|
|
|
A cozy destination for an Earth-friendly selection of wines and tapas awaits at Flight 112 Wine House in downtown Elmhurst.
"We're trying to provide an alternative to a regular bar," says Visal Kheam, co-owner of the year-old business with Frank Sibr. "(It's) more of a relaxed atmosphere where couples can come and relax and listen to really good music on a Friday or Wednesday. For us it's more about conversation. We don't have a TV. We don't provide a description of our wines. We like interaction. We want people to ... talk to the person they bring along or to our bartenders. We'd like to ask, 'What do you feel like having today?' and we go from there."
Kheam says most of the wines are sustainable, organic or biodynamic, which means chemicals don't enter the winemaking process. He explains that biodynamic takes it a step further into a holistic mix of mysticality and science.
Madelynn Jenior, visiting from Cincinnati, looks over a menu while waiting for friends at Flight 112 Wine House in Elmhurst. STAFF PHOTOS BY STEVE BITTINGER
"They might not be pruning their vines when there's a high tide or full moon," he cites as an example.
Flights of fancy and wines go hand in hand at the wine house, where art from the adjoining Glitch Gallery decorates the dark walls, set off by an attractive bar, where flights of scotch also are available. The room past the bar features couches.
Sarah and Adam Kovac of Elmhurst enjoy a little fruit of the vine.
Changing seasonally, the menu currently offers Latin-inspired small plate appetizers, and even the spring rolls venture into Cuban territory.
Kheam says their belief in buying local extends to wines, including one from near Carbondale.
"Believe it or not, there are 30 or 40 wineries in southern Illinois, and it's growing," he says. "We're trying to support them as much as we can."
The wine house primarily features selections from California, Washington and Oregon, highlighting different regions during the year. This spring includes an exploration of wines from Argentina and Chile.
Fans of Flight 112 are Tina and Steve Tuszynski of Elmhurst.
"It's a comfortable place to meet friends, so we do go often," she says. "You can get a great bottle of wine for a nice price and share it with friends. The biggest thing that keeps me coming back is the atmosphere and the ambiance. It's intimate ... it's warm, it's cozy."
A cozy destination for an Earth-friendly selection of wines and tapas awaits at Flight 112 Wine House in downtown Elmhurst.
"We're trying to provide an alternative to a regular bar," says Visal Kheam, co-owner of the year-old business with Frank Sibr. "(It's) more of a relaxed atmosphere where couples can come and relax and listen to really good music on a Friday or Wednesday. For us it's more about conversation. We don't have a TV. We don't provide a description of our wines. We like interaction. We want people to ... talk to the person they bring along or to our bartenders. We'd like to ask, 'What do you feel like having today?' and we go from there."
Kheam says most of the wines are sustainable, organic or biodynamic, which means chemicals don't enter the winemaking process. He explains that biodynamic takes it a step further into a holistic mix of mysticality and science.
Madelynn Jenior, visiting from Cincinnati, looks over a menu while waiting for friends at Flight 112 Wine House in Elmhurst. STAFF PHOTOS BY STEVE BITTINGER
"They might not be pruning their vines when there's a high tide or full moon," he cites as an example.
Flights of fancy and wines go hand in hand at the wine house, where art from the adjoining Glitch Gallery decorates the dark walls, set off by an attractive bar, where flights of scotch also are available. The room past the bar features couches.
Sarah and Adam Kovac of Elmhurst enjoy a little fruit of the vine.
Changing seasonally, the menu currently offers Latin-inspired small plate appetizers, and even the spring rolls venture into Cuban territory.
Kheam says their belief in buying local extends to wines, including one from near Carbondale.
"Believe it or not, there are 30 or 40 wineries in southern Illinois, and it's growing," he says. "We're trying to support them as much as we can."
The wine house primarily features selections from California, Washington and Oregon, highlighting different regions during the year. This spring includes an exploration of wines from Argentina and Chile.
Fans of Flight 112 are Tina and Steve Tuszynski of Elmhurst.
"It's a comfortable place to meet friends, so we do go often," she says. "You can get a great bottle of wine for a nice price and share it with friends. The biggest thing that keeps me coming back is the atmosphere and the ambiance. It's intimate ... it's warm, it's cozy."
She says she appreciates the focus on sustainable foods, something important to her as owner of FitLife Training and Wellness, adding, "I can find something interesting and healthy to eat on the menu."
While customers wine and dine, they can purchase a painting or opt for salon or wellness center services that share the building in a synergistic arrangement. The latest addition is the ice cream shop next door called Brain Freeze.
FLIGHT 112 WINE HOUSE
ADDRESS 112 W. Park Ave., Elmhurst
CONTACT (630) 758-0808, www.flight112wine.com
WHAT TO TRY
ITEM Grilled asparagus flatbread
PRICE $10
ITEM Cheese and meat plank
PRICE $18
ITEM Hearts of palm salad
PRICE $10
