Posted 9:55 pm Wednesday, January 30, 2013
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Palestine to celebrate Mardi Gras
Staff Reports
An expanded Mardi Gras celebration will be staged Saturday in the city of Palestine.
The third annual Main Street Mardi Gras Parade will begin at 5 p.m. in the Palestine Main Street District. Prior to the parade, a new event called A Taste of New Orleans will be from 1 to 5 p.m., showcasing chefs presenting free food demonstrations.
Another attraction will be local wineries offering wine tasting during the afternoon.
The Main Street District will host the pre-parade A Taste of New Orleans celebration. Louisiana-style cuisine prepared by local chefs and paired with local wineries will happen each hour. Children’s activities, art and more will fill the shops and streets before brightly colored New Orleans-style floats roll by during the parade.
The Main Street program and The Friends of Main Street, a nonprofit organization for the Main Street District, joined forces with the Mystics of Time Mardi Gras Krewe to host the parade and celebration.
“The continuing goal of the event is to offer a memorable family-time that draws people locally and from surrounding areas to our wonderful downtown,” said Jean Mollard, president of the Main Street Board for the City of Palestine.
“We encourage people to make an afternoon of it and enjoy everything Main Street has to offer. The entire board is excited to join the Mystics of Time and all the other local organizations that make the event so much fun,” said Laura Westgate, Main Street manager.
At 1 p.m. Chef Jack Kraatz of Bella Sera Ranch and Texas Vineyard and Smokehaus will be featured.
Kraatz is self-taught in the culinary arts after his interest in cooking began as a young man. As the executive chef at Bella Sera Ranch, he has created a menu that specializes in Italian sauces, Texas smokehouse and southern-style cooking. He will demonstrate his favorite appetizers Savannah Shrimp, Crab Cakes and Jalapeno Poppers.
The demonstration will be inside Lee Loveless Photography, 101 W. Oak St.
The third annual Main Street Mardi Gras Parade will begin at 5 p.m. in the Palestine Main Street District. Prior to the parade, a new event called A Taste of New Orleans will be from 1 to 5 p.m., showcasing chefs presenting free food demonstrations.
Another attraction will be local wineries offering wine tasting during the afternoon.
The Main Street District will host the pre-parade A Taste of New Orleans celebration. Louisiana-style cuisine prepared by local chefs and paired with local wineries will happen each hour. Children’s activities, art and more will fill the shops and streets before brightly colored New Orleans-style floats roll by during the parade.
The Main Street program and The Friends of Main Street, a nonprofit organization for the Main Street District, joined forces with the Mystics of Time Mardi Gras Krewe to host the parade and celebration.
“The continuing goal of the event is to offer a memorable family-time that draws people locally and from surrounding areas to our wonderful downtown,” said Jean Mollard, president of the Main Street Board for the City of Palestine.
“We encourage people to make an afternoon of it and enjoy everything Main Street has to offer. The entire board is excited to join the Mystics of Time and all the other local organizations that make the event so much fun,” said Laura Westgate, Main Street manager.
At 1 p.m. Chef Jack Kraatz of Bella Sera Ranch and Texas Vineyard and Smokehaus will be featured.
Kraatz is self-taught in the culinary arts after his interest in cooking began as a young man. As the executive chef at Bella Sera Ranch, he has created a menu that specializes in Italian sauces, Texas smokehouse and southern-style cooking. He will demonstrate his favorite appetizers Savannah Shrimp, Crab Cakes and Jalapeno Poppers.
The demonstration will be inside Lee Loveless Photography, 101 W. Oak St.
At 2 p.m., Simon Webster, owner and chef at Sabor a Pasion Country House & Bistro, and Christine Gardner, food editor of the Tyler Morning Telegraph, will be paired with Granny Muffin Wines.
Webster was born in England and raised in New Zealand where he was classically trained at the New Zealand Culinary Institute through the City & Guilds of London. His experience spans 40 years. In 2004, he opened Sabor a Pasión, creating a restaurant, bed & breakfast, event center, wedding venue, catering headquarters and vineyard.
Ms. Gardner writes feature stories and recipes for the Tyler Paper’s FLAVOR section which is published every Wednesday. She also appears on KYTX CBS19 every Tuesday, demonstrating recipes on FRESH Ideas sponsored by FRESH by Brookshire’s. She has degrees in journalism from Texas A&M University and culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu. As part of her culinary studies, she apprenticed in Sorrento, Italy.
Webster will prepare sausage and shrimp jambalaya, and Ms. Gardner will prepare mocktails.
Their demonstration will be inside Granny Muffin Wines, 301 W. Oak St.
At 3 pm., Lulu Dyess of Fork in the Road will be paired with Sweet Dreams Winery. Ms. Dyess was born and raised in Palestine and always has had a knack for adventure. Her new adventure is Fork In the Road, an innovative food truck with her business partner, Hunter Lohse, a University of Texas graduate and fashion stylist.
Ms. Dyess will prepare a dish called Nola Red Dreams and Rice.
Her demonstration will be inside Lee Loveless Photography, 101 W. Oak St.
Webster was born in England and raised in New Zealand where he was classically trained at the New Zealand Culinary Institute through the City & Guilds of London. His experience spans 40 years. In 2004, he opened Sabor a Pasión, creating a restaurant, bed & breakfast, event center, wedding venue, catering headquarters and vineyard.
Ms. Gardner writes feature stories and recipes for the Tyler Paper’s FLAVOR section which is published every Wednesday. She also appears on KYTX CBS19 every Tuesday, demonstrating recipes on FRESH Ideas sponsored by FRESH by Brookshire’s. She has degrees in journalism from Texas A&M University and culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu. As part of her culinary studies, she apprenticed in Sorrento, Italy.
Webster will prepare sausage and shrimp jambalaya, and Ms. Gardner will prepare mocktails.
Their demonstration will be inside Granny Muffin Wines, 301 W. Oak St.
At 3 pm., Lulu Dyess of Fork in the Road will be paired with Sweet Dreams Winery. Ms. Dyess was born and raised in Palestine and always has had a knack for adventure. Her new adventure is Fork In the Road, an innovative food truck with her business partner, Hunter Lohse, a University of Texas graduate and fashion stylist.
Ms. Dyess will prepare a dish called Nola Red Dreams and Rice.
Her demonstration will be inside Lee Loveless Photography, 101 W. Oak St.
Downtown shops will offer Mardi Gras specials. Green, gold and purple window decorations will be signals that specials are inside. Specials will include 20 percent off any one item at Duncan Depot; 25 percent off any one item at Le’Fashion when a customer says “Let the Good Times Roll;” 50-60 percent off select items at the Co-ed Shop.
Mardi Gras music will be played at Oxbow Bakery and Old Magnolia Shop.
Maps with details will be available at many locations downtown.
In addition to the sales, various businesses will host an artist or activity. Participating artists include a face painter and a silhouette artist. There also will be a caricature artist that features both black and white and color sketches. A donation was made of art supplies to allow children an opportunity to cut and color a mask for the parade.
A highlight for the Main Street District 2013 parade will be the inclusion of live music during the parade provided by Dave Washburn’s Three-Quarter Fast Jazz Band and Bruce Flett’s Rhythm Section Band. The Espuelas de Plata mariachi band also will make a return appearance.
The parade will start at the Anderson County Courthouse, proceed down Avenue A to West Oak Street and make its way through the Main Street District to the Visitor Center.
For more information regarding the Mardi Gras Parade and Celebration visit www.facebook.com/palestinemainstreetor call the Visitors Center at 903-723-3014.
Mardi Gras music will be played at Oxbow Bakery and Old Magnolia Shop.
Maps with details will be available at many locations downtown.
In addition to the sales, various businesses will host an artist or activity. Participating artists include a face painter and a silhouette artist. There also will be a caricature artist that features both black and white and color sketches. A donation was made of art supplies to allow children an opportunity to cut and color a mask for the parade.
A highlight for the Main Street District 2013 parade will be the inclusion of live music during the parade provided by Dave Washburn’s Three-Quarter Fast Jazz Band and Bruce Flett’s Rhythm Section Band. The Espuelas de Plata mariachi band also will make a return appearance.
The parade will start at the Anderson County Courthouse, proceed down Avenue A to West Oak Street and make its way through the Main Street District to the Visitor Center.
For more information regarding the Mardi Gras Parade and Celebration visit www.facebook.com/palestinemainstreetor call the Visitors Center at 903-723-3014.
