38
volume
8
issue
CALENDAR of EVENTS
MAY
13 Mother’s Day
Open 10:45 am serving until 10 pm
JUNE
17 Father’s Day
Open 10:45 am serving until 10 pm
JULY
21 Grandparents &
Grandchildren History Tour
Includes lunch with Nina, begins at 9 am
SEPTEMBER
08 Adult History Tour
Includes lunch with Nina, begins at 9 am
OCTOBER
20 Adult History Tour
Includes lunch with Nina, begins at 9 am
NOVEMBER
10 Christmas
Decorations go up!
NOTE:
Sign up for special events
online @ www.tasteoftexas.com
Students Recite
Travis’ Last Letter
Students from Providence Classical School
visited the Taste of Texas for a school tour
and surprised Nina (and melted her heart!)
when they recited Travis’ last letter written
during the Battle of the Alamo.
spring ‘12
COOKING
MOTHER’S DAY – Sunday, May 13
FATHER’S DAY – Sunday, June 17
Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Taste of Texas.
Honor Mom for her love of your family by bringing her to Taste of Texas for Mother’s Day lunch
or dinner. We will open at 10:45 am and will
serve continuously all day. Mom will receive a
complimentary rose and a family picture as our
gift to you.
On Father’s Day, we open again at 10:45 am for
lunch, and Dad will be presented a Taste of Texas
“Top Chef” grilling apron and a family photo.
There is no better way to celebrate Father’s Day
than to treat him to a great steak dinner with
your family.
Make lasting impressions this Mother’s Day and
Father’s Day. We will set the table for a wonderful dining experience - Celebrate the moment at
the dinner table at Taste of Texas.
MEMORIES OF MOM &
DAD FROM OUR STAFF:
• With 8 brothers and sisters – “There was a
lot of love from my mom and dad around
the table.”
• “My Dad was a good storyteller. That’s where
my long-winded stories come from.”
• “My mom is generous and my dad, resilient.”
• “My dad is super successful despite
education challenges.”
• “God-fearing woman.”
• “My dad liked having fun.”
• “My parents are food lovers! That creates
good times.”
REAL TEXAS HOSPITALITY!
Special “Texas Experience” for
Offshore Technology Conference Visitors
This is your ONE STOP Texas experience for OTC
guests who want to enjoy a little “Taste of Texas!”
• Live Texas Longhorns with
Souvenir Photos
• Live Cowboy Music
• Professional Roping Demonstrations
• On site Western Wear for sale
- Maida’s Belts & Buckles
- Shudde’s Hats
- Cavender’s Boots
Join us Sunday April 29
through Thursday May 3
from 6pm to 9pm nightly
New Documents added to
The Taste of Texas Museum
Nina does an incredible job researching and pursuing some of her
favorite Texas figures and events for all to enjoy. She has added four
new documents to the Taste collection.
Almaron Dickinson was a soldier and defender during the Battle of the Alamo (1800-1836), and is best
known as having been the artillery officer of the small garrison. He was the husband of one of the only
three non-Mexican survivors to live through the battle, Susannah Dickinson. This document from one
of the last Alamo defenders to be killed in action is a rare manuscript signed “Almaron Dickinson Capt”
dated December 10, 1835. Dickinson signs off for a lost horse for an individual serving during the attack
on St. Antonio on Dec. 5 1835.
FAMILY NEWS
Lisa Hendee Blackard stays busy as the mother of Hannah Leigh
Blackard (15 months). Hannah spends her afternoons at the Taste
of Texas while her mom is running the online business. Hannah delights staff and customers and feels very much at home at the Taste.
Lisa continues to operate her Baby Boot Camp program which enables new moms to exercise with their babies in strollers. www.
babybootcamp.com. Lisa invited Edd to come to a class and it almost killed him! Lisa also continues her volunteer work at Freedom
Place. Chris continues to enjoy his career with Shell Oil and loves
being a husband and dad.
Kristin & Corbin Blackford found their first year of marriage was
busy and fun! They established a home in Charlottesville VA, where
Corbin began his first year at UVA Law. Kristin applied for and gained
entrance to the MBA Program at Darden School of Business at UVA.
Now they prepare for a summer of internships for Corbin and work
for Kristin. Kristin loves volunteering with the Junior League of
Charlottesville, VA.
We are thrilled to celebrate the May 5th Wedding of Claudine Moore
Hendee and David Hartland. David has a son Sam (age 8) and when
Taste of Texas Welcomes
GUESTS FROM TAIWAN
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston hosted
a dinner in honor of Director-General Bruce Linghu of North
American Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March. The
guests enjoyed learning more about Texas history and viewing
some of the artifacts.
he proposed he gave Claudine a necklace with “H6” – the combined
Hendee/Hartland crew of six. They have a new home, an SUV full of
kids and sports equipment, and a love to last the ages. This is such
a statement God’s grace and faithfulness for our family. Welcome to
the family David and Sam!
Nina stays busy with daily school tours, early morning boot camp,
and working at the Taste of Texas. This March she ran the Zooma half
marathon with our daughters and 16 friends. Edd enjoys coaching
grandsons in soccer and T-Ball, finishing up the “bucket list of trips”,
and raising new Golden Retriever puppy Marty along with our 11
year old Golden Gus.
In Memory of our son, Edd Kellum Hendee, Barry Sternlicht and
Starwood Capital Investments endowed a permanent fellowship
for Harvard Business School students in Edd’s name. The fellowship
is for HBS students who graduated from the US Naval Academy or
have served in the military. We continue to marvel at the generosity and support that Barry Sternlicht has for our son and his legacy.
God is so good to us.
FUN TEXAS FACTS
1
2
3
4
5
6
True Texas Towns – Baby Head, Bee House, Cut & Shoot, Dime Box,
Ding Dong, Frognot, Hogeye, Hoot & Holler, Jot ‘Em Down, and
Twitty
Too Big For Its Border – Texas is so big two cities are located in
other states. Texhoma, in NE Sherman County has its banks, post
office and much of its business district on the Oklahoma side.
Texarkana, in Bowie County, is one-half of a city; the other half is
in Arkansas. Texarkana’s post office is the only one in the nation
serving two states.
Five-time Golden Globe winner Carol Burnett was born in San
Antonio, Texas in 1933.
While only 36 inches tall when fully grown, the Harvard oak trees
in Monahans Sandhills State Park have roots that grow up to 90
feet deep.
Texas State Bird, the Northern Mockingbird repeats up to 30
songs over its lifetime.
In 2004, 75 % of Snickers bars were made in Waco TX. The candy
was named after a horse owned by the Mars family.
STAFF UPDATES
Shasta Orr will be graduating from the
University of Houston in May with a
degree in Political Science. She will also
be attending Law School in the fall.
Brenden Lackey will also graduate in
May and will be pursuing his MBA in
Finance in the Fall.
Amanda Butler has received her Real
Estate license! Congratulations, Amanda.
Jane H. Long & T.J. Calvitt document is dated February 15, 1833, and is a promissory note committing to pay twenty-two dollars and seventy five cents to a deceased attorney for his services in Brazoria.
Jane Long is known as the Mother of Texas as she was the first known woman to settle Texas and was
one of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred Colonists. She made her home in Brazoria where she ran
an inn, and is buried in Richmond TX. This is a rare treasure of two Texians.
Once again, canoeists Ben Duckett & Jay
Fox will attempt the Texas Water Safari
in June. It is the world’s toughest canoe
race at 265 miles. Waitstaff member,
Jon Garcia and his father Omar Garcia
will also be making the run down the
Guadalupe River to the Gulf of Mexico.
Green DeWitt, was an Empresario in Texas (1787-1835). He founded DeWitt County, one of the most
successful counties in the State at that time. The article signed “G. DeWitt” is his resignation as tax collector for Ralls County dated November 12, 1823. DeWitt County includes the town of Cuero.
Baby News! Mandy & Greg Whitaker
welcomed their daughter Laney June
February 20th.
Mexico – Secretary of State issued a decree, in Spanish, dated November 21, 1833 repealing Article
11 of the immigration law of April 6, 1830. The repeal allowed American immigrants to again flow into
Texas however this concession proved to be too little, too late. Enforcement of the law was a major
cause of unrest among colonists and grievances triggered the Revolution. The five-article decree was
signed “Garcia.”
Congratulations to newlyweds Sara &
Jason Griffis married January 20th.
Stacey Kellum and Andrew Indihar will
be married August 12th.
Meet Our Friend, Bob Tallman
You know him as the voice of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo,
but we want you to know our friend, Bob Tallman, as a compassionate
Christian who is involved in the lives of the children and families of Texas.
Bob spends about 270 days on the road announcing rodeos, large
and small, across the country. He was inducted into the Professional
Rodeo Cowboys Hall of Fame in 2004 and is the six-time recipient of
the “Announcer of the Year” award.
Bob says the Rodeo microphone gives him the opportunity to raise
funds for the two programs he is passionate about: The University of
Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the J.Pat Evans Research Foundation, which helps to prevent
catastrophic injuries that devastate the lives of rodeo cowboys. Bob will host the 13th annual Bob
Tallman golf tournament on April 30th which will reach its million dollar mark in fundraising this
year for both causes. To join Bob in support of these efforts, visit www.bobtallman.com.
Bob also has a line of great grill seasonings which can be purchased at the Taste of Texas or on our
website www.tasteoftexas.com.
FREEDOM PLACE OPENS
Houston has the dubious distinction of being the second largest hub for sex trafficking in the US,
but many people in our community are working hard to change that. We are so excited about
the opening of Freedom Place, the first residential treatment facility and shelter for American
minor female victims of sex trafficking in Texas. The facility will serve up to 30 girls, ages 11
to 17, and will include medical, psychological, spiritual and educational programs. For more
information or to support Freedom Place, please visit www.freedomplaceus.org.
The Taste of Texas Golf Team - Chuck
Heaton, Jon Enlow, Jason Indihar and
Tyler Scott, shot their lowest round of
golf in a tournament - 15 under. Great
job team!!
Justin Wyckoff hand built his first custom electric guitar!
GENA MORRISON –
Staff member celebrates
her 80th birthday!
Our first lunch customer 35 years ago
were Jack and Gena Morrison – precious
couple who lived across the street from
our first location. Over the years Jack
and Gena became not only our premier
customers but developed into father
and mother figures for our staff. Jack
has gone to be with the Lord, but Gena
has come onboard as part of our staff! Gena works the front door greeting
customers, answering the phone, and
warming hearts of both customers and
staff with her gracious smile. This month
Gena celebrated her 80th birthday at the
Taste of Texas, and then went to work at
the front door! Happy Birthday Gena thank you for being such a blessing to us
all over these many years together.
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Celebrating at The Taste Of Texas
It’s always a joy to see our customers
celebrate a special occasion, but we were
especially delighted when the Grindon
and Wood families celebrated yet another
birthday this past December. Jaaron
turned 33, but what really made this
special was Jaaron’s mom, Susan, had all 22
years of birthday celebration pictures from
the Taste of Texas. Pictured here is Jaaron
(now 33) and the father of 2, and Jaaron
when he was celebrating his 12th birthday
just 21 years ago. Thank you for marking
your birthday milestones with us!
Taste of Texas Turns 35!
Nov 19, 1977 we opened our doors for business and met you – our
customer! Thank you for 35 years of your support – for the countless
birthdays, graduations, engagements, career celebrations, and retirement dinners. We can never express how much your loyalty means to
us, and we are thrilled at the prospect of another 35 years of having you
as our customer! Let’s do it again!
Some of our greatest blessings come from watching our staff
transition into adulthood with new careers and experience the thrill
and challenge of becoming parents. If you are a former staff member
please join us November 3rd from 5 pm – 9 pm at our home where
we will host a Former Employee Staff Reunion. To attend the
reunion, please RSVP at [email protected]. Hope to
see ALL of our former staff at the reunion!
TASTE OF TEXAS WINS NATIONAL AWARD
Nina & Edd Hendee have won the award for Excellence in Community Service by Independent Restaurateur Magazine.
This award recognizes an exemplary level of dedication to the community, in addition to success as an independently
owned restaurant. Nina was selected for hosting 12,000 4th grade students each year with Texas history presentations,
for supporting staff educational scholarships, and the Hendee’s continued involvement in the community. A cash
award has been given to the Wounded Warrior Foundation in their name.
The Taste of Texas has also received its 18th consecutive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. We are honored each
year to be selected and will continue to offer a great wine selection at a remarkable value. Review our exceptional
wine list at www.tasteoftexas.com.