Around Town ~ Clemetine

 

        A long standing staple of Sulphur Springs, Yard by Yard, has successfully changed hands to become Clementine. Ready to celebrate their one year Anniversary on May 31st, Clementine has quickly become a local favorite for plants, coffee and community. Located at 612 Church Street, they are open 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday and 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday except for special events. To book your party or event call and speak to Hope at 903-885-5371. 

Hope and Steve have many years of experience in the garden and landscape world from having a landscape business in Dallas that they sold to make the jump to owning Clementine. Never fear, if you have any landscaping needs they can still help you out.  If you purchase a tree they will plant it for you as an install. Do you need landscape design services and lawn care? Look no further, they have become a one stop shop for all your outside gardening needs. 

The Cafe Market was developed as a way to draw in the community for a location to meet up and join with friends and family alike. The market is a great place for the community to hang out and experience the garden. Making it more shoppable. You can find indoor plants, garden essentials, and of course coffee. The market is the perfect setting for remote work space  in a different environment.

The garden center is set up for landscapers and the home gardener.  Bulk orders for landscaping needs as well as single plants to adorn your home garden are easily found and purchased when you visit.  You can stroll through the garden center that looks more like an arboretum than a traditional garden center.  Displays are set up for guests to determine if they like the look and feel of the placement of plants, to use in their own home garden.  

They even have a veggie patch that demonstrates great ways to add in a garden to your own home easily.  Of course, any veggies that they have grown can be purchased in the Cafe, while some will be used in the food that they make on site.  It’s really a great way to see and know where your food comes from or to discover new ways to grow the items you love. They also bake all their items on site, have seasonal soups, salads and specialty coffee. Breakfast and lunch items, with specific seasonal offerings. 

Hope stated that the “staff has been great, and working well with each other.” This has allowed them to offer parties and classes.  They can accommodate up to 40 people seated in the back room, and love to host on Sunday when it can be the whole location. Many of the classes they offer are for free on Saturdays on how to grow things.  You can find classes on the website clementinenursery.com or on Facebook and Instagram as well. 

They don’t plan to stop there.  They are expanding behind their property towards Houston Street.  Their goals are to expand the cafe garden to  grow a lot of their own veggies, for salads as well as selling over stock. All of their veggies are organic and they plan to add in chickens one day as well. 

Along with expanding their own business they are trying to pull in other businesses, they are also looking to help support local artists and others with hand crafted items.  Their space provides a great one to display unique art pieces in multiple forms.  They want you to know that everyone is welcome and it’s a place to experience new things.  Stop by for a visit soon.

Around Town ~ Villa Del Mar

 

        Time flies when you are having fun and that can’t be more true when owning a restaurant.  A new Mexican food restaurant opened just last September and we finally made our way over to check out Villa Del Mar.  Located at 326 Industrial Drive E, Sulphur Springs, and open Sunday - Thursday from 11 am - 10 pm, and Friday - Saturday from 11 am - 11 pm.  On special event  nights they are open later.  Of course, you can hop in for happy hour from 2-6 pm during the week and grab a drink.

Diego and I chatted for a bit before the evening rush to find out what the best dishes are and when the musical talent will be arriving next.  If you have not been inside the building in a while, there is a raised platform towards the front that allows for bands to come and perform.  This Saturday is when they will next have a live band, performing from 8 pm - 12 am.  And then a mariachi band will play on Saturday, February 14.  This Saturday, come and see Pilotos Del Triangulo, no cover fee, order some food and drinks and enjoy the music.  

Villa Del Mar is not your typical Tex-Mex, while they do have some crowd favorites on the menu their focus is more seafood, with that great Mexican flavor.  Think Coastal Mexico, with a variety of seafood choices to fill your plate and your tummy.  By far the favorite dish at the restaurant is their seafood tostadas.  Three fried corn tortillas, topped with a variety of items including some seafood favorites.  The other crowd favorite is molcajete, and their seafood option is the most selected one.  A bowl filled with octopus, shrimp, a delicious sauce and so much flavor.  

Of course I should have asked about the favorites before we ordered but what we ordered was just as delicious.  Shrimp nachos, chicken enchiladas, full shrimp dish and a brisket dish that had a great kick.  If spice isn’t your thing, be sure to ask if you can have your dish a little bit milder, even my spice loving group, was looking for their water glass.  

If water is not your beverage of choice, Villa Del Mar offers a full bar with plenty of beers on tap or in the bottle.  Customize your drink with specialty tequila or grab one to sip on during your meal.  Or ask for some classic mixed drinks such as a Paloma or house made Margarita. You will not be disappointed with your choice. 

We hope that you will stop in and visit Villa Del Mar soon and discover Mexican food from the ocean is just as delicious as that from Texas.  No matter if you are there for just a meal or to enjoy the band, you won’t go wrong with a visit.