Wine and Spirits

Tasting Local

Wine and Spirits and now, Coffee and Tea!

Hillcrest Liquor & Fine Wines is your local answer to where to find almost every spirited beverage imaginable. Richard and Tracy are there to help with your selections, whether you are matching up a wine to serve with duck or pasta primavera or are searching for the perfect after-dinner port to serve with cheese.

Each week, they will be sharing their "Picks of the Week" or "Spirited Specials" that are fun and affordable.

Get your glasses ready and head out to 2814 Kavanaugh in Little Rock's Hillcrest neighborhood. Give them a call at 501.663.6249, too, if you want to order anything special.

New this week from Tracy and Richard...."Hillcrest Liquor & Fine Wines is proud to be a part of Tasting Local. What a great forum to showcase the wonderful products we have to offer! A lot of you have grown to trust recommendations by us. And, we can't begin to tell you how much we look forward to sharing more of our favorites with you."

If world-class, awarding-winning wines are on your list to taste and learn about, a trip to O'Looney's Wines & Liquor is a must. Owner Jonathan Looney has collected wines both humble and grand from all around the world. His enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff can tell you the story behind each bottle, explain the flavor nuances and suggest the perfect pairing for the foods you are serving, your budget or event. Whether you are looking a refreshing wine to savor on its own, a bubbly Champagne for the perfect toast or a robust pairing to go with a juicy steak, O'Looney's will pick out the perfect bottle for you to enjoy. Their website, www.olooneys.com has a handy map available as well as a place to sign up for their Private Client Newsletter. Call them at 501.821.4669 or email them from their website and let them know you are coming and what you would like to try. They will be ready!"

Nestled in the delightful Shoppes on Woodlawn in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas, is NEST, a haven for lovers of fine teas and coffees. Owner Angela Byrd has put her experiences from traveling during her military career to great use and opened up NEST to offer delectable teas from Tea Forte and locally roasted coffees from RoZark Hills Coffee Roasterie.

Tea Forte blends together "the Zen simplicity of the Asian tea ceremony, the warmth of the Europen tea culture and the festive, relaxed spirit of America." Each week, Angela will share the story of a different tea with us.

Complementing the global tea tastes of Tea Forte, RoZark coffees are a local prize. This family-owned Rosebud, Arkansas company stocks Arabica beans from around the world and roasts and blends them to perfection. The family's roasting talents and passion for a "great cup of coffee" led them straight to Angela.

Each week a new tea and coffee will be featured in "Appetite for Fun" and also will be added to our weekly meal planning newsletter, The New Clean Plate Club, available at naturalfoodscooking.com

We are so grateful for Angela's service in the military, but thrilled she has retired to NEST. Visit Angela's teas, coffees and accessories at Shoppes on Woodlawn, 4523 Woodlawn, Little Rock. 501-666-3600. She will also do special orders.