The pairing up of a Slow Food event and your Amish custom dining room is a perfect marriage. Slow Food vs. Fast Food is more than a passing idea; for some it is truly a way of life and a way of eating. The Slow Food movement began by Carlo Petrini in Italy has went global at the grassroots level now including 100,000 members in 132 countries. An idea conceived by Petrini’s disdain for the fast food industry consuming our meal time there is now thousands of members around the world. The entire movement, a rebellion against highly processed and quickly devoured meals is not unlike the movement of the 1800’s fathered by William Morris against the mass produced furniture that was overtaking the ostentatious Victorians. Like Morris and his compatriots, Petrini wanted to enjoy the process and the pleasure of the product while ensuring a commitment to community as well as the environment.

The Slow Food movement goes to the root of the love food, quite literally. They feel that in order to preserve the cultural cuisine we must preserve the food plants as well as seeds. They also believe that the domesticated food animals are included in that preservation. Slow Food lovers have formed and are sustaining seed banks that are storing heirloom seeds that may otherwise be lost. The idea of farming within an ecoregion is a big part of the belief system. Like the great orator William Morris speaking out for artisan and craftsmanship in furniture during the Arts and Crafts Movement, the Slow Food movement has local leaders who are responsible for promoting local artisans, local farmers, and local flavors through regional events like wine tastings, and farmers’ markets.

Besides preserving the seeds and the animals used in preparing a Slow Food meal the philosophy of the members is that we should be preserving and promoting local and traditional food products, along with their stories or lore and their preparation. They even host celebrations of local cuisine within each region. They also promote the art of eating quality food and educate consumers on the high risk involved in consuming fast foods. They also help educate consumers on the facts about commercial agriculture and “factory farming” with the high rate of hormones and the environmental impacts.

An heirloom quality solid Native hardwood table created by Amish craftsmen is the perfect place to host a Convivium a Casa. These events bring small groups of the movement’s local membership together to enjoy the pleasure of each others company in the intimacy of a host home. Here they share in the preparation and joys of a fine meal at a fine table. Each host a Convivium a Casa decides on how many people they would like to invite. Small groups of perhaps 6 to 10 people do allow for a more comfortable evening of conversation and fellowship. As a host, you get the honor of setting the menu and plans for the evening, although you can enlist the help of those who will be attending. Attendees and the host do provide the food for potlucks or do absorb or split all costs if not. By determining the format and the costs in advance it will allow members to know how much the event will cost.

New Year’s Eve parties bring together the old and the new to be celebrated and memorialized by one and all. The ritual of good food, great memories and celebratory toasts all mark the end of the old year and the beginning of a new and promise filled year. Unfortunately, some of those toasts are memorable for the wrong reasons. Wine stains and drink rings are often the markings left behind of a good time and not something you will enjoy seeing on New Year’s Day. Although your solidly designed Amish hardwoods and upholstered pieces are protected by ARESITOVAR and hopefully custom made elite table pads, the occasional mishap occurs. Here are some tips from the experts on salvaging your good New Year’s memories and furniture.

RED WINE- While ARESISTOVAR has a tested tolerance to alcohol spills your upholstery and carpets may not have that window of resistance. Wine, especially red wine and even non-alcohol grape juices, must be taken care of right away

REMEMBER- Heed any special care instructions that may have came from the manufacturer. Safe home remedies are best to try before turning to harsh chemicals or paying for a professional fabric cleaning. Whether it is carpet or upholstered furniture, these tips apply.

Some other remedies that many wine drinkers swear by are a simple application of carbonated soda water. This can lift wine stains and other food stains, like barbeque sauce, out of the carpets and fabrics. Another wine connoisseur tip is to deal with red wine spills by using white wine. Odd as it may seem, if you spill red wine you can then pour a glass of white over the stain. The white wine supposedly neutralizes the red wine and the stain seems to disappear before your eyes.

As always, use common sense and care when using any products on your custom upholstered Amish furniture, sofas, arm chairs and ottomans.

Like choosing the right wines your selection of a fine artisan solid wood wine rack was not made lightly. Your goal was to create a striking visual impact for your home or office environment by showcasing your wine collection and tools inside of a piece that itself is worthy of showcasing. You wanted to convey to guests that you are a connoisseur of good furnishings as well as good wines. Like a well designed wine bottle label your home or office designs can invite or detract from your real intent. That is why you trust the artisan craftsmanship of the Amish furniture producers.

Wine producers also consider design elements like visual impact when creating the exterior for their product, the wine label. A single glance at their label may determine whether or not you will purchase their fine fruit of vine to display and serve on your Amish built wine rack. In one glance the art of the label must entice you to add the bottle to your collection or to partake of the content. The wine label is much like a good book cover and must convey that there is indeed an inviting story inside. An artfully designed label will set your expectations for the product.

One prominent producer‘s family, Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, located at Pauillac in the Médoc, owns the wine estate Château Mouton Rothschild. Baron Philippe de Rothschild came up with the idea of having each year’s label designed by a famous artists like the Cubist Jean Carlu, Salvador Dali, Marc Chagall, Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso. The only exception to the tradition created by the late Baron was the unusual gold-enamel bottle for the 2000 bottling.

Much like each individual piece of Amish built fine furniture is inspected and approved before delivery, in the U.S. the Federal government also inspects and approves each and every wine maker’s label. It can actually take months to get a single label approved. There are many regulations to uphold, including but not limited to country of origin, vintage dates, type of wine, alcoholic degree, producer, bottler, or importer. From font size, warning labels and no risqué pictures, wine labels are inspected for every detail.

From baby cribs to bedroom suites, the gifted Amish woodworkers and Amish artisan designers build custom pieces for the entire family. Although every woman will appreciate their beauty, many of these items make particularly nice and very unique gifts for the men in your life. Whether you are buying a gift for a jet setter, a sports enthusiast or an avid home media collector there is no longer a need to buy inferior gifts that lose their value and meaning before the next holiday even comes back around.

By investing in good high end home or office designs you are creating a tradition of sharing heirloom family keepsakes to be enjoyed and passed down for generations, unlike those sweaters and ties he sold at the last garage sale.While there are hundreds of customizable and hand built items that anyone would be delighted to receive this holiday season here are a few of the many personal gift ideas:

WINE RACKS- Solid wood wine racks help store the wine in the proper position in order to keep the cork wet. These distinguished designer pieces fit in nicely with any décor and in fact are a real focal piece to display a nice wine collection and the bar accessories, such as cork screws and wine glasses. Available in several sizes and styles, some even create a mini bar for serving guests.

RECLINERS-The Amish woodworkers have hand created Morris Chairs just like the original. First produced in mass production by William Morris and Gustav Stickley during the Arts and Crafts Mission heyday, this reclining chair has never been out of production or style since the late 1800‘s. Available in upholstered fabrics or leathers these timeless recumbent seats will win the heart of any recipient. Footstools, in matching woods and fabrics are also available.

GUN CABINETS-The choice to own a gun should also include the choice to own a gun cabinet, gun locker, gun storage cabinet or gun armoire. A gun cabinet not only makes for a handsome display of your firearm collection but is imperative for safety, especially in a house with children. By maintaining a well built cabinet, constructed from solid native North American hardwoods, you can lock your guns away from inexperienced hands and store the ammunition in a separate location. Recreational guns that are used not so much for protection but for hunting or target shooting practice can be displayed unloaded behind locked doors or even dismantled and locked away in the cabinet for safe storage.Amish handcrafted gun cabinets are available in finished skip peel pine, red cedar, oak, cherry, hickory and walnut and in single door size that holds five guns, one bow or double doors for up to a dozen guns, one bow.

FIREPLACES-Who would not love their own architecturally beautiful fireplace to sit by on Christmas Eve and sip holiday eggnog? The Amish build a beautiful alternative to the wood burning fireplace with no construction or remodeling needed. Available to be delivered in many designs with optional feature from a marble backsplash, to side glass curio shelves, curio lights, mirrored backs, glass doors and remote controls. You can even add the Dimplex Flame with a more realistic flame effect and 4,600BTUs.

ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS-From 42” console size cabinets to plasma television cabinets with storage below to room sized four piece Entertainment Units; these are a beautiful addition to anyone’s living or family room. All of these entertainment centers and consoles are fully customizable and handcrafted by Amish woodworkers in Northern Indiana to fit TV area sizes of 42”, 48″, 54″ or 66″w. There is ample display space for your television and storage space for your CDs and DVDs.

Amish woodcrafters have carefully considered every need for your home including the storage of wine. Wine is one of the oldest and most widely served beverages in the world and the proper storage and display of bottled wines is critical. Whether you partake yourself or simply like to have it on hand to serve to guests a wine rack is a lovely way to display your collection. The Amish-designed wine rack is perfect for both connoisseurs of fine wines and beginner wine lovers.

Owning a well stocked wine rack allows you the luxury of not having to run out to get a bottle of wine every time you’re ready to enjoy a glass. It also allows you to buy when the prices are down and the stock is available. With an Amish wine rack you can sit back and enjoy a bottle of wine that you personally chose from your own “wine cellar“. It also allows a central organization of wine accessories like serving trays, wine coolers, wine chillers, kneeling butlers, nice serving towels, decorative bottle corkers, corkscrews, coasters, wine tags, wine markers and bottle openers.

Most of us cannot afford or do not have the space for a built in wine cellar. Modular wine racks like the Amish build are the perfect alternate investment because they are custom built to fit anywhere, they are not expensive given their heirloom quality, they can move when you do and they come in every style. A stunning and very impact display idea is to choose a matching pair of Amish wine racks and place them on each side of a dining room, fireplace or den. Not only is this a visually appealing decorative technique it also can allow more storage and a division between whites and reds.

Choosing the right wine rack is important. You want to select one that is going to work well in your existing home décor but also be the adequate size for the amount of wine you have. While the wine rack must blend with your home décor remember that it is also a quality signature piece that should stand out. A well built, well appointed wine rack brings elegance to the room and adds ambience to the environment.

The wine rack is a key item of furniture because of its organizational and space-saving design. Open racks provide a view to the graceful bottles and highly decorative labels and provide safe haven to them. The Amish design their wine racks in a buffet or bar style providing not only storage and display but a table or counter top for serving. The tabletop can stand as a serving area for the wine or even cheese and cracker. Wine glasses and wine bottles can be displayed here, too. Another reason for racking your wine bottles is the nature of the bottling. Remember that storing your bottles on their side is optimal to keep the cork moist. Also avoid exposing the bottle to vibration or temperature change.

With the choices of select Northern hardwoods available in various stains and paired with the durable addition of ARESISTOVAR, the Amish-built custom wine rack is a fantastic option. The Amish offer traditional cherry, maple, red or white oak and hickory hardwoods, all known for their beauty, strength and stability. These expert craftsman offer wine racks in all shapes, sizes and designs, from contemporary to more traditional. Because of the alcohol content in wine it is always recommended that if you use the table top to serve always use elite custom table pads made for buffets to add extra protection.