Table Talk

When Chuck Ely at The Bottle Shop mentioned to me not long ago that there is a bourbon distillery in Hye and that it might make an interesting story, I had no idea of the learning experience I was about to embark on. I’m no expert, but I certainly know a lot more now about bourbon, how it is made and the fascinating role it has played in the history of our country. The first question: Where is Hye?

The ideal summer dessert, to my mind, is light and cool—no heavy cakes or steaming hot cobblers when the temperatures hover in the upper reaches. The recipe should be simple and not require a lot of ingredients and, if at all possible, it should require minimal, if any, cooking or baking.

This Saturday a lot of folks in Horseshoe Bay will be gathering around Horseshoe Bay Boulevard, Hi Circle North, Red Sail and Quail Point for our annual Fourth of July celebration. With the land parade, boat parade and all the activities planned at Quail Point, the festivities always draw a big crowd.

Many people in Horseshoe Bay are unaware of the existence of a community garden club in our midst. It is not exactly a secret. After all, this fall it will have been operating for 25 years and over that time many people have worked in the garden and enjoyed the harvests.

As we approach this weekend at a time when so many of our military personnel are assigned abroad in perilous situations and we read of the losses, we cannot forget that Memorial Day is, first and foremost, a day of somber remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. The official observance in our country dates to the time of the Civil War, but the red poppy has since become a symbol with which we commemorate those men and women.

Traveling south on Highway 281, you pass through the small town of Blanco about 40 miles from Horseshoe Bay. The town, which dates back to 1856, is experiencing some growth these days to the north and south, but the historic square is still the main center of interest. On the east side of Main Street stands the old Blanco County Courthouse, which was built in 1885-1886.

On March 27, Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard, about 20 miles southeast of San Antonio, was the colorful scene of the second annual Olives Olé Festival presented by The San Antonio Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier. This organization, which I have written about previously, is comprised of women who are distinguished members of the food, beverage and hospitality industries.

I first heard of Perissos Vineyard and Winery last October during the Texas Fall Fest, where many Central Texas vintners were represented at the various events. At the time, I spoke briefly with the woman who was offering tastes of their wines and made a mental note that I should visit the newly opened winery in our area “one of these days.” Occasionally I would hear someone would mention it over the next few months and I would make another mental note.

This quotation from the legendary Dorothy Parker says it all when it comes to figuring out what to do with leftover ham, a situation I was confronted with recently when I miscalculated and ended up with over half a spiral-cut ham after hosting the cast party for the Hill Country Theatre’s last production. In my experience, it is inevitable that the amount of leftover ham and ham dishes I have stored in my refrigerator and freezer grows in inverse proportion to the amount of ham ...

A beautiful dinner with a special menu lovingly prepared and served at home certainly has its charms when it comes to a romantic St. Valentine’s Day celebration. But, let’s be honest. On this occasion, most women I know would much prefer the charm of dining out in a fine restaurant (actually, come to think of it, on almost any occasion).