1. Riedel Duck Decanter from Williams-Sonoma. “In our recent ‘Celebrate’ article, Stanley Browne, co-owner and sommelier of Robust Wine Bar & Café, has a wine decanter similar to a Riedel Duck Decanter from Williams-Sonoma. Truly an artist’s take on a chic way to aerate wine, the sculptural design surely makes it a topic of conversation among guests.” – Lauren Schrader, Art Director (Photo courtesy of www.williams-sonoma.com)

2. Founders Standing Wine Opener from Pottery Barn. “My grandparents have a standing wine opener just like this one.  It looks vintage and works great if you know how to use it!  My cousin and I didn’t know how it worked over the Christmas holiday and shoved the cork all-the-way into the bottle. Oops! My grandpa had to come show us how to open another bottle and it worked! I totally recommend this product if you are an expert wine owner. However, I might want to take a few lessons before I try it again!” – Lauren Morris, Marketing Intern (Photo courtesy of www.potterybarn.com)

3. Rapid Beverage Cooler from World Market. “Bottles of wine don’t tend to have a very long, ahem, shelf life in my house. This makes it rather difficult to keep a stylish wine rack stocked with various vintages, but a vino related tool that would see a lot of use would be this rapid beverage cooler. While I’m personally more of a red wine fan, I would certainly enjoy a glass of crisp, slightly sweet riesling, chilled to perfection in under 10 minutes flat.” – Liz Miller, Assistant Editor (Photo courtesy of www.worldmarket.com)

4. Branch Wall-Mount Wine Rack from Pottery Barn. “On the wall of my college-traditional studio apartment hangs a wine rack. It’s made with an obscure design  material, but maybe you’ve heard of it — plastic? The ‘I’ is long, you know. Although I love my homemade, Frankenstein wine rack, I can’t wait to graduate and trade up with grown-up funds. The first addition to my kitchen will be this unique, simple rack to add a touch of class.” – Megan Farokmanesh, Editorial Intern (Photo courtesy of www.potterybarn.com)

5. Vinturi Red Wine Aerator from Sur La Table. ”With the Vinturi Wine Aerator, you can enhance the flavor of a bottle of wine for a smoother finish, all while pouring your guests a glass. Its simplicity makes this tool a must-have for a wine tasting party.” – Melanie Barnes, Editorial Intern (Photo courtesy of www.surlatable.com)

When: Thursday, July 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, 17895 Chesterfield Airport Rd.
Cost: $35 per person
Reservations: RSVP to Jenna at 636-230-9700

A Taste of the Menu:

• Pan-seared Georges Banks scallops with baby sprouts
• Littleneck clams and Prince Edward mussels sauteed in a citrus-basil broth and linguine
• Quick-cured whole roasted side of salmon with dill and peppercorns
• Arugula and shaved prosciutto salad with golden beets, goat cheese and strawberries
• New England-style seafood chowder

Now you have the opportunity to join the staff of St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles for Cooking School with Mosaic – Modern Fusion Cuisine! Pairing delicious wines with savory appetizers, the chefs of Mosaic will piece together a sampling of festive fare.

Cooking School will take place on November 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Construction Appliance Supply Co., 1626 Headland Drive in Fenton. The cost is $35 per person. Call Jenna at 636-230-9700 to RSVP. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot today!

A Taste of the Menu:
Maple-Sherry Glazed Diver Sea Scallops with a Rosemary Skewer

Butternut Squash Soup Shooter with a Crisp Speck Chip (smoked Italian Prosciutto)

Seared Ahi Tuna served on a Lotus Root Chip with a Hon Shimeji Mushroom and Shaved Radish and Ginger Bubbles

Maine Lobster Shooter, Compressed Honeydew, Charred Shishito Peppers and Lemongrass Foam

Scallop Crudo, Blood Orange Olive Oil Tobiko Caviar, Black Lava Sea Salt and Baby Pea Tips

Korean BBQ Pork Tartlets with Goat Cheese Crème Fraiche, Candied Pistachios and Chive

Cooking School with SqWire’s in historic Lafayette Square will include a delectable menu full summer-inspired cuisine. Experience the culinary talent of SqWires’ owner and Executive Chef Bethany Budde, and learn helpful tips for creating a scrumptious seasonal menu that is perfect for a warm weather gathering. Find inspiration for throwing your own summer soirée in our June/July Toss a Party article, Posh Poolside Party.

Photo by Michael Jacob

Join St. Louis Homes and Lifestyles for Cooking School on June 22, 2010, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Construction Appliance Supply Company, 1626 Headland in Fenton. The cost is $35 per person. Seating is limited, so please RSVP soon to Jenna Dunbar at 314-542-6000 ext. 30.

A Taste of the Menu:

• SqWires’ crab cakes with shredded cabbage slaw and a rich lemon butter sauce

• Sweet roasted chicken drummies alongside a fresh cucumber yogurt dip

• Farm fresh spinach salad with sweet craisins, shaved red onion, spiced walnuts and hearts of palm with a strawberry poppyseed dressing

• Flourless chocolate cake topped with a raspberry puree

Welcome to the new-and-improved Design Relish! To make our blog a must-read, we’re overhauling our format and introducing regular “departments” (much like we have in our magazine). This will help us bring you more content about home design, local trends and exciting events in the St. Louis area – all in a more organized format. Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll find!

Relish This
Editor-in-Chief Vicki Pickle and Assistant Editor Katie Underhill round up our favorite design and décor picks. If you’re a fan of our Obsession section in the magazine, you’re sure to love Relish This, too!

Style Scoop
Follow SLHL around town as we scout for the newest styles and trends.

Food & Wine
Inspiring ideas for entertaining, cooking school announcements and the latest news on local eateries.

Eco-Chic
Going green isn’t a trend – it’s a way of life! We explore home design and lifestyle products and ideas that are earth-friendly and eco-stylish.

Q&A
We introduce you to home and design professionals for their expert thoughts on topics of interest.

Around Town
Find out about upcoming events, sales, openings and more on the St. Louis design scene.

Be Our Guest
Guest bloggers from around the blogosphere share their expert thoughts on gardening, home design, architecture and more.

Happy reading!

Vicki Pickle, Editor-in-Chief
Katie Underhill, Assistant Editor

The scrumptious, savory cuisine of Cooking School with Café Napoli offers guests a delectable menu full of authentic Italian flair. Experience the culinary talent of Executive Chef Jeff Davis, and learn helpful tips for creating a colorful menu that is perfect for the start of spring.

Join St. Louis Homes and Lifestyles on March 11, 2010, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Construction Appliance Supply Company, 1626 Headland in Fenton. The cost is $35 per person. Seating is limited, so please RSVP soon to Ally Favre, 314-542-6000 ext. 30.

A Taste of the Menu:
Bacon-wrapped Shrimp
Insalata con Tonno
Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto
Tilapia Involtini
Tiramisu
 

Insalata con Tonno
 

Tiramisu garnished with fresh strawberries
 

Executive Chef Jeff Davis of Café Napoli