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 ~ Tito's Ricos Tacos

 

 

   Happy New Year and welcome back to the Oaks Bed and Breakfast dinning out series "Let's Eat."  This year we are going to feature local food trucks that are in and around the Hopkins County area.  So if you have a suggestion please drop us a line on social media or send an email to let us know where you think we should head out to next, info@theoaksbandb.net.

    Our first visit this year is to Tito's Ricos Tacos.  Typically they are located behind the fire station on Bill Bradford across from Windsor Plaza in Sulphur Springs.  We drive by there all the time and so I could hardly wait to check out their eats.

    As you can imagine they have tacos, quesadillas, Mexican sandwiches, burritos and breakfast burritos.  There is bound to be a favorite that you can find and enjoy.  If you do not want to eat in your car they have a couple of picnic tables behind the truck to enjoy your food at.  

    I took my lunch back to the bed and breakfast to enjoy on our deck, since the weather has been pretty mild for January.  I picked up a few different options so the kids could let me know their favorite.  I asked the cook what is their best item and he told me quesadillas so of course we tried out the beef steak quesadilla.  Everyone really enjoyed it and found it to be their favorite.  They were even nice enough to make me a cheese only quesadilla, which was great. 

    I also picked up Marinated Pork and Chicken Fajita tacos just to add some variety into the meal.  The tacos were good but everyone enjoyed the quesadilla the best.  I should have picked up a sandwich too to see how they make their tortas, since back in the day we used to throw those down as a daily special at Coffee off the Square.  Maybe next time.  The red and green sauce that came with the quesadilla were on point.  A little more heat with the green than the red but each added wonderful flavor to an already great tasting meal. 

    Be sure to swing by Tito's Ricos when you are in town or passing by, I don't think you will be disappointed.  Next month we will stop by our next Food Truck looking for the best options in the county.  

Travel East Texas ~ Quitman

 

    Just past Lake Fork going South on 154 from Sulphur Springs, is a little town called Quitman, Texas.  This little town is the county seat for Wood County and boasts a quant downtown area.  Downtown Quitman wraps around the Court house on three sides with restaurants and shops.  The fourth side houses an office building for People's Electric Coop.  

    Our favorite place to visit while downtown Quitman, is Speakeasy Coffee House at 103 N. Main Street.  They boast a standard coffee menu, and have some specialty drinks labeled after famous individuals from the 20's.  They offer some delicious looking bakery items and grab and go dining options if you are unable to stay for a while.  The shop is set up with multiple seating areas, that match the name with an adorable upstairs area, where you can host a small event.  I really love the upstairs feel at Speakeasy and imagine guests dressed to match the décor.

    Downtown Quitman also has a few places to dine, if you are looking for breakfast or lunch.  Wing Dingers and Jan's Restaurant and Grill, are two such places to drop in for a good meal.  Wing Dingers, located at 107 N. Main Street, has the perfect menu for game days. Wings, burgers, pizza and all your fried favorites.  While Jan's, located at 101 W. Lipscomb, offers a full breakfast and lunch menu for all your dining needs.  They features a typical home style cooked menu with burgers, salads and chicken fried steak. 

    We choose to eat Mexican food at Peraltas located at 607 S. Main Street.  Peraltas offers the standard Tex-Mex flavors, that Texans have come to love and expect.  The restaurant is located in an old house, that they have converted into a restaurant.  You never know who you might be dining with because you can't see all the seating spaces.  Which I suppose, could be half the fun.  The mushroom quesadilla was flavorful and filling.  While my dining partner had a full plate mixed with a variety of options, none of which stood out but all tasted as expected.  

    The city park, James Stephen Hogg, in Quitman is well outfitted for people of all ages to stop by and visit.  This 27-acre park houses a botanical garden and three historic homes, one of which is a museum that tells more about the history of Quitman and the Hogg family.  

    The downtown square boasts a few shop to check out and holds events on various weekends.  Coffee and cars seems to be a regular monthly event on the square, so drive up your classic, stay at The Oaks bed and breakfast and then show off your old time beauty.  Quitman is a quick visit from Sulphur Springs, and the coffee is worth the stop.

Let's Eat ~ Plain and Fancy

     

    This week we dined at Plain and Fancy, located at 120 Main Street, right on the square in Sulphur Springs.  Plain and Fancy has been a Sulphur Springs tradition for over twenty-five years.  With sit down, call in and delivery options available to customers, there is no excuse for missing breakfast or lunch from Plain and Fancy.

    Plain and Fancy is open six days a week from 7:30 a. m. - 4 p. m. Monday thru Friday and Saturday from 10 a. m. - 4 p. m.  Their menu is simple and satisfying for each visit.  With a variety of sandwiches and salads to select from.  Today I enjoyed a tuna salad sandwich, with chips and a pickle.  

    Other guests enjoyed an egg salad, salad or a salad medley plate.  I even took lunch to one of my kids and ordered from the kid menu.  We were both surprised that the turkey roll up did not have a tortilla, and that it was just turkey and cheese.  His lunch did come with, chips, drink, pickle and the infamous "Sparkle Cookie." The kids meal is a good value for the price.

    I have always loved how they will display student art throughout the year from the various schools in the district.  I feel that is a great way to give back to the community and celebrate those young artists with their art on display at a local restaurant.  

    Plain and Fancy will also be more than happy to cater your event.  Be sure to reach out if you need food for your group. Sandi will help you curate a menu that all your guests are apt to enjoy.  Check out Plain and Fancy the next you are staying at the Oaks while in Sulphur Springs.  

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. 

    

Let's Eat ~ Sakura

 

   

     When we ask the kids what they want to eat for dinner, if we give them option to eat out, the choice is usually between two spots.  Sakura is one of those spots my whole family enjoys dining at.  Sakura is a relatively new restaurant to the Sulphur Springs area.  They feature sushi and hibachi style meals.  There is something for everyone in our group to choose from, and the portions usually work out that no one goes home hungry.  They manage to satisfy the voracious appetite of the 16 year old.  

    We dropped in for lunch late this past week and were not disappointed at all by our service, or food.  Since my group was smaller we did order a little more food so that we could show a wider variety for this column.  

    We started our lunch off with some appetizer, spring rolls and fried stuffed avocado.  You can never go wrong with a stuffed avocado.  The creamy texture of the avocado, filled with crab and then fried.  Who could ask for a better combination.  Their spring rolls are also fried, with a crispy outer shell and filled with a good mix of vegetables and pork. 

    Each visit to any sushi style restaurant we always order a seaweed salad.  The tangy flavor mixed with the subtle sesame flavor make for a great combination.  Even the kids will chow down on this dish, so we usually pick up a few so everyone can share.  

    We ordered a couple of rolls for our main course and a bento box the the oldest since he eat so much food, he needed that extra bit the box provides.  With just the three of us, we almost had too much food but we managed to make it all disappear.  Those boys mush have been hungry. 

    If you have not yet managed to make it into Sakura, be sure to check them out.  You can order online and go in to pick up your order.  They have a good amount of seating inside for your group big or small.  They also carry a selection of wine and bottled beer to drink as well.  

    We hope you will stop in soon to visit this great, local find and enjoy a meal other than Tex-Mex.  Sayounara! 

Travel East Texas ~ Paris

 

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    About forty minutes north of Sulphur Springs, is the city of Paris, Texas.  We made the journey north to check out their downtown and of course visit the "Texas Eifel Tower."  We made a few stops around the downtown area to check out what shops to venture into and what kind of food offerings they have for visitors.  

    Downtown Paris has a good variety of shops to choose from when visiting.  Antique shops, Olive Paris, an Art and Wine shop, along with a grouping of boutiques.  The length of your stay can depend upon how much you want to explore and what you are looking for in your treasure hunt.  The antique shops we stopped into are delineated into vendor booths, so an assortment of items can be found, if you have the time to look and browse for that special item.  

    Olive Paris, is a great stop to consider to find artesian olive oils and balsamic vinegars.  You can taste before you buy so you are able to find exactly what you want and for what dish you want to cook up.  They also have a range of items for the bar b que master in your family.  With Father's Day rapidly approaching a great gift can be found here.

    Tresors de Paris, is a unique stop, with art, wine, craft beer and of course bar b que items in store.  Their creativity in combining multiple different ways to attract a customer helps to bring in men and women alike who walk away with a package.

   
    We caught  Paris Bakery in the middle of transition from breakfast to lunch.  Prepared lunch sandwiches went into the bakery case as we were leaving after enjoying a cinnamon roll.  No coffee today but I'm sure their coffee would be worth the trip, I noticed a familiar coffee vendor, Addison Roasters, on one of the air pods for drip coffee.  

    We dropped into 107 to see what their menu looked like for a possible consideration for lunch.  While entirely indoors, they have brought the outside in, by creating a space more like an open patio, with clear roofing to give you that feeling of being outside while still remaining cool in the Texas heat.  Their menu had a lot of great options, for everyone, so bring your group and pull up a chair.  

    We did end up eat at Jaxx Gourmet Burgers, I know what you are thinking, why would you make that choice?  They had a portobello mushroom salad on the menu, no change or questions necessary for me to order, and my companion found a choice for himself, that he loved how they cooked, even if the portion was a little on the lite side.  They are obvisouly known for their burgers, stop in if that's the way you want to go.  We loved how they "framed" the t-shirts on the wall, with t-shirt frames, it added a quirky touch to the décor that guests will not soon forget.  

    The central part of the square is a green space, with a fountain in the middle, where people can meet to enjoy a visit, listen to concerts, or check out the farmers market.  The community theater is also downtown on the corner, and open for the season.  Be sure to check out their schedule to see what is coming up next.

    A trip to Paris, would not be complete without a visit to the "Texas Eifel Tower."  The tower is topped with a red cowboy hat and is located by the Veterans Memorial and Love Civic Center.  Be sure to make the stop, not only for the tower but to see and experience the memorial.  The Veterans Memorial is unique tribute to those who have served from Lamar County.  

    Until next time I hope you can find your way to Paris, and find a new treasure or two to bring home.  If nothing else, enjoy some good food and exploration with friends and family. 

Let's Eat ~ Redneck Bar and Grill

 

    I feel like only in East Texas or somewhere in the South would you have a restaurant named Redneck Bar and Grill.  The restaurant's reputation lives up to its name and serves steak, chicken or fish smothered in a gravy or grilled.  

    Redneck is a great downtown dining experience if you are looking for large portions that will fill you up and make your taste buds water in anticipation of what to expect in your dining experience.  We often ask our guests who stay with us at The Oaks, what they want for dinner and direct them to the right options.  Never has anyone come away from Redneck disappointed.  

    In our last visit into Redneck, we both ordered a salad with steak or tuna as our protein option.  Maybe not the best option, for dining at Redneck but both meats were cooked to order and met our expectations. I would have liked the addition of a mixed lettuce selection rather than only iceberg, for a good quality salad.  

    All the other offerings are just what people would expect.  Top Sirloin cooked to your desired finish, smothered hamburger steak, or grilled chicken.  Daily specials are served anytime a patron desires that option.  For example one guest ordered a Risky Chicken, which is a grilled chicken covered in sautéed mushrooms, onions and swiss cheese.  A definite pleasure for the taste buds.

    Redneck also offers a variety of bar drinks, for their patrons to enjoy.  There is a good selection of beer and wine options as well for those who don't want to mix it up.  Since portions are so large they only offer plain cheese cake for dessert.  However, they encourage patrons who want something a little sweet, to walk around the corner to another local option, the Magic Scoop.  

    If you are in need of a space for a larger group event, Redneck has a semi private room available for those functions to utilize as well.  Call ahead and make sure it's available for your special occasion.  Be sure to stop in for lunch or dinner the next time you are downtown.

Let's Eat ~ La Victoria

    

     A wonderful, somewhat hidden, gem in Sulphur Springs is La Victoria.  A little Mexican food market that also happens to have a restaurant inside that serves food during the hours of operation.  Not only can you get authentic Mexican food to eat in house, you can do a little bit of grocery shopping as well.  La Victoria can be found at 1135 S. Broadway St, in Sulphur Springs.  

   

     They offer a good variety of choices for dining in or taking out.  Tortas, quesadillas, tacos and burritos.  Plus they have a daily special for each week day, we happened to go on Thursday (Jueves) and the special was Pozole.  One of our favorites but we all ordered something different.  I really want to go back and eat again on Friday for their special. 

   

     Breakfast tacos can be had, with just eggs or chorizo and eggs.  You can select your meat for your tacos, quesadillas and tortas.  The flavor is genuinely delicious and it makes you want to go back for more.  Not only do they make their dishes from scratch, they fry fresh chips and make homemade tortillas that you can purchase and take home with you.

    

    One of my favorite reasons to visit La Victoria is to enjoy a pastry.  Made fresh on the premises, the variety and scale of pastries can make any carb lover fall head over heals.  

   

     After you have finished eating be sure to check out the rest of the store to find fruits and vegetables that can not be found at your local grocer.  They even have a meat counter where you can get fresh cuts of meat to try your own hand at authentic fair at home.  

    

    Today we enjoyed breakfast tacos, veggie tacos, and beef quesadillas.  All made fresh for us while we waited.  This place was hopping for lunch, so be sure to go early and grab your food to go or stay to dine in.