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The Fourth Annual Stars and Guitars Country Music Charity

September 14th, 2011

East Texas has a pretty full calendar when it comes to charitable fund raising events. It seems like every month brings another concert, silent auction, art exhibit, or special lecture benefitting a different cause or charity. Not that I’m against any of them mind you, I just find it difficult to keep up with all the goings on in our area. Well, this Friday, another musical event will be held at KE Bushman’s Winery & Celebration Center,and the proceeds go to a great cause. September the 16th, will be the fourth annual Stars & Guitars Country Music Charity Benefit for Parkinson’s Disease Awareness.

Admittedly, admission is not particularly cheap. Vip tickets are seventy five dollars per person or 100 dollars per couple. Included in that cost, is special seating, dinner and an open wine bar. General admission is twenty five dollars a head. General admission tickets, include the concert and two free drink tickets. Additional drink tickets can be purchased for about three dollars each. While the event is spendy, it’s for a good cause and will most likely tend to draw those for whom the cost is moderate. The venue is located in Bullard, at the Kiepersol winery.  

For more information on the event, Contact: Kelly Boutin via e-mail at kmboutin@etmc.org, or call (903) 596-3618. Information can also be found by visiting the following websites: http://www.outhousetickets.com/Venue/Bushman’s_Event_Center/ , or http://www.examples-help.org.uk/anastrophe.htm .

Villa Montez, A Tyler Latin Restaurant Style Mansion On The Hill

January 12th, 2010

Villa Montez has now expanded their patio to wrap around some of their amazing old growth trees that are some of the largest trees of their type in the East Texas area. Since Villa Montez sits up on a mansion on the hill they have trees that grow down in the valley up past the top of their mansions roof. With the new porch wrapping around two of their large post oak trees they have one of the best views and outdoor patios in East Texas. When you order something from Villa Montez you consistently get one of the nicest food presentations that any Tyler Texas restaurant can dish out. I honestly have not seen anything quite like the food presentation that Villa Montez offers their customers. The closest thing to it is Kiepersol restaurant which is another fabulous Tyler restaurant. Kiepersol is located in Bullard and is a bit of a vacation to travel to but the experience is on par with Villa Montez. The difference between the two is price. You will pay an arm and a leg when visiting the Kiepersol winery and restaurant while you will be able to get away with an affordable classy meal and view when at Villa Montez. I recommend asking to be seated on the patio as long as the weather permits as you just can’t beat the fan misters, the view, and the trees while eating a delicous meal presented in a truly remarkable way.

My wife ordered a pork tenderloin dinner at Villa Montez and there were these white crispy things that I had no idea as to what they were but made the overall presentation just right and the little things tasted pretty good as well. I ordered the Sea Bass after many requests by the owner on several different occassions and although I am not one to normally order fish on a menu I was pleasantly surprised. The Sea Bass is now one of my new favorite menu items at Villa Montez and I think you will find it fresh and filling if you order it for yourself. If you are not a fish person and especially do not like the “fishy” taste that most fish give off than the Sea Bass is just right as there is no fishy after taste. If you like to order an appetizer before your meals then please take a look at the Chino rolls. They are basically southwestern egg rolls that come with a jalepeno jelly. These egg rolls are delicious and I order them almost every time. My father in law ordered the steak salad and unlike other restaurants, Villa Montez does not have you asking, “Where’s the beef!” He loved the salad from what I could tell and everyone liked sitting out on the patio.

After dinner, my wife and I shared a creme brule. Villa Montez gets the creme Brule right and not all places do. The creaminess was just the right amount. It was not too sweet and the caramalized sugar on top really hit it over the top. They usually put a couple of berries on top with a dab of whipped cream to make this the top desert in my list on their menu. After you get up I recommend taking astroll around their grounds. They have a very nice fountain and cement bench as well as an herb garden and water fall. The whole facility is truly amazing and I always wonder just how much it cost for the facility and refurbishing it to the degree that Villa Montez has done. The whole experience is remarkable and I really don’t have many complaints. The service there has always been spot on and you will usually see that the waiters participate as a team helping each other with making sure glasses are kept full and the food is delivered on time and to the right table. I assume tips are split up among everyone as the team participation in providing service is always consistently the same unlike most Tyler restaurants who seem to get this major part of the dining experience wrong.

The only thing I don’t like about Villa Montez is their pasta meat combinations. It is only personal preference but I just don’t like the combination and recipe of some of their pasta dishes. I think as long as you order anything else you will be more than happy and you may even like the pasta I am just an italian only type of person when it comes to pasta. Having a latin blend with pasta just doesn’t do anything for my taste buds. Do not be surprised to find one of the chefs or the owner coming by to personally meet you and shake your hand while you are here. When you first arrive you will have a large room with tables to wait before you are seated. You can order an appetizer or drink while waiting for your table and may end up meeting someone new in this little hangout. Expect Thursday – Saturday at Villa Montex to be packed but also expect a wait time for a table at a convenient 20 – 30 minutes at the most. This Tyler Texas restaurant truly gets it right on verey level. Come to Villa Montez and expect to have a 5 star dinner without the 5 star price.

Kiepersol Winery

December 15th, 2009

Kiepersol Winery in Tyler Texas

Are you tiered of the same date nights in Tyler? Is Chili’s and a movie getting old? And are you wanting something more classy than the over populated bar and pubs filled with bar flies? Try the Kiepersol (KE) cellar in the French corner next to David’s Bridal.

KE sells two lines of award winning wines, “4 you”, and also “KE cellars”. Enjoy live music and wine tasting ($1.00). Get something to go, or enjoy the night with music, wine, and cheese and meat trays. You can also get something to eat for dinner while you are there.

KE also has a fine dinning restaurant known for its steaks, fresh sea food, and of course its wine. The restaurant has a dress code, business-casual clothing required. Enjoy this fancy dinning opened Monday thru Saturday for dinner and lunch.

If you need a get away there is also a bed and breakfast available for you. Five rooms available with king size beds and three of them with porches and private hot tubs. Enjoy a romantic private weekend with wine tasting and dinning from their elegant restaurant.

When you are throwing that perfect party or wedding reception, Kiepersol has a the KE Bushman’s “winery and celebration center.” This beautiful banquet hall holds up to 800 people or 500 people if you wish to have banquet seating. They serve food and KE wines and do not allow outside food or catering. The center is located ten miles south of Tyler off of Hwy 69.

KE also has a ranch where they sale top bread cattle, both bulls and cows. And also Kiepersol has many property and estates for sale through their real estate business.

Make your dates getaways, and your getaways perfectly romantic with Kiepersol.