Let's Eat ~ Food Trucks Gorditas Nena's

 

    On your way to Coleman Park, between League Street and Hwy 19, there is a Shamrock gas station, where Gorditas Nena's has pulled up and parked.  Gorditas Nena's is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a. m.  - 7 p. m.  They accept cash or cards and even have service through door dash.  Can't make it to their spot, give her a call and place your order to be delivered for you, 430-201-7915.  I have seen this food truck around town, usually at a gas station and figured she might offer some different choice for her customers, and I should give it a try.  We were pleased with our food selections for this new dining adventure. 

    

    Usurpingly, the gordita was our favorite that we ordered from this food truck today.  With multiple options you can't go wrong with the gordita.  Order more than one and mix it up to find your favorite.  Meat, cheese, beans, or eggs gathered between two flour or corn tortillas.  The flavor was even throughout the gordita and was filling.  One of the reasons she started her food truck was because her friends and family would tell her that the flavor of the food, she cooked reminded them of home or how their grandmother would make their favorite dish.  What a great way to help people feel more connected to the past.  

    I think next time we will have to try a few more.  I always try to pick out a few things from the menu to get the best idea of what each food truck has to offer.  So today we did the Asado gordita, and really enjoyed the whole thing.

    Who can pass up on tacos from a food truck that specializes in Mexican food.  Street tacos are one of my favorite foods and I could probably eat tacos everyday.  She offers a good variety of tacos that will fill you up can are very cost effective to purchase.  Bring your whole family down to try out the gorditas and tacos.

    Last but not least I also picked up the ceviche.  We love ceviche and will order it at almost any location that offers ceviche.  Since it can be different wherever you go, no two ceviche's are alike.  One must always order the avocado to go along with it as well.  Nice sturdy chips help to make the transfer from the plate to your belly that much smoother.  Hers was okay, it had plenty of food to offer but could us a bit more flavor.  Otherwise, the variety was well proportioned and enjoyable. 

    Head on over to give them a call, Gorditas Nena's is a great stop to make for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  Bring a crowd or just yourself, there is something there for everyone to enjoy. 

    

Let's Eat ~ Food Trucks Lou's Country Food

 

    When you head West on Hwy 11/Wild Cat Way in Sulphur Springs, just behind Lowe's you can find Lou's Country Food.  Lou's food truck has been operating for the last four years, while on her day's off from her first job.  When you see her window open be sure to stop by for some good home-cooked, Southern food.  Her specialty is chicken fried steak, that she hand batters, and buys locally.  She makes all her own food and loves to cook for others. Her love of cooking is what brings her to her food truck on her day's off.  In a perfect world she would cook for those around her every day.    

    Before Lou opened her food truck, she and her father had a restaurant in Como called Butch and Lou's; that she closed shortly after his passing.  Now you can find her cooking up all your country favorites in Sulphur Springs.  Her hours are not always the same since she works her food truck on her days off.  Be sure to give her a call 903-335-6334 to place your order or to see if she is open.  When she is open, she will be serving up food from 10 a.m. to 7 p. m. or 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Lou's takes cash or card when you order. 

    You can find all your home cooked favorites on Lou's menu. From sandwiches, burgers, and full meals as well as tasty sides to complement all her main choices.   A hot item are the orders of Pittsburgh hotlinks, get them while they last.  Of course, her plate of the day goes quickly as well.  A crowd favorite is Chicken fried steak, which she was out of, when we stopped by, so we ordered the next best thing, Chicken fried chicken.  

    Since burgers are always a crowd favorite, we ordered a cheeseburger with everything on it.  Boy it did not disappoint.  One more boys said it even matched In-and-Out for flavor and substance.  The cheeseburger we ordered came with everything a good burger should have, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes.  Plus mustard since everyone needs a little bit of condiments on their burger. 

    The Chicken Fried Chicken was cooked just right and battered to perfection.  The chicken was moist, and the portion size was filling.  My seventeen year old, was full by the end of his meal, now that's saying something.  His plate came with two sides and he selected fried okra and French fries.  You can even select a roll or corn bread to go with your plate.  Of course, don't forget the gravy.

    We also ordered a BLT, after all who does not love bacon.  Both kids said that was probably the best thing we ordered. The sandwich was loaded up with plenty of bacon, and just the right amount of lettuce and tomato, to complement each other well.  The bacon was nice, thick, and crispy.  The perfect sandwich for lunch or dinner.

    If you are ever in Sulphur Springs and Lou's is open, be sure to stop by and order any of the great items on her menu.  We do not feel like you will be disappointed at all by her offerings, portion sizes or taste.  Thanks, Lou, for the great food. 

    

Let's East Food Trucks ~ Rancho Las Palomas Taqueria

 

    I have passed this food truck for over a year, while taking my kids to the middle school or making a supply run to Lowe's.  The Rancho Las Palomas Taqueria is located on Wild Cat Way and the corner of 154 at 1707 S. Broadway, St.  He is open six days a week, Monday thru Saturday from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m.  Be sure to bring cash when you order in person or when you make a call-in order to 903-335-0505, otherwise you will have to hit up the ATM.

    For this visit I ordered tacos, because tacos are always a crowd favorite, and I knew each of my kids would love one so that was easy.  I picked out the same one for all of them so that I would have a good base to start with to formulate an opinion.  They loved them!  Hands down they said these tacos were some of the best they have had in town.  Authentic, with great flavor and a traditional street taco style with meat, diced onions, and cilantro.   

    I also ordered a beef torta to see how it differed from the one we used to make at Coffee off the Square.  Plus, I knew one taco would not be enough food for the 17-year-old. The torta is definitely a meal in and of its self.  A full sandwich filled with beef, lettuce, onions and guacamole.  The boys thought it was pretty tasty and would surely order again. "The torta was amazing, it had great flavor," said the 17-year-old.

    Finally, I picked up a quesadilla.  The quesadilla is filled with cheese and beef and also a full meal.  The crispy outside tortilla gave the quesadilla plenty of texture.  White the beef was full of flavor and nice and tender in the quesadilla.  The sauces that came with the meal were perfect and not to spicy, so as not to diminish the flavor of the food.  The 12-year-old said, "this was one of the best quesadillas I have ever had."

    Needless to say, everyone enjoyed the food from the Taqueria truck, and we will plan to go back again. Maybe on our next run to Lowe's.  We hope that you will stop by and explore their menu and find your next favorite meal from the Rancho Las Palomas Taqueria.  

    Let us know your favorite food truck spot to eat at and we will stop by to get the low down for everyone else.  

Let's Eat ~ Reba's

 

    Right on the Hopkins County line is Reba's, located at 1004 Hwy 154, Yantis, Texas, a little bit of homestyle cooking to feed the soul.  Tara and Steve have built their business from the ground up focusing on creating dishes from family recipes to bring people together to enjoy a good meal in a comfortable setting with quick service.  Named after her Grandmother, Reba's strives to help others. 

    The goal behind Reba's is more than just feeding the public.  Eventually they want to help disadvantaged, single parent families get back on their feet.  Reba was a women who worked up to three jobs while trying to raise a family and keep her children fed.  She did this while working in the food service industry after her husband passed away early in their marriage.  Tara took her grandmother's work ethic to heart and wants to help mother's and father's who are alone re-enter the workforce with help from other local restaurant owners and develop a ranch where the children can be cared for and tutored while also helping the parent gain workforce skills.  With a future for growth, Reba's is more than just a place to drop in for breakfast or lunch but also a place with a mission to help those who in need.

    As a former school teacher Tara witnessed first hand the impact of a broken home in the students.  Her desire to start a ranch and help these families begins with the children in mind.  The restaurant is a stepping stone to reach their ultimate goal of purchasing a ranch and impacting the lives of local families in need. 

    Reba's is open six days a week.  The dining room is open weekdays from 8 a. m. to 4 p. m. and Saturday from 7 a. m. - 2 p. m.  While their take away and bakery options are open until 7 p. m. on weekdays and 2 p. m. on Saturday.  While it might seem like a bit of a drive, Reba's offers quick service and weekly specials.  There is plenty of time to head out there and back on your lunch break. Enjoy the whole menu and specials all day.  Two breakfast specials, and four lunch specials come out each week along with their regular menu.  

    All their bakery items are made from scratch.  Which also includes special services such as wedding and birthday cakes.  Sugar cookies, breads and fried pies fill their case daily and you don't want to miss out.  At least ten fried pie options are on the menu each day, with a monthly special to tempt your taste buds.  This months special is a snickerdoodle fried pie.  The flaky, crust melts in your mouth upon first taste.  You won't want to miss this treat on your visit. 

    On your way out after enjoying breakfast or lunch, be sure to grab a pre-made dinner.  Their take and bake options are great for those busy  nights of sports and dance.  Or just because you don't feel like cooking, let Reba's do the cooking, all you have to do is heat, serve and enjoy. 

    Not only can you enjoy their cooking at their brick and mortar store, you can have them come to you for your next event.  Since Reba's started out as a food truck, they can cater at your location.  Their food truck helped to grow their inside location while remodeling.  Be sure to call and ask about catering your next function.

    No matter if you dine in, order out or pick up a take and bake be sure to tip.  The tip jar at Reba's goes to help feed people in need.  Tara pays her workers a daily wage so that the tips can be given back to the community.  No matter what you should always tip, but at Reba's its even more important and impactful.  

    We hope that you will take a trip out to Reba's to enjoy some homecooked meals for breakfast or lunch.  Tara and her staff are ready with a smile and conversation for when you stop by next.  

    

    

Let's Eat ~ Stefanos

 

    When you think of East Texas you do not think of food other than maybe barbeque or Tex-Mex.  In rural East Texas that pretty much goes without saying, but somewhat hidden in Emory, Texas is a little Greek Restaurant called Stefanos.  

    We love to explore and find little hole in the wall places to eat, and Stefanos fills that desire, easily. They offer a good amount of Greek food, to help expand the palate in East Texas.  We have been a few times and each time we have not been disappointed.  

    Since we wanted to explore their menu a little more we ordered a few items we might not have otherwise.  To start we began with their dip sampler, two types of humus, tzatziki and a white bean dip.  I'm a huge fan of humus as it is and their choices were delicious.  The white bean dip had to be my favorite though.  The flavor combination and texture were perfect.  The tzatziki was the only option that I felt was lacking flavor, and maybe it just needed to be paired with a dish as the condiment instead of a dip in its self.

    Their limited special that day, was a Greek Creamy Tomato Tortellini and Lobster Bisque.  The soup had good flavor, but seemed to be lacking a thickness that I associate with a bisque.  Other than that the soup was tasty, even on these hot Texas, summer days.  I loved how it had tortellini in the soup and bits of lobster.

    For our main course, we combined Greek food with East Texas and had a basket of Greek French Fries.  An inventive way to get those East Texas people try something new with something that they are already familiar with.  Feta cheese and lamb top the fries with little explosions of Greek flavor.

    We also had a grilled veggie pita.  The veggies were cooked perfect, just soft enough to be done, with a little bit of crispness in each bite.  They made me want to recreate these at home.  I'll let you know how that works out later.

    Of course you cannot forget about dessert.  We went by way of tradition and had baklava but made with pistachios.  Definitely a dish made to share, the sweetness is always so much when eating baklava but worth it in the end.  

    We really enjoyed our meal at Stefanos, and hope that you too will head down to Emory to explore a bit of homemade Greek food in East Texas.  Be sure to check their Facebook page for  hours of operation, right now they are only open Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. - 9p .m. and Saturday 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.   They also list their daily specials there, so it's a good resource to see what might be new that you would enjoy.