3310 for more information.
Posted by johnston at 12:38 PM
December 16, 2006
Who's who in Mariemont: Desiree Norman and Lucky
In the daily grind, we all meet and greet dozens, maybe hundreds of people. Many we may know well, many may be mere acquaintances, and many are complete strangers.
Still, many are people whose job it is to ensure great customer service. Although we as customers are not expected to remember their faces, these people are entrusted to remember ours.
Here is an opportunity to meet a few of the people whom you may have encountered at one point, or may encounter sometime in the future.
Desiree Norman is the assistant manager at Mariemont’s U.S. Bank, where she has been employed for four years.
Hometown: Anderson Township
Hobbies: Watching the Cincinnati Bengals, playing softball, reading James Patterson novels
Last good book read: Maximum Ride
Favorite music: Country
Favorite movie: Boondock Saints
Favorite TV shows: House, CSI, Grey’s Anatomy
Ambition in life: “I want to overcome my fear of heights.”
Extra! Extra!: Desiree just got married
Brian “Lucky” McMillan is the new barber in the Mariemont Barber Shop. Fresh out of barber school, Lucky provides all services, which include traditional razor outlines, straight razor shaves and facial/hot-towel treatments.
Why did you choose barber school: “It is the history and tradition that lured me. It is the only trade I have truly enjoyed. The social interaction is similar to that of a bartender.”
Where are you from: “I was living in Chicago for years, and the barber shop I went to was great … with a great atmosphere. I got married, and decided to move back to Cincinnati, where I was born and raised.”
Hobbies: Hot Rods and getting tattoos
Favorite music: Rockbilly, Blue Grass, Blues and Honky Tonk
Favorite movie: True Romance
Favorite TV show: The Office
Ambition: To just continue going in the direction I’m going, with a good career and raising a family.
Posted by johnston at 07:45 PM
December 06, 2006
A great Christmas gift ... if ya need one
Christmas is approaching fast.
If you are looking for a gift for someone, how about the royal treatment from Eva's Esthetica.
The village's spa has many holiday gift packages that will definately bring delight to anyone looking for a relaxing getaway.
Gift Packages
Relaxation package 2.5 hours $180.00
Aromatherapy facial
Foot Reflexology
Aromatherapy full body massage
Rejuvenating package 2.5 hours $180.00
Anti-aging facial
Detoxifying body treatment (with seaweed body mask)
OR
Anti-Stress body treatment
Body and Soul package 3.00 hours $200.00
European Facial
Salt-glo body treatment
Aromatherapy full body massage
Stay beautiful 2.5 hours $172.00
Spa pedicure
Spa manicure
Anti-aging facial
Special occasion 2.5 hours $155.00
Mini facial
Spa pedicure
Spa manicure
Make-up application
Spa facial – skin analysis, deep pore cleansing, toning, and exfoliation, massage of the face, neck, shoulders, hands and feet.
Body treatment – provide a stress relieving experience for the mind and body.
Spa pedicure / manicure – includes special exfoliation, mask and paraffin dip of feet.
Foot reflexology – massaging the points on the foot to advance your sense of well being and comfort.
Posted by johnston at 12:59 AM
December 05, 2006
Fashion show for village shop
Sara Benjamin's, Mariemont's women's boutique, will be hosting a fashion show called "Girlfriend Get-togethers" at the Cincinnati Art Museum. The fahion show, which will be offering tips on holiday fashion and will include makeup and manicure tips, will start at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Wine and refreshments will be available. For more information, you can visit www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org
The boutique will also have extended holiday hours starting Monday, Dec. 18 - 23 which will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The boutique will be open Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Posted by johnston at 12:05 PM
The Party is on Wednesday
Barrel House Beer Party
Wednesday December 6 from 5 p.m to 9 p.m.
At last, a beer party for our hometown brewery. The Dilly Deli's popular beer events come all the way from the west coast to Liberty Street, home to their very own Barrel House Brewing Co. Joining the deli Wednesday night here in Mariemont will be Barrel House founding Brewmaster Rick DeBar. He'll be presenting the new release of the Belgian Winter Ale, both on draft and in bottle. Also on tap will be Boss Cox Double Dark IPA, the mighty mighty Scotch Ale, and a special Cask-Conditioned Ale.
The Belgian Winter Ale is the first seasonal, and only the fifth Barrel House beer to be bottled Also joining the party will be Winter Ale label artist Jim Effler. He'll have prints available for signing, framing, and ... gift giving! Come on by Wednesday evening, shoulder your way into the crowd (make some new friends on the way), and hoist a pint or two of Cincinnati's own microbrewery.
Posted by johnston at 12:22 AM
December 01, 2006
A subtle shuffle along Madisonville
There is a small game of musical chairs being played on the the Madisonville Road wing of the Mariemont Inn.
The Mariemont Barber Shop, Framer's Guild and the Mariemont Beauty Salon are all bumping over one spot from their original location. The shuffle will eventually leave a vacancy where the barber shop is now located, which will be utilized to facilitate additional amenities with the renovation of the Mariemont Inn.
Renovation work will continue through summer and fall. When the Madisonville-side wing is completed, work will start on the Wooster Pike wing. All the work is expected to be completed by winter 2007.
The result of the renovations, which will have included a complete gutting of the Inn’s interior, will be a significant upgrade in the size of the rooms and quality of service.The Inn presently has 60 rooms, but the renovations will drop that number to approximately 44 larger, more luxurious rooms that will include four-fixture bathrooms and modern-day technological upgrades such as wireless Internet access throughout the facility.
“Renovations will also extend to the first floor and include a historic gallery, business center, fitness center and rear entrance connected to the main lobby,” Spinnenweber said.
The hotel will remain open throughout the renovations and the National Exemplar and pub will remain open.
Posted by johnston at 12:23 PM