Category Archives: Food

From Grounds to Leaves

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There is nothing better than a fresh, hot cup of joe… Or is there?

Have you ever found yourself wanting more from your average cup of coffee? Do you love coffee but get tired of the same thing every day? Sure, you can try different creamers, syrups, and add-ins, but it’s still just coffee… Again.

I urge you to step out of your daily coffee routine and give hot tea a try. Coffee is surely a staple, but the versatility of hot tea is astounding. Hot tea can be found in an impressive variety of flavors to suit any mood or situation. Need a boost in the morning to start your day? Try a bright and citrus-y lemon ginger tea. Need help winding down at the end of a stressful day? Try a soothing vanilla chamomile tea. Feeling festive around the holidays? Try pumpkin spice in October or spiced apple cider in November. No matter the reason for drinking hot tea, there is surely a flavor to suit your taste.

For new tea drinkers, I recommend purchasing a sampler pack. This provides the opportunity to try various flavors without committing to a whole box of tea that might not suit your taste buds. Once you find a tea you like, try amping it up even more by customizing it to your preference. Try adding things like lemon, honey, or cream.

Hot tea also comes in a variety of caffeine levels ranging from maximum caffeine, for those difficult Monday mornings, to having no caffeine at all. This allows anyone to enjoy tea at any time of day (or night… I won’t judge).

In short, hot tea is easy to enjoy in any situation. Of course, it might never fill that special place in your heart that’s reserved just for coffee. However, it can be a delightful supplement for those days when you just want something different.

The Patterson Center and Starbucks

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 You do not need to go far to enjoy a delicious seasonal Fall drink and a pizza or a sub sandwich. The Patterson Center at TAMUT inside has a Starbucks and a place to get food called Ace’s Place. With finals approaching, a cup of joe and some food makes for the perfect brain fuel needed to finish the semester. Starbucks on campus offers the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Maple Pecan, which can be customized as a hot or cold beverage and with dairy or non-dairy milk options. While Ace’s Place offers pizzas and sandwiches. Barista and senior student who works in Starbucks and Ace’s Place, Malik Tucker says, “Students’ favorites are the Cajun turkey and classic Italian sub sandwiches.”

Now that students have been back on campus, Tucker says, “I feel bad for students who can’t get their usual drinks due to supply shortages.” The Starbucks on campus mainly offers the regular drink menu items and Fall specialty drinks. The difference between the Starbucks on campus and the ones off-campus are the cake pops, winter holiday drinks, and merchandise not available at this location. But if a student prefers a winter holiday drink, the closest would be a peppermint-flavored coffee.

But you can go to any off-campus Starbucks locations, which recently released its new holiday drink and brought back some old favorites. Although some may have supply shortages on some menu items and merchandise, the new variety of holiday cups, mugs, and tumblers are out now. Sweet treats and winter holiday drinks are great for this season. Starbucks this year has introduced their newest holiday drink, which is a combination of a sweet treat flavor called, Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. Starbucks has also brought back their holiday favorites and classics such as the Peppermint Mocha, Chestnut Praline Latte, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino, Caramel Brulée, and Irish Cream Cold Brew. Which all can be customized to your liking. Some options are iced, blended, or hot, with a variety of milk options and non-dairy. But you can always ask a barista what all the drink consists of when creating it to your preference. 

The Patterson Center at TAMUT makes it a more convenient way to grab food and drink. But if you are looking for the newer holiday drinks, a 5-minute drive to the closest off-campus Starbucks would be your best bet. Either way, you can enjoy a nice cup of cheer either on campus or off to get through the rest of the semester.

Trio of Tastes Downtown

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Looking for a tasty night on the town? How about three in one?

On October 17, 2019 the Greater Texarkana Young Professionals will be hosting their annual Taste of Downtown at three different locations beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m. The point of this event is to encourage the growth of the downtown area as well as support local businesses. 

From 6-7 p.m. people will begin at Verona Restaurant to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and enjoy a glass of one of the wine specials. The next tasting will be held at Hopkins Icehouse from 7-8 p.m. Hopkins will serve classic American appetizers and your choice of their beer or cocktail specials. Last, but certainly not least, 8-9 p.m. Pecan Point will be giving chef-inspired small plates along with a pint of a craft beer special or Pecan’s signature sangria special. 

All of the food is covered by one ticket price, but participants will be responsible for purchasing their own beverages. Organizers encourage bringing cash so the process will be quick and smooth. The cost for the ticket will be $38 as the early bird special, or $40 the day of. Chamber of Commerce members also receive a discounted price.

The Greater Texarkana Young Professionals is a committee of Texarkana’s Chamber of Commerce. Their goal is to band together young professionals in the local community to network and to encourage fellowship with each other. For info on upcoming events, click here.

Bright Lights, Two Cities

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Sparkling lights, thrilling rides, and deep fried Oreos. Texarkana’s annual Four States Fair and Rodeo is back in town September 13-22. Once a year our small city hosts a fair and rodeo for Texarkana and the surrounding areas. 

The fair has a lot of events to offer, like the Demolition Derby, a rodeo, and a place for Future Farmers of America students to show their animals. The rodeo also encourages people from surrounding areas to be involved. For example, Allison Gill is from Fouke, AR and goes to school in Magnolia at Southern Arkansas University. In recent years she has participated in the Miss Four States Fair and Rodeo. Allison enjoys being a part of this for the opportunities it presents to her to get to serve and know Texarkana better.

Many local businesses and restaurants come together to serve and share, giving everyone an opportunity to get to know their town better.

You do not necessarily have to go just to ride a ride, but maybe go to support our community by coming together simply to indulge in tasty treats and stop by the booths put on by local organizations. 

Growing up, my family’s routine was to avoid the fair all week until the very end due to the costs. We would buy tickets for the rodeo and we would gain free entry into the fair once the rodeo was over. If we were really lucky, I could convince a friend to take us during the week.

As for costs, the fair offers multiple chances for cheaper alternatives, such as a weekly pass and family fun day. All details on prices and dates can be found right here.

 

Marshall Health Nuts

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Healthy restaurants are hard to come by in Marshall, Texas. Just recently a new restaurant opened up called the Health Nut, bringing new varieties of healthy foods that most places in Marshall cannot offer. Health Nut offers foods such as vegan wraps, sandwiches, and tasty smoothies. For snacks, they offer acai bowls and fruit. While this place is quite small, it has a lot to offer the small town of Marshall.

During the grand opening, I was able to talk to the owner, Jane Hollifield. Mrs. Hollifield said her idea behind Health Nut was more of a lifestyle she and her husband developed years ago. It was not money motivated, she simply just wanted to share her healthy lifestyle with others.

Hollifield did not think it would have as large an impact on her community as it did. When asked how she and her husband managed to open up such a trendy restaurant Hollifield said it took them at least three years of consistently saving money and only buying things that they absolutely needed. On Health Nut’s first day open they sold out of everything in just four hours. In the first week open, business did now slow down, but became even busier.

Many patrons interviewed said they really enjoy their food and were glad that something so good came to such a small town. Some even said that Health Nut makes them want to change their lifestyle into a healthy one. Others said they were so motivated that when they got home they threw away all of the fatty foods out of their pantry. This new restaurant is already having a big impact on the small city of Marshall.

MeOmyO! Ville Platte Platters

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A new family owned restaurant has opened in Texarkana, Texas. If you are down for some good Cajun food, this is the happening place for you. MeOmyO’s is now open on State Line Avenue for you to come check out!

Trevor Aslin and his brothers have been in East Texas for quite some time, but were raised in Ville Platte, Louisiana. This interested him in to opening a restaurant to show off his works of art in certain dishes that are dear to him and his family. “Having the whole variety of Cajun food in one place is difficult, so we just like to keep it Ville Platte style,” Aslin said. He went on to explain his step mom Cyn who was also Cajun, showed them to use the ‘trinity’ which (is a combination of onion, bell pepper and celery.

I’ve known this family my whole life and can tell you the flavor and richness in their food makes it Cajun. Many people think of the spiciness, but if it doesn’t have the flavor of the ‘trinity’ it is not as flavorful. Cyn will be visiting often to cook for the restaurant and also share new recipes with her boys. MeOmyO’s is named after an alligator that lives on their bayou property, and the logo has a secret joke, if a customer looks long enough.

Many great things are coming to the menu of this restaurant as they build from the baby steps of this new business. “We will be expanding our hours and adding menu items as time goes on, but we want to make sure we are ready for each step,” Aslin said.  As of February 12th, they posted on their MeOmyO’s Facebook page they are open till 9pm. So, if you haven’t already, try out some crawfish etouffee, Cajun shrimp ravioli, or a Po Boy sandwich. It is located on 2122 N. State Line Ave.

A New De Kalb Cafe

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Are you a local coffee connoisseur looking for a new flavor to try? De Kalb is excited to welcome you to its own little coffee shop—the De Kalb Grinder. The Grinder has been in the works for some time now, and is finally open for business! Located in the quaint downtown area of De Kalb off 992, next to Jody’s Flowers, you’ll find this homey coffee-house.

Photo Courtesy of The Grinder Facebook page.

De Kalb has long needed a specialty coffee shop for students to meet as well as for those on the go to pick up a tasty breakfast. The Grinder opened with a bang as locals swarmed the shop to try all of the drinks. The menu is quite impressive as it offers something to everyone at great prices.

Available sizes vary between 12 and 16 ounces. Their regular brewed coffee starts at $1 with the extra 4 ounces just a quarter extra. Flavors offered are caramel, salted caramel, chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon. Chocolate flavors intensify from there with options such as white, dark, Swiss, milk, and German chocolate. You can choose from hot or cold coffee, or even from three fruity flavors. These choices are not inclusive of specialty holiday flavors or holiday drinks, or any of their traditional coffee options. If you’re unfamiliar with the town of De Kalb the recommended flavor is “The Honey Bear” named after the high schools mascots!

The Grinder offers a cozy and relaxing atmosphere if you’re looking for somewhere to sit back and read a book, or for somewhere with great free WiFi to work on your next project. Along with the great prices and great atmosphere if you visit The Grinder you are supporting a small business as opposed to a corporate organization, which provides more jobs for local students while simultaneously saving you some money.

Photo courtesy of The Grinder Facebook page.

The Grinder is a great option for all passing through the area, or locals who haven’t made time to try it out yet. If you aren’t sure when you’ll make it around the area yet, be sure to keep up with their Facebook at “The De Kalb Grinder” where they post many of their amazing creations. The physical address is 136 N. Runnels St., don’t forget about them next time you make the trek out to De Kalb!

A Fall Fest Fun for All!

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Cooler weather has arrived just in time for fall festivities. Oktoberfest, the first of the fall celebrations, is coming up in De Kalb, Texas. There will be activities galore and fun for all ages, so bring your family and prepare to have fun!

Saturday in the park kicked off the official festivities last Saturday September 29, 2018. Activities started at a fast pace as the Pumpkin Run 2018 registration opened at 6:45 am. Nearly all the runners completed the run, with nearly 150 participating this year. The co-ed softball tournament had an even greater turn out than the run with teams competing throughout the day. Aside from the competitions, other fun games included reality foosball, kick dart, gaga ball, nine square, and more were available from 9 am to 5 pm.

Some attendees were more interested in exercise of the mouth than a physical work outs. There was a doughnut eating contest, hotdog eating contest, and pie eating contest to win the De Kalb title of the year. For those who managed to pass by all of that without a full stomach a $5.00 supper was offered of all-you-can-eat chili. The chili was even homemade and provided by De Kalb area citizens.

The evening ended perfectly with a free concert and dance in the park featuring Deryl Dodd at 7 pm. Local entertainers set the stage for Dodd. Sweethearts and love seekers alike started cuffing season right by dancing the night away. The Trad ‘N Post provided a photo booth for friends and family to save their memories with.

Over all Saturday’s activities were a blast, but the real fun begins this Saturday, October 6th. If you missed the chance to play reality foosball, nine square, gaga ball, or kick darts they’ll all be back with a bang. Face-painting, pumpkin decorating, and an amusement carnival for the kids will be open all day as well. A number of drawings will happen throughout the day for all sorts of goodies.

Live performances will include a magic show and an SNL show put on by the De Kalb class of 2020. There’s even rumor that the city will surprise attendants with a returning street dance. And of course, if you’re needing a break from all the excitement Front Street Junction Grill & Cafe will be open all day to serve you any number of delicious meals.

All proceeds from Oktoberfest activities go towards supporting a number of non-profits in the De Kalb area, as well as others in the west-end of Bowie County. No matter your age, Oktoberfest will be a fun, family friendly option for anyone looking for a great fall day. You will not regret making your way to the tiny town of De Kalb to celebrate fall.

Store to Door Delivery Comes to TAMUT & TXK

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How many times have you been cramming for a test or not feeling your best, and wished groceries, medicine, or any everyday essential could be at your front door? Thanks to Instacart, this luxury is now a reality for the citizens of Texarkana and residents of TAMUT by the start of October.

In less than an hour, your items will be handpicked and delivered from reputable local stores like Albertson’s, Super 1 Foods, and CVS. To open an account, go to or use the Instacart app, select your city, store, and items then choose a delivery window within one hour up to five days. An Instacart shopper receives your information via the app, shops, and delivers the items at your convenience.

There is a delivery fee of $5.99 for orders of $35 or more, but if one signs up for the Instacart Express membership one can get unlimited, free, same-day deliveries for the monthly membership charge of $14.99 a month or $149 annually. Enter the code: HITEXAKANA (01/31/19 expiration) at checkout and get $20 off an order of $35 or more and the first delivery is on Instacart.

In addition to the convenience of store to door deliveries, Instacart plans to employ more than 100 local shoppers. Instacart General Manager David Holyoak says, the Austin-based firm’s website, “we can offer fun flexible income earning opportunities for our shoppers, who ultimately deliver this amazing service to the community.”

To set up an account, search for Instacart on your Google or Apple Play store or check out the Instacart FAQ page.

College Night Life in T-Town

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It’s 7 p.m. on Friday and you wonder, “What is there to do?” You text your friends and ask them if they want to go out and they agree. It’s now 7:30 p.m. and everyone is in the car ready for a night on the town. However, you guys sit in the car contemplating, “What is there to actually do in Texarkana?” Welcome to small-town college life.

Over the past 2 years, my friends and I have unfortunately discovered that Texarkana is not a college town. With the majority of restaurants closing by 11 p.m. and the town spanning two states, options seem limited. Texarkana seems like one of those retirement towns that is unfortunately placed 1 hour away from Shreveport and approximately 3 hours from DFW. So, what can you do? Welcome to a guide for college students in Texarkana.

Food. Texarkana has a lot of options for different foods. From nationwide businesses to local delicacies, you can find anything you want if you talk to the locals. If you’re looking for restaurants close to the campus that isn’t Sonic or Domino’s, you can try Bubble Tea or Mooyah. There are many options for food both fair priced and expensive. Check out the link to see the top 10 according to Trip Advisor.

Attractions. When it comes to attractions in Texarkana, options are limited. If you’re looking for something that is fun for you and a group of friends, bowling is always a wonderful fallback. There are two bowling alleys here in Texarkana: College Bowl and Holiday Bowl. If you’re on a typical broke college student budget, I suggest College Bowl. If you aren’t really into the bowling scene, there are two trampoline parks: G-Force and iJump. Trampoline parks can be pricey though since you typically pay per hour. There is also the Fun Country Park with attractions like an arcade and go-karts.

Shopping. There are many different opportunities for shopping in Texarkana. Whether it be local businesses or going to the mall, there are a number of options. It really depends on how much money you want to spend and how much you like shopping.

Texarkana has so much untapped potential. There are many hidden gems here that are waiting to be discovered by us. However, I wish you the best of luck in getting there before they close for the evening!