LET'S CELEBRATE

by
Maryann Miller

 

People in Winnsboro sure love a party and there was plenty of reason to celebrate the last Saturday in January. Local businesses and individuals who had been named the Best of the Upper East Side of Texas by the County Line said thank you to the magazine, the city, and the community in a big way. Market Street was closed off from 2-4 in the afternoon and there was a huge block party, hosted by Winnsboro's Main Street Committee. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon, and lots of folks came to meet the winners and sample some of the goodies from the restaurants.

Crossroads Coffeehouse and Music Company, which had been named the Best Music Venue, gave a free concert. Entertaining were Lynn Adler and Lindy Hearne, accompanied by Kate Hearne and Eugene Allen on fiddle. Lynn thanked the County Line publisher, P.A. Geddie, for her tremendous support of Winnsboro. "It is really such an honor for us to be recognized in such a well-respected publication," she said. "And we thank you for all that you do to showcase all of East Texas."

Crossroads offers concerts nearly every Saturday night on their unique stage that replicates the front porch of a Mississippi Delta farmhouse. They attract some of the best names in music and Diddly Squat even did a live CD recording there. The setting has also been used for community events, luncheons and dinners, birthday parties, family gatherings, and other special events.

Bodacious Barbecue has fourteen locations in Texas, and the Winnsboro location won Best Barbecue. They offer hickory-and- oak-smoked barbecued beef, pork ribs, ham, turkey, and sausage meals with choice of two vegetables. People can dine in, take out, or have a meal delivered by FedEx. 903.342.1210.

Serving free barbecue to visitors on Saturday were (L) Jessica Gloria and Anna Haney, who also serve customers at the Winnsboro site.

The Winnsboro Bakery & Cafe won in several categories. They were named Best Breakfast, Best Sweets, and were runner up in Best Sandwich and Best Salad. The award-winning breakfasts include the standard, eggs, meat, home fries, and toast. They use fresh baked bread in a selection of sourdough, wheat or rye and cinnamon raison for French Toast. Breakfast is served Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-10 a.m. 903.342.6119.

On the sweet side, the Winnsboro Bakery & Café specializes in a made-from-scratch sour cream pound cake and German chocolate pound cake that can be purchased in the store or Online as gifts. They also offer amazing cinnamon rolls, the leftovers which become their signature bread pudding.

Pictured here is Jeff Heath, owner, with Jeni Douglas, part of the wait staff. "Winning the "Best of Awards" has definately helped our business," Jeff said. "We've had new customers who didn't know we served breakfast come in to try our award winner and thought it was so good that they came back again for lunch. But
what puts the icing on the cake so to speak is that the combined awards for all the businesses and the City of Winnsboro brings people to town from all over. The increased traffic benefits us all.".

Peralta's in Winnsboro and Quitman tied for Best Tex-Mex. The Winnsboro restaurant has only been open a little over a year, but it has the same quality of the Quitman site. In addition to authentic Mexican dishes and Tex-Mex, they offer a special Mexican shrimp cocktail, carne asada, chicken and beef, salads, and for dessert chocolate cheesecakes, sopapillas, and flan. Open seven days a week. 903.342.5303, 813 S. Main in Winnsboro --- 903.763.5020, 607 S. Main in Quitman.

Double C Steakhouse won Best Chicken-Fried Steak and Best Steak. They offer hand-cut Angus steaks -- rib-eye, flat iron, New York strip, top sirloin, chopped sirloin, country fried, and chicken-fried. The chicken-fried steak - made with a secret recipe - overflows the serving plate and satisfies the most robust appetite. Double C is open Monday-Wednesday 4:30-8 p.m., Thursday-Friday 4:30-10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 206 Market, 903.342.3111,

Double C is owned Sandy Crone, and the Casons: Randy, Karen, and Justin. Karen is pictured here with Tim Carmichael, owner of Thee Hubble House, which was named Best Bed & Breakfast.

Thee Hubble House located just a few blocks from the historic downtown area of Winnsboro, is nestled in a beautiful setting of magnificent old trees and beautiful landscaping. Guest have access to a pool, as well as comfortable areas to sit outside and enjoy the peaceful setting. For those who simply cannot be disconnected from technology, there is free wireless internet.

Thee Hubble House is also the home of Rebekah's Restaurant, where guests enjoy a complimentary country breakfast. The restaurant is also available for lunches and dinners on request. It is a great setting for a special celebratory dinner, and Tim, Gary, and Sara, do all they can to make guests feel special and comfortable.

Cibo Vino won for Best Pizza and Best Restaurant. Wesley Purtee, the pizza chef, creates magnificent varieties of Napolitano style pizzas. These are not your standard American version of the pie. Selections include the margherita, which is named for the Queen of Spain; the Tuscan olive onion with feta; the Quattro formaggi with mozzarella, feta, smoked gouda, and fresh shredded parmesan; and the balsamic glazed pomodoro with glazed grape tomatoes, olives, onions, mozzarella, and basil. They’re all flash baked in wood-fired ovens imported from Naples, Italy. Other menu items include lasagna, tilapia, veal rib chop, osso bucco pork roast, lamb chops, angel-hair pasta alfredo and pomadoro, penne pasta art, Italian chicken breast, stuffed pasta, honey-lemon chicken, and more. Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. 218 N Main, 903.342.0028, .

Brennan Murray, pictured here with his father, Rick (L) and Wesley, is a familiar sight in the restaurant and around town. He is an engaging young boy who loves working in the restaurant and meeting people. "I think they named me best young chef," he said.

LouViney Winery & Restaurant, now located in Sulphur Springs, was named Best Winery. It got it's start in Winnsboro, and their wines are sold locally at Ladles to Linens. They offer their home-grown blends of grape wines along with a selective salad, appetizer, sandwich, entrée, and dessert menu. They have a wide variety of wines and also created and sell the Miranda Lambert Lines, that include private label kerosene blanc du bois, crazy ex-girlfriend sweet white, electric pink blush, belle sweet red, country road 233 merlot, and red 55 blended dry red. They are open Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 206 Main in Sulphur Springs, 903.438.8320.

The City of Winnsboro was honored with several awards. They won Best Annual Event for Autumn Trails, the month-long celebration every October that includes arts & crafts; antique tractor parade, show, and pull; barbecue cook-off; tractor trail ride; trail rides; camp out; 42 tournament; black powder shoot; taste of Winnsboro; trade days and swap meet; antique car parade, show, and tour; sidewalk sales; pageant; livestock and dairy show; and more. 903.342.3666,

The city was also named Best Afternoon Stroll, Best Improved Small Town, and Best Small Town Downtown. Visitors can enjoy a an afternoon stroll along the downtown streets, shop for antiques, collectibles, western-themed gifts, books, and more. The Trails Country Centre for the Arts has ongoing exhibits and events and is a good place to stop by.The downtown area also offers a couple of convenient mini-parks where people can stop to take a rest. Or they can step into the new Music Station for some impromptu music. The article in the County Line stated "Downtown is in the midst of a renaissance of daytime shopping and nighttime dining and entertainment."

Nina Browning, City Manager, said it was quite an honor for the city to win so many awards, as well as all the businesses. "I think that will impact our city in a real positive way," she said. "More people will be aware of the outstanding events and businesses we have and will want to come for a visit and enjoy what we have to offer."

"I am very proud of the city, the staff, and the downtown merchants," she continued. "We all work together in a collective effort to host these events and help each other prosper."

Winnsboro Gallery won for Best Art Gallery. It is a beautiful setting, featuring antique furnishings and a comfortable seating area for customers to relax and enjoy the paintings and sculptures artfully displayed. The Gallery displays and sells work by a number of Texas artists and is a perfect place to find just the right piece when decorating or looking for a special gift. Owned by Mary Smith, the gallery also offers custom framing. 214 N. Main, 903.342.3438.

The Gallery displays the work of Kathy Rachal, the Winnsboro artist who was named Best Artist. In her studio just out of town that is a remodeled barn, she works in original oil, acrylics, collage, and pastels. She enjoys capturing essences of nature, Native American images, and sea life. Kathy studied art at the University of Texas at Arlington and El Centro College, and developed the Art Spa workshop to inspire others’ creativity. She also operates Gloryhaven Cottage, a remodeled, 100-year-old farmhouse as a retreat for ladies’ groups and missionaries. 972.897.2399. She is pictured here (L) with her assistant, Betty Morrison.

The Outpost Grill in Winnsboro was runner up for the best gas, grub and groceries. Owned by Charley Boles, it is noted for Charley's Special - a lunch plate with beef or chicken on a bed of diced and sauteed mushrooms, peppers, onions, tomatoes and jalapeno's, with melted mozzarella and American cheese on top.

They also have Burger Baskets, Brisket and Chicken Baskets, Southern Platters, Salads, Hot Links, Baked Potatoes and more. 1000 N. Main, Winnsboro. 903.342.8057 or 903.342.3487. They offer call-ahead and drive-thru service.

 

Charley is pictured here with his wife, Debbie, who is a VISTA worker and an active community volunteer.

 

 

 

Close to three hundred people came to the party Saturday, and it was a festive time for everybody. Two girls, Katrina and Alli, couldn't resist the urge to dance while the music played. Katrina (L) and Alli were selling baked goods to help finance a trip to Europe as part of the People to People program. This is a student ambassador program stated by Dwight D. Eisenhower to provide educational travel opportunities for students in grade 5-12. They travel to many places in the world to learn about other cultures and forms new friendships. Alli and Katrina are looking forward to this opportunity.

The County Line was founded in 1999 by P.A. Geddie to give residents and visitors of East Texas a convenient place to find special events, music, and restaurants, and fun, inspirational and informative stories that serve reader’s interests. On their Web site they promise ".... to be a “county line” to connect small towns, big towns, and their rural neighbors." For a full list of Best Of winners and details on each click HERE