Cookin' in the 'Cuse

WBW 18--Wine Shops that Feel the Love

Limestone Liquors, 119 W Seneca St # 4, Manlius, NY (315) 682-2201

This month's Wine Blogging Wednesday assignment put me in a quandry from the get go.  Letting the actual tasting of a wine take a backseat, we were charged with writing about our favorite wine shop.  But oops--I had just written an ode to Vinomania, my favorite Syracuse wine shop, back in December.  So what to do?

I remembered that over a spirited and delicious New Year's Eve gala dinner, a friend mentioned the place where he buys wine--an unsuspecting gem of a place called Limestone Liquors out in Manlius--just a few miles outside of Syracuse.  So you know, if you can't write about the shop you love, love the one....well, that comes highly recommeded to you.  I'll chalk this experience up to one of my more successful blind dates.  Limestone is a great find for the wine lover.

Limestone Liquors, named after Limestone Creek that runs through the Village of Manlius, has been in business in the village for over 25 years--15 in their current location in a pretty non-descript P &C shopping plaza on Rte 173.  While there are certainly larger shops that you could visit closer to downtown or out on Erie Boulevard, this place gets high marks for all the reasons important to wine lovers:

• Knowlegeable and friendly staff.  I spent time with Kelly, the wife of the owner, and as I sought a recommedation from her about a wine to try, she made sure to ask my preferences and whether or not I'd be drinking the wine with food or not.  She could tell me about the weather in Mosel during the 2003 growing season and the effect it had on that year's rieslings--they were sweeter thanks to a dry year.  As a rule, they try to taste all the wines they carry so that they will be comfortable selling them.
• Easy navigation within the store that encouraged browsing while also labeling the lower and medium priced wines for quick scanning.  The higher priced wines are given prominent space up front.  Shelf talkers are actually helpful and go beyond the standard Robert Parker or Wine Spectator notes.
• Wine tastings every Friday from 4 -7:00 pm and also on Saturdays.
• Nice selection of New York State wines--including Long Island!
• Special focus on German wines.
• Bonus points for selling Hangar One Vodka and recognizing the name Robert Sinskey.

After a dinner in Atlanta last October at the Woodfire Grill where I fell in love with a German Riesling, I could see Limestone as the place to continue my education on wines from Mosel.  Plus, a little browsing found me whipping out my notebook to write down the names of other wines I've wanted to try but couldn't find easily at other wine shops such as the 2000 Cloudview red table wine.

Verdict:  Limestone is definitely a place worth going out of the way for.  But if you live in Dewitt, Fayetteville or Manlius, this could easily be your "go to" wine shop.  And as if to prove that Limestone is worth the trip I'll have to return just to stock up on that delicious Karl Erbes Riesling they recommended. 

Wine Tasting Notes:  2003 Karl Erbes Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling-Kabinett

Color:  palest yellow--nearly clear.  Nose:  melon notes, honeydew, hint of cloves.  Taste:  begins sweet with melon predominating, drier finish.  Awesome to drink on its own.  I could drink this everynight--with or without food.  $13.99

Thanks goes to Dr. Vino for hosting this month's WBW and enticing me to discover another wonderful wine shop in the Syracuse area.

And a horde of children shall lead them

Making a cheddary corn chowder soup on a cold day is good.  Having someone else make that soup is better.  But when the soup is made by some dozen children and youth learning how to cook, well, that is the best!  This soup was one of three prepared by junior and senior high youth at my church.  We're doing a year-long program of cooking classes and a food and memory project where they will learn the stories behind their favorite family recipes and learn how to cook them.  They will also get to go to a farm where they can pick the lettuces and vegetables they will use in their cooking and give some away in our food pantry.  I think that's way cool.

I love watching the kids learn the proper way to use a chef's knife and how to julienne peppers.  I can't help but think, "that was me, once upon a time" and think about how similar experiences of cooking shaped me into the lover of all things culinary that I am today.  By teaching them to cook with real, fresh ingredients and how to grow their own food (even in apartments) I hope we are instilling not only a love of good food, but an appreciation for the earth, the environment, and the farmers who make great food possible.  They are already taking these skills home and re-inspiring parents and other family members to cook wholesome meals.  And they are our hope for teaching the generations to come.

At the end of each cooking class the kids "ooh and ahh" and generally marvel at what their hands have created.  We give thanks and share the meal at tables filled with laughter.  These are sacred and special times that I hope these youth will always remember.  I know I will.

Cheddary Corn Chowder--recipe by Martha Williams

Makes 6 servings

10 slices bacon (about ½ pound)

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup chopped onion

¼ teaspoon celery seed

2 15-ounce cans cream-style corn

2 cups milk

2 cups cheddar cheese or washed curd cheese, cubed

• Cook 6 of the bacon slices in a pan until crisp. Crumble and set aside.
• Chop the other 4 slices.
• Melt butter in a 2½-quart saucepan.

• Add the chopped bacon and cook over medium heat for 4 minutes
• Add onion and continue cooking until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes more.
• Add celery seed, cream-style corn and milk.  Heat until hot, but not boiling.
• Add the cubed cheese a handful at a time, stirring until melted before adding next handful.
• Pour chowder into bowls and garnish with crumbled bacon.