Spirits Savvy

Tis the season once again, and the decorations are hung to put you in the mood for the holidays!  If you have been into Jillian’s lately you have probably noticed some changes.

We have put in some booths to offer more intimate seating for smaller parties.  We have also unveiled our temperature controlled wine cellar.  With the expansion of our reserve list and stock inventory we now feel we have a premier wine list with plenty of variety of wine to offer even the most discerning guest.

We never forget the food and have added several new menu items including Jillian’s Homemade Lasagna, Diver Scallops on a bed of Sweet Corn Puree, and Tilapia with a Mushroom Risotto.  We hope to see you and yours for the holidays!

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner so make your reservations now.

“Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer.  Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also fine, but the wheel does not go nearly so well with pizza.” ~Dave Barry.  Jillian’s offer’s both!  Come join us on Wednesdays; buy one pizza and get the second pizza half off.  Ask your server about the beers on tap.  We are featuring the Sam Adams Seasonal Octoberfest and soon we will have the Sam Adams Noble Pilsner.  This is a great opportunity to ask your server about beer and food pairings.  Rob, our resident beer genius, is always happy to talk taps and snaps (beer and football)!

We had a successful cheese and wine dinner!  We would like to thank Guy Bower for educating and entertaining us.  We will keep you posted about future tastings and events.  Please check out the photos on our Facebook page.

Bar buzz this week …Shalah recommends trying the Blue Moon Belgian White.  This unfiltered white ale is medium bodied Belgian style wheat ale with a hint of coriander and orange peel.  “I really enjoy this beer when paired with our Fossa Arrosto.  The tanginess of the bbq sauce perfectly complements the mild sweetness of this ale.”

Rob likes to choose regional beers.  “Most of the breweries for our draft beers are within driving distance.”  The Boulevard Brewing Company is in Kansas City.  The New Belgium Brewery is in Fort Collins, Colorado.  Free State Brewing Company is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and the Tall Grass Ale is brewed in Manhattan, Kansas.

“What makes a wine good?”  That was the question posed on Aug. 25^th at the T.E.C.H. wine dinner.  “The occasion,” was Randy Wexler’s answer.   Randy was the representative from this year’s wine sponsor DFV Wines.  We had a great turnout this year.  Thank you to everyone for their positive response.  A lot of money was raised for a great cause!

It is fair time again, and the weather is cooling off.  Now is a great time of year to enjoy dinner or lunch on the patio.  Friday nights we will have live music to entertain you.   We will be celebrating the season and enjoying an evening on the patio on September 24^th with a wine and food pairing featuring Guy Bower, one of Kansas’ premiere sommeliers.

Rob’s summer draft beer recommendation is the Free State Brewing Co. Ad Astra Ale.  It is a full flavored amber ale for the dark beer drinker.   “Not too heavy for the heat of summer, yet has more body and character than your domestic lagers.”  The floral hops balance the malty sweetness of this ale.  The bonus is that it is from Lawrence, Ks!

Shalah recommends trying a crisp dry Tamas Pinot Grigio to beat the heat.  The apple and citrus notes in this wine are complimented by a hint of underlying mineral.  It is thirst quenching and a great pairing to salads and light pasta dishes.  It is from the Central Coast.

Holy smokes!   It’s hot, hot, hot!  We are in the midst of the dog days of summer here at Jillian’s, but that hasn’t slowed us down.  We have been busy with class reunions and summer weddings.  We had a successful scotch pairing before the heat of July moved in and the caramel gelato at the Taste It Downtown last week was amazing!

We are gearing up for our annual TECH Wine dinner August 25^th.  FYI, the menu looks incredible!  Delicato Wines will be featured.   Tickets will be available through TECH.  The last week of September we will host a wine and cheese pairing on the patio with Guy Bower, one of the premier sommeliers in Kansas.

Every Friday we are featuring new candidates for our menu.  Come in and try one of these delicious dishes.

This has been a busy year at Jillian’s!  We have already hosted a couple of wine tastings and enjoyed a night with guest chef Luciano Mattalo from Luciano’s  in Mulvane, KS.  We participated in a Third Thursday Taste It and hosted an evening of music on the patio with David Vidal!  Most recently we provided an incredible Easter and Mothers Day Brunch!  In the midst of all this activity we have also introduced our new martini menu and wine list!

Jillian’s isn’t slowing down either.  We are preparing for more guest chef’s, Third Thursday’s, and live music! Our most exciting future endeavor is a Wine and Cheese pairing, on the patio, with Sommelier Guy Bower.  We would also like to open up a dialog with our guests about food and wine.  If you have any suggestions or recommendations for us, we would love to hear from you!

We have chosen two of our favorite wines to tell you about this month.  Rob recommends the Justin Cabernet.  This cabernet is a full bodied fruit forward red with balanced tannins and a long finish.

Shalah recommends trying the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio.  This pinot grigio is consistently good year after year.   A crisp dry white with a light body and pale straw color is pleasing to a variety of wine drinkers.  Slightly sweet with some floral aromas and hints of peach, it has a tangy elongated finish.

Come by and sample our reserve to determine your favorite!

JILLIAN’S RESERVE LIST

WHITES AND SPARKLINGS

Chalk Hill Chardonnay         50

Moet White Star                  85

Dom Perignon                      200

PINOT NOIR

Coppola Director’s Cut        45

Patz and Hall                         64

CABERNET

Joseph Phelps Napa             85

Caymus Napa                        120

Stags Leap Artemis              120

Cakebread Napa                   130

RED BLENDS

Spring Valley Uriah              80

Justin Isosceles                     110

NOTEWORTHY REDS

Rombauer Zinfandel            64

*Wines are subject to availability.

Welcome to Spirits Savvy, a wine forum where our love of the spirit comes alive!  Here, Jillian’s Italian Grill will introduce you to our favorite wines and food pairings, interesting facts, and advice from the experts. We would like to share our knowledge and love of wine, while keeping you abreast of upcoming events at Jillian’s.

Do you have a favorite brand, vineyard, or vintage?  Do you have wine-wisdom that you would like to impart? Do you have a funny or touching story about wine that you would like to share?  We invite you to join our love fest for the fermented fruit by sharing your comments, suggestions, and stories.

“What is the definition of a good wine? It should start and end with a smile.” – William Sokolin

Let’s get started…smiling!

Check out our Reserve List