Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

Simmons Bank

The Texas Bucket List – Mitchell Spur Collection in Gatesville

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Gatesville – There’s not much more synonymous with our state than the spur.  Heck we’ve even got a professional basketball team named after them. But over in Gatesville they’ve got so many spurs that I’m told a horse won’t step one hoof into town.  After our visit, I can see why!

Coryell County is home to a great deal of Fort Hood. Just north of the massive military base is Gatesville, a small town with a love for spurs. “It means everything to us. It really does,” said Ervin Adams, the President of the Board of Coryell County Museum.

Established in 1985, the Coryell County Museum tells the story of the county that’s been around since 1854. Here you’ll find the county’s original jail that Sam Bass was jailed in in 1878 for disturbing the peace. You’ll see some of the most detailed and decorated doll houses I’ve ever seen. And they happen to have the largest spur collection in the world. “Pretty much the whole museum is centered around the spur collection,” stated Ervin.

The Mitchell Spur Collection is massive and it’s put Gatesville on the map. Local coaching legend Lloyd Mitchell amassed this collection of over 10,000 spurs in his lifetime. “Coach Mitchell was a special man, he did a lot of things in his life and then just did this collecting on the side,” explained Ervin.

How did a small-town football coach get into that? “Well, I married the Mitchell’s youngest daughter,” stated Grayson Wetzel, the son-in-law of Lloyd Mitchell.

Grayson knows this collection well.  He married Charlotte Ann Tootie Mitchel and he first set his sights on the substantial spur collection when he met his future father-in-law in 1965. “They sent me outside with her daddy. Out in the back of their house there were two old wooden buildings. Both of those buildings were crammed full of spurs and other western memorabilia. I spent the afternoon out there in hog heaven,” explained Grayson.

After that first meeting, Grayson knew he was saddling up for a long ride with the family. “As we were finishing up the visit that afternoon he said, ‘Young man, you’re welcome to come back anytime. Just bring a spur.’ So I made it my goal to do that from that time on,” said Grayson.

Grayson took us on a tour of this massive collection, and it sure does live up to its reputation! The museum has around 6,000 of the spurs in the museum. “It’s hard to display all of them,” stated Grayson.

The main exhibit consists of the most unique and storied spurs, even spurs owned by Jackie Kennedy. There’s even a colossal spur in this sizable spur collection. Then there’s spurs that showcase some unique artistry. “One of the display cases shows Gal-Leg spurs. And as I’ve done programs through the years, I say Gal-Leg spur just like that. I find that many people have no clue what I’m talking about. On the shank of the spur, the heel bands got decoration on it. Looks like a lady’s leg. So in history books or other books, you’ll find them called Gal-Leg, or sometimes they’ll say Lady-leg spurs,” explained Grayson.

So just what was it that made a football coach from a small-town start collecting this particular piece of ranching equipment? “As a young man, he was headed out west, headed towards Yellowstone to work, but he was working on a ranch that’s on the way in New Mexico. Says he was riding through the pasture one day and he looked down and saw something shiny. Says he got off his horse, kicked the dirt around, and sure enough there was a spur. He said, ‘I picked it up and I’ve kept it.’ And then said, ‘I’ve been looking for the mate to it ever since.’,” explained Grayson.

Surprisingly the spur collection has spurned interest in a tool that some folks don’t even know what it’s for anymore. “Everybody knew about spurs back then, past my generation I’m not sure how many know about spurs,” stated Grayson.

“A lot of people don’t even know what a spur is and when they walk through the door they just want to know what a spur is and take them and show them what a spur is. What does it do? Why’d they use them? And we’d have to tell a story about what they’re used for. I’m serious. We’ve had people walk in the door and don’t know what a spur is or what it was used for or anything,” explained Ervin.

So if keeping the western heritage and history of Texas is something close to your heart or you’re just looking for a spur of the moment trip, a stop at the Coryell County Museum to see the Mitchell Spur Collection is a surprising stop on The Texas Bucket List.  “If you’re a true Texan, you’ve got to have a little bit of interest in ranching, cowboys, horses, it can just go on and on. You got to have a spur involved somewhere in it,” stated Grayson.

The Texas Bucket List – Czech-American Restaurant in West

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West – Whenever we stop in West, Slovacek’s is where we gas up and get our favorite kolaches. Now the BBQ is divine at Slovacek’s but if you’re looking for something a bit different in this town known for its Czech heritage, then the Czech-American Restaurant is the check mark you seek.

“I love to make people happy when it comes to food,” said owner Janene Gueringer.  The Czech-American is a laid back eatery that’s been in Janene’s family since 1980. “This has been my only job. I’ve been here forever,” said Janene.

So has some of the help! Her friend Malorie has been with her for over 20 years, Marcy the cook has spent 25 years here, so Janene definitely has a camaraderie of people who are proud to work alongside her! “It’s an amazing feeling, because I think they kind of like me. I’m a great boss,” joked Janene.

That’s because Janene has done it all! For as long as she can remember, she has been washing dishes, busing tables, and putting pivo in pints. “Oh, I could barely see over the bar, like reach the bar. Yep, my dad and all his buddies would be sitting at the bar drinking, having a good time and dad would holler at me, ‘Janine, go grab us a beer.’ So I ran back there. Barely set it on the bar, but…And then I would go run back around the bar and stick my hand out and they’d all give me quarters to go play the video games in the back,” said Janene.

Her mother Patsy was the patriarch of this place and was well known for her perfect pies. Thank God for her, because she has taught me everything I know. So it’s all up here,” said Janene while pointing to her head.

When Patsy passed away in 2015, Janene was adamant about keeping that tradition alive. “It hurt my feelings to make my first pie. It was kind of tough. She took such pride in making them pies and meringues that tall and everybody’s like, ‘Well I don’t like all that meringue.’ Sorry, that’s the way I was taught, and I’ll never change that recipe. I’ll always be a mile high meringue,” explained Janene.

The other popular dishes here consist of anything Czech. Seriously anything. “A lot of Czechs still live here. You have all your Czech last names, and have to feed people what they’re used to,” said customer Eric Kostecka.

“Just the way that it’s made, it’s not the same everywhere and I think that the way they make it is from their family tradition, a good Czech recipe and you can’t beat those kinds of foods,” said customer Stephen Nesrsta.

Well when it comes to Czech food, you know sausage and sauerkraut are going to be involved. “I do like the sausage and kraut sandwich,” stated Eric.

I’m getting it sandwich style with something called the Bohemian. Marcy gets my sandwich started by buttering the bun. While the bread grills up, Marcy throws on some pepper jack cheese and then goes for the pot of gold, a big boiling vat of sausage on the cooker. Once Marcy slices the sausage and slides it onto the sandwich, the sauerkraut comes into the equation and mustard is added as well.

Once the sandwich is ready, Marcy whips up some Czech fries which start with sliced potatoes, and are topped with special Czech fry seasoning. “Cannot tell you what’s in it. That’s my secret,” said Marcy. And now my meal is complete.

As I sat down with this behemoth Bohemian sandwich, it was steaming fresh off the grill from Marcy. The smell coming off those potatoes and that seasoning is sensational and I couldn’t really smell a difference in the kraut, but we hear you can taste a difference.

After one bite, it is absolutely amazing. The kraut definitely has a little sweeter tinge, but it’s not overpowering. It actually compliments everything very well.

“We never leave here with anything left on the plate,” stated Doug.

“It’s a pile so high. Oh yeah,” said Eric.

Well, at least you only have to go all the way to West,Texas for this sandwich, and not all the way to west Texas.

“It’s different than my grandmother’s, but yet it’s their own flavor and every now and then I like the taste of it,” explained Eric.

You know I married a Czech girl, because I figured she could make an Irishman some potatoes like this, but I’ll have to ask her, where are the potatoes like this?

“Czech fries are really good, it’s my favorite,” stated Eric.

And of course you have to finish things off with a little bit of pie which is of course homemade and fantastic.

Well, if you’re looking for the perfect check mark, coming to the Czech-American Restaurant in West is well worth a stop. Thanks to the Bohemian sandwich, those Czech fries and that incredible coconut cream pie, definitely a filling and fulfilling stop on The Texas Bucket List.

“Knowing they’re going to get something good to eat, makes me happy,” expressed Janene.

 

The Texas Bucket List – Boston Terrier Museum in Floydada

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Floydada – Dogs can change a life. Every moment you have with a furry friend leaves an indelible memory.  The laughter and unconditional love a pup can provide proves they really are man’s best friend.

For Bob Hambright from Floydada, it’s Boston Terriers that pull his heartstrings.  “People that have Boston Terriers, that’s the only kind of dog there is,” said Bob.

Bob lives in Floydada and this small Texas town is where he’s been pretty much his whole life. “I never did move away on time. Only time I left here, it was when I was in the army, and I was in ’57 to ’59. I was gone for two years,” explained Bob. In 1968, he married Francis and they spent 44 years together.“She was the highlight of my life, I guess. She was a sweet girl and everybody loved her,” expressed Bob.

The only love that could compare to their dedication to each other was their infatuation with Boston Terriers, so together they created quite the collection. “Well, I had to put that on my wife. She gave me a large sand cast, Boston Terrier on my birthday, in 1991. Then I started to collect,” said Bob.

Bob owns the Boston Terrier Museum, an attraction you’d never expect to find in the middle of a farming community outside of Lubbock. “I love Boston Terriers and I love collecting Boston Terriers. And I got this wild idea. I said, “I’ll just put it in a museum, and collect Boston Terriers. And I enjoyed every minute of it,” said Bob.

Bob’s collection takes up an entire building and if you gave each one of these dogs a bone, these knick knacks would have way more than they could chew. “It took up about half the building, a little bit more. Then I just started collecting a little bit more. And first thing you know, I filled up the building. Then I don’t have room now for anything. I should have got a bigger building,” joked Bob.

From pipes, plates, to patriotic pups if it has a Boston Terrier on it, Bob’s got it. If we had to put a number on it, well. “Just a few thousand. Rounded, just round it off, just to 2000,” said Bob.

“We’ve been crazy about Boston’s forever. I’ve never not had a Boston in my life,” stated Bob’s daughter, Alissa Carter. Alissa not only supports her father’s passion for pups, she feeds into it. “It kind of became a quest for all of us to find something that he didn’t have. So we kind of fed the frenzy as well. Yeah, we have,” joked Alissa. “When he talks about his dogs, he lights up, and it’s amazing what tales he tells. He’s a pretty quiet man. But when you start talking about Boston’s, he seems to perk up and he can spew a lot of information out to you. So it’s just, it’s been a good passion for him,” explained Alissa.

Any idea how many Boston Terriers Bob has had through the years? “I’ve had five. Yeah. I’ve had five. AJ, Arnold, Harley, Sam, Spike. That’s five I’ve had. Probably the smartest one I had, was Spike, the last one. He was smart. He was smarter than I was, that’s for sure,” said Bob.

It’s been said that dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. For Bob that saying has a whole lot of bark.  “I don’t know. They just get next to you, and just fall in love with them. They are just like one of the family. When you lose one, you shed a few tears. I shed a lot of them,” expressed Bob.

So if you’re up for a kookie collection of crazy things dedicated to the Boston Terrier, a trip to the Boston Terrier Museum in Floydada is a great stop, just be sure to bring your dog. “When they come here, they bring their dogs, which I love. Any dog is allowed here,” stated Bob. “If you love a Boston, it’s definitely a bucket list place to come,” said Alissa.

The Texas Bucket List – Texas Hill Country Olive Oil Co. in Dripping Springs

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Dripping Springs – When talking about the Texas hill country, you always picture the rolling hills and massive oak trees. But if you head over to the Texas Hill Country Olive Company in Dripping Springs, you’ll feel like you’re in a whole other place.

“Looking back at the building, I can’t help but feel like you’re in Italy. Especially with those hills back there and everything,” said John Gambini, owner of the Texas Hill Country Olive Company. John is a third generation of Italian and his family came to Texas through Beaumont, he was raised in Huntsville.  Being bred in that bada bing bada boom sort of lifestyle, he is always lingering to do something that resonates with his roots. “You know, we’re really proud of our heritage and that’s really what had been calling me most of my life to do this,” expressed John.

For 47 years John was a builder but now he’s known for all together something else, olive oil. “I tell people I’m an oil man, yes. When they asked me if I’m in the oil business,” joked John.

John and his daughter Cara work side by side at the Texas Hill Country Olive Company always pressing one another to do their best.  “It’s trying at times, because we both have different opinions about things. I’m trying to bring in the new and he’s trying to bring- keep the old, but I think we balance each other out quite a bit,” said Cara. “She’s grown and it’s been amazing for me to watch her grow as a businesswoman,” expressed John.

While these two didn’t have a background in agriculture, they’ve gotten a crash course in it and have been burning the midnight oil since John bought 16 acres in the hill country back in the 2000’s and started planting trees in 2009.  “Our idea was we could, the family could make a living off of this farm, this orchard, for generation after generation, forever, really, so long as we take care of it,” explained John.

With several types of olive trees on the grounds, none of them make table olives, only olive oil. “We’ve got seven extra-virgin olive oils, we’ve got like eight infused olive oils, and 18 different balsamics. So there’s a lot of different ways that you can blend and mix those things and take stuff from the garden and play with that and make it just into something that’s really delicious and wonderful,” explained Cara.

“We’re very passionate about educating people about what extra virgin olive oil really is because there has been a lot of mystery surrounding,” stated Cara.

What exactly does extra virgin olive oil mean? “Extra virgin olive oil simply means an olive oil with no defects. A defect would be a bad smell or taste. It has to be really good. It has to taste fabulous. Everything has to be right from the tree, to the milling, to the temperature that they’re stored at, to the temperature that they’re milled at. And if you do all the things right, and all the stars align, then you have a defect-free olive oil,” explained Cara.

Cara busted out their top three olive oils that range from delicate, medium, to robust.  We started with the delicate. “A lot of people really love it because it’s quite buttery. And I like to call it an everyday oil. We’re not dipping this in bread. This is a challenge. It’s a challenge for those who haven’t tasted olive oil by itself,” said Cara. “I like to cover it with my hand, which is going to keep the aromatics in. And we’re just going to swirl it around a little bit, which is going to help to release the aromatics. Okay. Now we just open it up,” explained Cara

I had no idea how crazy things were about to get. “Okay. Now we sip. Just a little bit and then we’re going to slurp it. And you might want to let me do it first and then you can follow my lead. You got it. So now you’re going to start feeling it. Get a little peppery hint in the back of your throat,” explained Cara.

Turns out olive oil isn’t just good on their amazing selection of sandwiches and salads, it’s actually quite interesting all on its own. “This is the medium. And for our Terra Verde, this is actually my favorite. I like it because it has some grassy notes to it and it makes a really excellent finishing oil,” said Cara.

And finally, the robust, and it was flavorful and delicious! “I personally like it. It’s good for your health,” stated Cara.

The Texas Bucket List – The Last Drive-In Picture Show in Gatesville

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Gatesville – Back in the late 50’s, Texas was home to nearly 400 drive-in theaters. Today there’s only a handful that remain. One of the oldest is in Gatesville and it’s called the Last Drive-In Picture Show.

“I’ve had so many memories here, it pretty much is my second home,” said theater manager Dana Palmer.

Dana is a one man show. Throughout the year, he’s in charge of pretty much every task at The Last Drive-In Picture Show in Gatesville. From the drive-in, the indoor theater, the concessions stand, to the mini-golf course, there’s always something to work on at his family’s business. “I started doing the marquee when I was probably 12 or 13 years old. My dad would say, ‘I don’t want to do the marquee. Will you go do the marquee? I’ll give you $10.’ So I started doing that and I’d start cleaning during the movie, then I started doing projector work and just kind of escalated from there. And I just stayed. I never knew any other job,” explained Dana.

While the indoor theater is fairly new here, being built in 1972, the main attraction has been a part of Gatesville since 1950 and it’s one of the oldest, if not the oldest, drive-in in Texas. “It’s a pretty good while for something to stay afloat,” stated Dana.

Originally known as the Circle S Drive-In, Dana’s grandfather Gene Palmer knew the place very well. As a teenager, Gene took a job at theater and stuck with it. “He just wanted a job real bad. I guess he liked the movies real good. And he said, ‘I’ll do anything, just put me to work.’ And so they had him doing the parking lot and making sure that everybody was where they needed to be, lights off, all that. He just stuck with it until he bought it, I thought that was pretty cool. That’s passion,” said Dana.

Since 1965, it’s been a part of Palmer’s family and that’s not changing anytime soon. “This is all he did. He loves this place. I mean, he could never sell this place. It would kill him I think. This place is his baby. And just kind of being around that I feel like I really should hang on to it. And I do feel like that. I really like the place, it’s pretty good,” said Dana.

Closed only on Christmas Eve, you’ll see the luminous light from the projector radiate south of town 364 nights a year. “I mean, I like doing it. People come up, they’re usually here to have a real good time and it’s always just nice, offering that kind of entertainment, enjoyment for families. And I think I got that watching my grandpa doing it. He enjoyed it. I enjoy it too,” explained Dana.

While the state-of-the-art projector now showcases the latest Hollywood hit, remnants of the old times are still around.  It’s a cross between the new age of cinema and the classic feeling that drive-ins often have. “We keep the nostalgic prices, almost,” joked Dana.

While weekends are busy, the theater just kind of gets by on most nights but it’s still something to do around Gatesville. Kind of a one stop, all entertainment complex for Gatesville. “Well, I wish we would be more, but yeah. It’s either this or Walmart. Go hang out,” joked Dana.

But there is one memory that Dana does fondly remember. “I sat down, actually right about there with my woman I have now. And watched our first movie together. It was, Sweet Home Alabama,” said Dana.

For Dana, this is all about keeping the business alive and well for Grandpa Gene because he never wants to see the Last Picture Show Drive In, ever have it’s last picture show. So he is following in his Grandpa Gene’s footsteps and running the show. “That is hard. That dude, he’s got some big shoes to fill and now I don’t even know if I could even be close. But, it keeps me trying,” expressed Dana.

The Texas Bucket List – La Norteña Tamales in Pecos

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Pecos – When traveling down Interstate 20 in west Texas, you come across Pecos smack dab between Midland and Van Horn. It’s one of those places that most people just pass through unless it’s time for the West of the Pecos Rodeo, I mean seeing the world’s oldest rodeo is a stop on The Texas Bucket List, but if you need a secondary stop to make this sizable journey, La Nortena Tamale Factory should get you there. “It’s been a lifelong thing,” said owner David Castillo. “For me, it was something I was born into,” said David’s son Simon.

David and Simon are the dynamic duo dishing out the family recipe that’s been a part of Pecos for nearly 100 years.“I was actually raised in it because my mom would make me a little crib amongst the sacks of corn. So she’d be working and I’d be sleeping there,” said David.

David’s parent’s Miguel and Celia Castillo bought La Nortena in 1966, David took it over in the 90s. “My dad was surprised that it was me that stuck around. He said, ‘I never thought it’d be you.’,” explained David. “I spent more time with my grandfather than anyone else in my life. So to be a part of it, for me, doing the work really means that he’s still alive and still present in my life,” expressed Simon.

Originally a tortilla factory, Miguel added tamales, menudo, and asado to the menu and it didn’t take long for the tamales to get a reputation. “We were always known for our tamales. Everywhere I went to try to sell tortillas, ‘What about your tamales? Can we buy your tamales?’,” explained David.

So, La Nortena started cranking out tamales and business took off. “I think our tamales are truly a connection to ancestry and the way tamales are made. We still cook and grind corn and make masa from ground corn, which traditionally, that’s the way it started,” explained Simon.

La Nortena is so traditional with their tamales that for years they only had two options. Red or green. Only recently they added a green chili chicken and asadero cheese with hatch chili tamales. “Grandpa started off with the red chili pork tamale. And red chili pork tamales, traditionally you’ll find that at every tamale shop,” said Simon.

“Follow the recipe and hold true to it, and that’s what we try to do. Remembering tradition. It’s been good. I’ve always said, I think I’ve been more blessed than good. I understand that now,” said David.

“When you think about tamales, I think it’s a gateway to traditions. It’s a connection to my ancestors, especially the immediate ones I got the privilege of knowing,” said Simon.

That’s what this family business is all about, remembering Miguel and Celia and the tradition they brought to Pecos. “Pretty much every day if not every other day that we’re talking about him or thinking about him or something’s happening because of something he did. And along with my mom, they instilled this work ethic. It’s a responsibility that I’ve accepted and I cherish. And hopefully, it’ll live on in another past my son’s generation too,” said David.

The Texas Bucket List – East Texas Oil Museum in Kilgore

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Kilgore – Texas is all about oil and it all strart with the state’s first really big boom at Spindletop back in 1901. Today you can find pumpjacks from Beaumont to Midland with roughnecks working throughout the day to collect crude.

Over in northeast Texas, the oil boom wasn’t heard till the 1930’s.  That’s when things got crazy in Kilgore.  “At the height in Kilgore, there were over 1,100 derricks. As you looked across the skyline, you could see them popping up all along,” explained Olivia Moore, manager of the East Texas Oil Museum.

Just a few blocks from the big rigs scattered across the Kilgore skyline, the East Texas Oil Museum tells the story of the crazy way oil exploration exploded in Kilgore. “It not only tells the story, tells the history, tells the oil piece of this area, but it tells the story of the people who’ve lived here,” said Olivia.

Dedicated to the boom that kicked off on December 28, 1930 the East Texas Oil Museum takes a look at what life was like when oil changed the landscape of a little town. “Well, they say that a picture’s worth a thousand words. Well, could you imagine how many words walking into a picture would be,” Olivia stated as walking into the museum.

When walking into the museum, you are greeted with a man hanging from the ceiling that is sure to surprise you.  “We have Buddy,” explained Olivia. Buddy being an animatronic figure of course. “Buddy welcomes you in, talks about electricity coming to the East Texas oil field and then that brings you right into the general store, where we have Mr. Crim, the mayor of Kilgore talking to his customers about the goings on in the East Texas oil field,” explains Olivia. This town, that happens to be inside of the museum, consists of everything that you would have found in Kilgore during the oil boom. One of the most active sites for drilling in Kilgore happened to be right in the middle of town.  An area famously referred to as the world’s richest acre. “Out of that 1.2 acre space, they were able to pull 2.5 million barrels of oil out of that. And a barrel of oil is 42 gallons if that gives you any kind of reference of how much crude that is,” explained Olivia.

The historical pictures of the time help tell the story but actually having some derricks on that acre, well that helps too. “We’re an oilfield town and we’re very, very proud of our heritage,” stated Mayor of Kilgore Ronnie Spradlin.

Ronnie Spradlin has been the Mayor of Kilgore since 2010 and he grew up here.  Back when he was a boy, he took a family trip to Big D and he had one big question. “Where are their derricks? I assumed every town had derricks in it. Ours did,” said Mayor Spradlin. These towering spires dedicated to a time gone by help bring the story of Kilgore’s oil boom back to life.

Each one of these derricks here now, represents pretty much where a derrick was. “There were even more on the block, but we put back the number of them to have a representation of what it looked like,” explained Mayor Spradlin. If there was a building, they would simply knock down the walls and drill straight through the floor, not even pull up the floor! “Yep, the old brick floor from the bank is the next derrick over, and they left the brick there and just drilled through it,” said Mayor Spradlin.

“The oil field itself affected so many people in East Texas. It helped insulate against the great depression. It helped win World War II with our oil getting to the refineries in the Northeast. It just is such a special story. And it needs to be told,” said Olivia.

“The oil business has been like a ride on a roller coaster. There’ve been years where there was more money in town, second highest deposits in the state of Texas back in ’78, ’79. And then when the oil field would crash, people would be unemployed. Our unemployment would go to double digits and in spite of what the nation’s doing. So, we’re have our own little economy that’s totally separate from the rest of the nation,” explained Mayor Spradlin

So the oil continues to churn out of Kilgore, providing Texans with a natural resource for energy and our economy, including bringing people to town to get a look at the lineage of the Lone Star State. “Being transported back in time is something that all people would love to do before they kick the bucket,”joked Olivia.

“If you haven’t been to Kilgore, you haven’t been to Texas in my mind,” stated Mayor Spradlin.

“It’s an everyday reminder of how important oil was to the city of Kilgore and how important it is still today,” said Olivia.

The Texas Bucket List Bobblehead & Big Stuffie Bonanza

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Summer is here which means it is time to travel across the great state of Texas! Take Shane with you for a chance to win big prizes.

The Texas Bucket List Bobblehead & Big Stuffie Bonanza will give you the chance to win amazing prizes, like a stay at the Margaritaville Resort on Lake Conroe, a $500 gift card to The Texas Bucket List Store & Studio or lunch with Shane at your favorite hometown eatery!

HOW TO ENTER: Stop by The Texas Bucket List Store & Studio in College Station or Slovacek’s in West to purchase a bobblehead of Shane or a stuffed version of The Texas Bucket List vehicle, and take pictures with them as you travel around the Lone Star State, or take a family photo wherever you go this summer. No purchase necessary. Post your pictures on social media, tag us, and use the hasttags #thetexasbucketlist #bobblehead #bigstuffie #bonanza.  At the end of the summer, we will pick our favorites to win awesome prizes!

GRAND PRIZE: Margaritaville will treat the winner to a 2-night stay in the Jimmy Buffett suite (based on availability) along with a spa treatment for two, a round of golf, a boat rental, and dinner at LandShark Bar & Grill!  A prize worth over a $5000!

2ND PLACE: Choice between a $500 gift card to The Texas Bucket List Store & Studio in College Station or lunch with Shane and his photographer at your favorite local hometown restaurant.

3RD PLACE: $500 gift card to The Texas Bucket List Store & Studio in College Station or lunch with Shane and his photographer at your favorite local hometown restaurant depending on which prize second place chooses.

We will also have some gift cards to give away from Dairy Queen and Slovacek’s.

The Texas Bucket List Bobblehead & Big Stuffie Bonanza is a perfect excuse to check off some things on your bucket list! So take Shane with you and hit the roads, capture lots of pictures, and share them with us!

We can’t wait to see where you travel this summer!

The Texas Bucket List Bite of The Season 18 – Curb Side Bistro in Odessa

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Another season of The Texas Bucket List has come to a close and it’s time to reveal our five favorite bites from Season 18!  Now this season of The Texas Bucket List was filled with the flavors from burgers, sausage sandwiches, seafood, and good ol’ homestyle cooking that were definitely deserving to be recognized and are all well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List!  But we did have a favorites and these are the Top 5 Bites from Season 18 of The Texas Bucket List!  (CLICK ON PICTURE TO WATCH THE STORY!)

#5 Nana’s Taqueria in Weslaco

Down in the valley, if you haven’t had a lonche, then you haven’t eaten in the valley! Here at Nana’s Taqueria, Roxanna Trevino and her husband have perfected the lonche and that has earned them a spot on this season’s Bite of The Season!

 

#4 Zeitman’s Grocery Store in Bryan

This is not your average grocery store, but this deli and bakery whips up unbelievable sandwiches that are quite big in size and flavor! Not only are the sandwiches all, but they have freshly in-house baked bagels that are the foundation to a delicious breakfast sandwich!

#3 Green Chile Willy’s in Amarillo

It isn’t a true Texas dish if it doesn’t have that little kick of spice! That is exactly what they do here at Green Chile Willy’s with their plate of chicken fried steak that is smothered in a mouth watering green chile gravy that has earned them a spot on the Bite of The Season!

#2 Palermo Pasta House in Round Rock

Benvenuti! In the heart of Round Rock, there is a pasta house with Argentinian and Italian fusion that has earned themselves one of the top spots on this season’s Bite of The Season! From homemade pasta and raviolis, to over 30 options of freshly made sauces, there is no doubt that you will indulge in flavors at this pasta house!

#1 Curb Side Bistro in Odessa

Taking the #1 spot on this season’s Bite of The Season are the sensational sliders and fries at Curb Side Bistro in Odessa! The flavorful sauces and spices that Chef Alejandro Barrientos has created in these sizable sliders has earned him great success as well as our pick of Bite of the Season!

 

 

The Texas Bucket List – Zeitman’s Grocery Store in Bryan

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Bryan – Downtown Bryan is booming in the Brazos Valley. With an assortment of watering holes and restaurants, it’s hard to pick just one. But if a grocery store with a bakery and deli is what you seek, Zeitman’s Grocery is a great stop!

“It hits home. It’s good. You can tell they’re fresh,” said customer Jacob Palat.

“It means a great deal to downtown Bryan,” said Brandi Lampo.

“I love downtown Bryan. The community is hyper-local. They support each other, which I think is amazing,” stated owner Blake Zeitman.

Blake was born in Houston but he spent his high school and college years in the northeast. One fateful trip to the Brazos Valley changed all of that.  “My mom made the mistake of bringing me to a Texas A&M football game and I had a bunch of friends that were here and there were dollar beers and beautiful women. And I was like, that sounds like a good deal to me,” joked Blake.

He grew up Jewish and that kept certain kinds of foods off his plate for a time being. “We didn’t eat pork. We didn’t eat shellfish and then I turned 14 after my bar mitzvah. They let me do what I wanted to do and I became a Texan. So, I ate all the things,” joked Blake.

Take bacon for example. It’s big here and Blake didn’t get to try it till later in life. Now he loves it and so does his stepfather. “He and I both share love for bacon, two Jewish guys from the east coast, eating bacon. He likes to say it’s not pork. It’s bacon. It’s its own thing. It’s a direct gift from God,” joked Blake.

And what goes better with bacon than bread? At Zeitman’s Grocery, you’re in luck because Blake bakes everything in house!  From rye bread to bagels, it’s a smorgasbord of buns. “They make the fresh bagels. You can’t get a good bagel here in town. There are other places that have them but it’s a good New York style bagel,” said Brandi.

“I call it a garlic bagel for a reason. It’s got garlic all over the top, onion bagel, onion all over the top. They’re not kidding,”said Jacob.

“Well, I’m super excited because I’m from New Jersey and Philly was right across the way. So the fact that they have Philly cheese steaks and good bagels, I am enthralled with it,” stated customer Kelsey Evancho.

You heard that right too. Blake’s sandwiches are what take this place to a whole other level. “We just amp them up a little bit,” stated Blake.

“Good local spot to get some really good sandwiches,” said Jacob.

“They’re tasty, they’re delicious, they’re hearty,” said Kelsey.

Well Blake didn’t just want to feature one or two sandwiches, he wanted to feature three! So Blake got started on a couple breakfast bagels and one of his signature Reubens.

First up was the Lox bagel.  It starts with a toasted sesame seed bagel that is made here in house. Once toasted, it gets smeared with double whipped cream cheese. A tomato slice and 1/3 of a pound of salmon swims right on top. Topped with red onions and capers, that’s all she wrote.

Sandwich number two is The Richie Rich. An onion bagel starts this one off. Then while that bagel is toasting, it is topped with over easy eggs, Vermont cheddar and bacon. Lots of bacon! Seven slices of bacon!

This behemoth of a breakfast sandwich is as messy as you’d imagine.

“When you speak of the quality of the ingredients, the bacon tastes better. You can tell they’re putting some good bacon in there,” stated Jacob.

And finally, the New York sized, I mean Texas sided Rueben.  It starts with three slices of seeded rye and a silly amount of sauerkraut and Swiss! Then comes the pastrami that’s cured in house and smoked in house. This sandwich sure is a double-decker! “And then we’re going to take our anti-Putin dressing. We’re going to stack this bad boy. Just like that,” explained Blake while finishing off the sandwich.

Well, now we have the two other sandwiches here at Zeitman’s Grocery and the first one, The Richie Rich, obviously incredible. So now we’re going to move on to the lox, a little bit of a healthier breakfast option, I guess you could say.

First things first, the cream cheese obviously gets everywhere, but it is amazing cream cheese. The sesame bagel brings out so much flavor, but it’s all about that salmon. Absolutely fantastic.

“It’s hard to find a lox, bagel. A true lox, New York style bagel,” said Brandi.

A sandwich with salmon on it might be a fish out of the water here in the Lone Star State, but you want to dive in for this one! “It’s just such a great mix of flavors. It’s smokey, you have the cream cheese, which is just delicious and all of it together. It just works,” explained Kelsey.

Onto the gigantic Ruben, our third sandwich on this trip of The Texas Bucket List. But Blake just has that many amazing things to try here.

“It’s probably one of the best Reubens I’ve ever had,” said Brandi.

I’ve had this sandwich in New York City and this is better!. Normally, I don’t have to eat this much sandwich on camera, but we’re just making sure we got it.

Well, if you’re looking for a bountiful breakfast, full of bacon or salmon, or just one of the most incredible Reuben sandwiches I’ve ever had, come into downtown Bryan and trying Zeitman’s Grocery is definitely well worth a stop, on The Texas Bucket List!

“Texas is a melting pot of cultures and people, we all came from somewhere and we got here as quick as we could and we’re serving up great food. The size of Texas pallet,” stated Blake.

“To have a place like this, that I think is so unique and so different. It opens Texans up to a whole different realm of food. Again, I think it’s incredible,” expressed Kelsey.