Amarillo Magazine | January 2018 by Amarillo Magazine

amarillomagonline.com JANUARY 2018

INSIDE: SHARING HOPE’S NEW CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT HOW TO MAKE FRESH PASTA SAVORY PORK RECIPES FROM OHMS CAFE & BAR

Carla Thurman cuddles baby Angelica.

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Cuddle Up Northwest Texas Hospital’s NICU Volunteers

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CONTENTS

27 39

FEATURES

SECTIONS

ON THE COVER

33 Beyond Bacon You’ll enjoy the three pork-based recipes in this issue, from roasted pork belly and biscuits to a flavorful bone-in pork chop.

21 Cuddle Up At Northwest’s most popular volunteer program, NICU cuddlers get as much out of their work as the vulnerable infants they snuggle. By Jason Boyett PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

27 A Place to Start Over Based in Amarillo, Sharing Hope gives assistance to incarcerated women all over the United States.

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

Perfect Pasta Steve Bautista walked us through the steps required for do-it-yourself pasta.

Contributors/Online........ 6 Out & About.................... 8 The Way I See It.............18 What’s Cooking?........... 33 Events........................... 47 Let’s Eat!........................ 73 Retro Rewind................. 78 20 Questions.................80

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Director of Specialty Michele McAffrey Products/Editor 806.345.3256 michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com

Designer Contributing Writers

Kayla Morris Jason Boyett

Contributing Mason Dudley Photographers Chance Gilmore Shannon Richardson Neil Starkey Shaie Williams Contributing Darren Hendricks Graphic Designer

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appy New Year! We had a wonderful 2017 and we hope 2018 will be even better. We start the year off with an issue full of informative features that we think you’ll greatly enjoy. First, our cover story (see page 21). Being given access to the NICU at Northwest Texas Healthcare System was a privilege we did not take lightly. Watching Northwest’s precious volunteers in action as they cuddled the tiny baby you see on the cover – praying for her, talking to her, and reassuring her – was quite a moving experience. We worked quickly and quietly so as not to cause any stress for baby Angelica, and she cooperated wonderfully. Back in August of 2016 we included Sharing Hope Ministry’s garden in a feature about nonprofit organizations that are slowly transforming the San Jacinto neighborhood. At the time, the garden was a new project, and it was surrounded by a large, empty parking lot. This month, we show you the stunning transformation of that dusty parking lot into Sharing Hope’s new Lucille and Leo Caiafa, Jr. Center for Advancement (see page 27). The modern facility is beautiful, inside and out, with carefully selected decor and expanded resources for women recently released from prison. It is a truly impressive change. As always, we have top-notch recipes to share with you. Chef Josh Fuller created three options (see page 33) that feature pork – pork loin, pork belly, bacon, and double bone pork chops. The skill levels required to prepare the dishes range from quite simple to a little more time consuming, but with results this tasty, it’s certainly worth the challenge. Local pasta expert Steve Bautista guided us through the process of making pasta from scratch, something I’ve always wanted to try. His basic recipe and detailed instructions in “Perfect Pasta” on page 39 will alleviate any fears that making homemade pasta is too difficult. It’s definitely an upper body workout, but I was surprised how quickly Steve transformed two ingredients into some of the best pasta I’ve ever eaten. If you like what you see in Amarillo Magazine every month, I’d love to hear from you. If you have a story you’d like to share or suggestions for us, please email me at michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com. We create each feature with our readers in mind and hope that – like us – you learn something new about our great city every month.

As always thanks for reading,

West Texas Controller

Mike Clayton

900 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79101 806.376.4488 • amarillomagonline.com Amarillo Magazine is a monthly publication of AGN Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent. Letters to the Editor are welcome but may be edited due to space limitations.

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

CO N T R I B U TO R S JASON BOYETT

SHANNON RICHARDSON

Jason wrote “Cuddle Up” on page 21 and “A Place to Start Over” on page 27. He has written more than a dozen books and is the host and creator of “Hey Amarillo”, a local interview podcast. Visit heyamarillo.com and jasonboyett.com.

MASON DUDLEY

CHANCE GILMORE

Mason photographed some of the events in “Out & About,” beginning on page 8. An Amarillo native, he has had an interest in photography since his high school days.

ANDY CHASE CUNDIFF

Shannon photographed “Cuddle Up” on page 21, “A Place to Start Over” on page 27, “Beyond Bacon” on page 33, “Perfect Pasta” on page 39, “Let’s Eat!” on page 73, and “20 Questions” on page 80. See Shannon’s work at shannonrichardson.com and route66americanicon.com.

Chance photographed some of the events in “Out & About,” beginning on page 8. Chance pursues his interest in photography in a variety of genres.

Andy, a local artist, singer and songwriter, has called Amarillo home for more than 20 years. See his artwork every month with Jon Mark Beilue’s column (page 18). Contact Andy at 376-7918.

NEIL STARKEY Neil photographed some of the events in “Out & About” beginning on page 8. Neil owns a video and photography business, For the Generations. Contact Neil at ftgvideo.com.

SHAIE WILLIAMS Shaie photographed some of the events in “Out & About,” beginning on page 8. His work ranges from editorial to portraiture. See Shaie’s work at williamspics. smugmug.com.

amarillomagonline.com ONLINE

EXCLUSIVES

We post photos of Amarillo’s best events – and the people who enjoy them – every week in our Out & About section. Watch for updates on our Facebook page!

Register to win Submit your name and contact information to amarillomagonline.com/contest this month for a chance to win a $100 gift card to United. Last month’s winner was Irene Stalter. CONNECT

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter, and stay up to date with our latest online features.

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Subscribe Email michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com to receive Amarillo Magazine by mail. 6

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OUT & ABOUT

Mentoring Matters On Nov. 3 Mentoring Matters was held at the Embassy Suites Downtown. The luncheon featured Darrin Smith, two-time Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Champion. Proceeds benefited Big Brothers Big Sisters. PHOTOS BY MASON DUDLEY

Paul Evans, Steve Stockton and Angela Brice

Bridgette and Kevin Evans

Sheri Walsh and Tiffany Carter

Cheyanne Davis and Shannon Steward

Sherry Dow, Teri Hooper and Debbie Dodson

Cattle Baron’s Ball The American Cancer Society hosted the Cattle Baron’s Ball on Nov. 4. Held at the Tri-State Fairgrounds, the ball included a live auction, dinner and dancing. PHOTOS BY CHANCE GILMORE

Sam McConnell and Julia Sparks

Brent and Jennifer Gandy

Chad and Ashley Mask

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Alicia Bragg and James Artz

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OUT & ABOUT

Second Annual Veteran’s Day Tournament On Nov. 10 the Second Annual Veteran’s Day Tournament was held at the Amarillo Country Club. Proceeds benefited Life & Liberty Outdoors. PHOTOS BY NEIL STARKEY

Gerri Whitehead, Heather King and Renee Buse

Chase Sheda and Justin Allbright

Michael Burns and Todd Whitehead

Kel Seliger and Charlie Sellers

Turnabout 2017 Turnabout 2017 was held on Nov. 11 at the Bowery Warehouse. This year’s theme was “PASO a Go-Go”. Proceeds benefited the Panhandle AIDS Support Organization. PHOTOS BY NEIL STARKEY

Stephanie Price, Zivorad Filipovic and Elaina Cunningham

Tad Clay and Wendy Alfredsen

Jonas Rios and Doug Lill

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

Vanessa Alcantar, Cristy Chavez and Brenda Jaramillo

Sharon and Floyd Anthony

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OUT & ABOUT

National Philanthropy Day Luncheon The National Philanthropy Day Luncheon was held on Nov. 16 at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. Local businesses and individuals were honored for their volunteer efforts in the community. PHOTOS BY SHAIE WILLIAMS

Nolan and Carrie Huckabay, and Allen Shankles

Amy Lovell and Keralee Clay

Shelley Cunningham and Jan Plequette

Bradley and Maria Speer

Vicki Cuvey and Stephanie Goins

Wine Down & Dessert Wars On Nov. 16 Wine Down & Dessert Wars was held at the TriState Fairgrounds. The event included live music by James Owens, and a wine and dessert tasting. PHOTOS BY NEIL STARKEY

Karen and Andrew Navarrete

Jessie Stanley and ZJ Poirier

Sumr Kelley and Rachel Stroud

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Weston Castillo and Catherine Vogler

Caitlyn Hall and Cynthia Keyes

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OUT & ABOUT

The Nutcracker Ball 2017 On Nov. 18 Lone Star Ballet hosted its annual Nutcracker Ball. This year’s theme was “Waltz of the Flowers”. Funds raised benefited the LSB Guild. PHOTOS BY CHANCE GILMORE

Ryan and Vanessa Hill, and Jaclyn and Michael King

Haylee Loce and Allen Ruff

Carter and Michelle Osborne

Tim and Suzanne Henderson

Kirk and Tiffany Martin

PPHM’s Christmas Open House On Dec. 2 Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum hosted its annual Christmas Open House. The event included a canned food drive that benefited High Plains Food Bank. PHOTOS BY SHAIE WILLIAMS

Justin and Ashley Devore, Terry McAvoy and Tyra Rodriquez

Elizabeth, Alex, William and Michael Wied

Will and Brecken Scroggins

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

Kooper, Kyle, Shasta, and Jase Merrill

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OUT & ABOUT

“Songs of the Season” Electric Light Parade Center City of Amarillo presented the “Songs of the Season” Electric Light Parade on Dec. 1. The downtown parade concluded with the lighting of Amarillo’s Christmas tree. PHOTOS BY MASON DUDLEY

John, Ashlee and Makayla D'Costa

Chase Whitney and Maegen Geoffrey

Leslie and Kent Nix

Kristi and Kent Gray

John and Angie Graves

Breakfast with Santa Don Harrington Discovery Center hosted Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 2. The family-friendly breakfast included photos with Santa, activities, and crafts for the little ones. PHOTOS BY MASON DUDLEY

Sheena, Eve and Steve Martinez

Stella and Brien Hunt

Sage and Stacy Oldfield

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

Mason and Jordan Brawner

Brett and Brandy Moore

T H E W AY I S E E I T

Jon Mark Beilue

A better you in 2018? Take this test first

he biggest problem with New Year’s resolutions is people set their goals too big. They can’t keep up the pace, can’t reach the heights, can’t completely change their behavior or lifestyle. So by mid-February, they’re done. Then they feel guilty and the year is off to a disappointing start. To help, and to see if you can maintain a reasonable level of resolution change, let me offer this multiple-choice test to better help you make lifechanging decisions that will carry you through most of 2018. Choose the best option. (Hint: Choose C). 1. If you are determined to become more fit with more exercise, you should: A. Incorporate a running program through your neighborhood for a minimum of 15 miles a week. B. Purchase a gym membership for one-hour workouts before work three times a week. C. Buy some running shoes and spend six months breaking them in. 2. If you are determined to become more well-read this year, you should: A. Inquire about any local book clubs and ask to join, where you combine fellowship, food and drink and sharing together the work of current novelists. B. Read one great American classic novel each month, approximately 10 to 15 pages a day. C. Stop in Barnes and Noble periodically and leaf through the latest Maxim Magazine. 3. If you are determined to look slimmer and trimmer around others, you should: A. Focus on a low-fat diet with smaller portions. B. Substitute water for all carbonated drinks, and avoid all refined sugar. C. Hang around more fat people. 4. If you are determined to get a new job and broaden your horizons, you should: A. Take a computer class to become more adept in computer skills, thus making yourself more employable. B. Joined Linked In and other online job connections, marketing yourself better to businesses which could benefit from your knowledge. C. Tell your current boss to stick it up his #@*! 5. If you are determined to better manage the stress in your life, you should: A. Take a yoga or painting class, learning to focus on the moment. B. Volunteer for different charities, which takes the focus off you. C. Admit to yourself that going concealed carry to work, where you also keep a bottle of Wild Turkey hidden in your desk drawer, is not the best idea. 6. If you are determined to quit procrastinating and get more order in your life, you should:

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

A. Make a list each day of what needs to be done, and cross off each one as you complete it for a rewarding sense of accomplishment. B. Visualize how you want each day to end, and take the necessary steps each day to fulfill it. C. Put this baby off until June. What’s the rush? 7. If you are determined to cut back on cigarettes during the day, you should: A. Find the nicotine replacement therapy that works for you, be it nicotine gum, patches, sprays or lozenges. B. Set up a support system, perhaps a friend who has quit smoking and can help you reduce your daily number. C. Sleep longer. 8. If you are determined to slow down the debt on your Visa card, you should: A. Enroll in a Dave Ramsey “Financial Peace” class. B. Cut up your card and set up a specific plan that will wipe out the entire debt in three years, taking away 33 percent each year. C. Apply for a Mastercard and spread out the credit card debt. 9. If you are determined to learn a new language, you should: A. Order the Rosetta Stone software and spend one hour a night with it. B. Enroll in Beginning Conversational Spanish in the continuing education program at Amarillo College. C. When ordering at a Mexican restaurant, say the name of the actual dish rather than, “I’ll take the No. 8.” And be sure to roll your ‘r’s. 10. If you are determined to be more civil on Facebook, you should: A. De-friend those who make you angry and know they can push your buttons. B. Acknowledge there are different opinions and points of view and that’s what makes America so unique. C. Keep your cuss words to just Jon Mark Beilue is an AGN Media columnist. one syllable. Here’s to you making a better you in 2018.

He can be reached at jon.beilue@amarillo.com or 345.3318.

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Cuddle Up

Kay McKnight, Cuddlers Diretor Becky Imel, Judy Solomon, Terri Burk, and Carla Thurman

At Northwest’s most popular volunteer program, NICU cuddlers get as much out of their work as the vulnerable infants they snuggle By Jason Boyett PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

ne of Amarillo’s most popular volunteer opportunities is connected to one of its most heart-wrenching places: the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Northwest Texas Healthcare System. This high-tech NICU is the largest in the region. In these quiet halls, a team of passionate community volunteers donates time, energy and love on a regular basis. All they have to do is show up and sit down. And maybe rock a little. Or sing. Or pray. But those are all corollary activities to the real work. If you ask them, it’s not work at all. It’s a blessing. It puts them in direct contact with peace, quiet, and bundles of joy. They are cuddlers. The job entails exactly what you think. For at least an hour – maybe two – these volunteers show up to hold premature

infants and others in the NICU, giving them the comfort of a warm embrace. That’s it. These volunteers serve families by holding babies when, for a variety of reasons, the child’s mother or father isn’t present. If cuddling sounds to you like the most wonderful volunteer position in Amarillo, then you’re not alone. In a time when most local organizations have to go out recruiting warm bodies – there are hardly ever enough people willing to donate time and effort to good causes – the 20-person cuddling program at Northwest has to turn people down. Its waiting list is 60 people deep. Apply now and you might snuggle your first baby in, say, 2021. JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

Holding for Calm

Imagine this scenario. A mother in Stratford or Canadian delivers a baby in a rural Back row left to right: Laquitta, Delonda, Julie, Stacy, Delores, JoBeth, Anna, hospital a couple hours away Erma, and Sarah; front row: Terri ,Marissa, Laura, Milinda, Kay, and Jane from Amarillo. Born premature or with other complications, the child requires the expertise and round-the-clock care of Northwest’s Level III NICU. So that little “When they’re sleeping, they’re growing,” Imel says. “The goal one is brought to Amarillo – but not always with Mom. in any scenario is to get them to rest.” “The mom is recovering and might have other kids,” explains Research has shown that the experience of being held calms Becky Imel, the child life specialist at Northwest and director of a baby like nothing else. It leads to a variety of scientifically the cuddlers program. As for other family members, they might proven positive results, from stabilizing heart rates to facilitating be able to come into town on a Friday and stay through the better sleep. “They definitely have better outcomes compared weekend, giving the infant three days of close, calming human to those who have not done it,” says Arawiran. “The short-term contact. But what about the rest of the week? benefit is good weight gain and better temperature control. That The hard-working nurses and administrators of the NICU means earlier discharge for a baby.” Over the course of a child’s may be watching over a dozen babies at once. They are feeding life, an early discharge and short NICU stay leads to better longthem, monitoring their vitals, and navigating the ins and outs of term prospects. recovery. These medical professionals don’t always have time to When parents can’t be available for regular contact, cuddlers just sit. But a cuddler does. step in and offer the closest alternative to skin-to-skin “Our job is to help in holding that baby on the days that kangaroo care. family can’t be here,” says Imel. Imel explains why a warm human touch is so necessary for Other situations are just as common. A working mom who these infants. “They’re in the mom’s womb and have a steady gives birth to a premature baby may choose to return to work heartbeat based off Mom. Then, when they deliver and do all while her child is in the NICU. This saves her maternity leave these invasive procedures, we’re messing with what was really for when the child actually comes home. In this situation, says comfortable to them. Getting back to that human touch is huge,” Imel, “we’ll hold once during the day and then Mom is here she says. that evening.” The cuddlers program was launched in 2003 but expanded Some babies are born with drug dependencies or may be to its current size in 2008. Like any hospital volunteers, its in the custody of Child Protective Services. Others might be participants are subject to background checks and the same candidates for adoption. Regardless of the scenario, when a kinds of immunizations required of staff members. They commit parent is not available for a significant length of time, a cuddler to special orientation and extensive instruction – including gets called in. “Usually they cuddle babies that do not have hands-on training – to become familiar with holding tiny, fragile families here,” says Dr. Jenda Arawiran, a neonatologist at babies who are encumbered with tubes, wires, and other Northwest. “The first determination is family presence. If medical paraphernalia. there is no family presence, that baby will get precedence One of the team’s most veteran cuddlers is Carla Thurman. over other babies.” She points to research suggesting that human touch is Thurman has been serving with the NICU for a decade. She is essential to newborns (see sidebar). For all newborns – but a mother and grandmother herself, and takes her volunteer time especially premature infants – the preference is commonly seriously. “If I had a sick baby and couldn’t be there to be with known as “kangaroo care.” Like a joey snuggled in its mother’s them, I would hope there would be someone to cuddle my child pouch, kangaroo care prizes skin-to-skin contact for newborns. or grandchild,” she says. Pressed against a mother’s or father’s warm chest after feeding, Thurman was already a volunteer with Northwest’s pediatrics a newborn experiences safety and comfort. Those feelings division when she was asked to join the developing cuddlers are most conducive to rest. And rest is essential for the improvements necessary before a child leaves the NICU.

Filling an Empty Nest

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

some of those instances,” says Imel. “I can call Carla and ask for help for four hours with a baby or the younger kids.” Because Thurman is trained to handle babies in the NICU, she says time spent with healthier babies unencumbered by tubes and wires is relatively easy. But Thurman doesn’t care whether she’s cuddling an “easy” infant or one who presents more of a challenge. She volunteers once a week and especially likes to stay busy around the holidays, which can be especially poignant in the NICU. “There always seems to be a little one in distress that doesn’t have someone to come up as much [during the holiday season],” she says. “My heart just breaks for them.” For years, if needed, she has tried to spend time cuddling on either Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. “The holidays are built around our babies and children. It’s the time when we want Carla Thurman cuddles baby Angelica. to be together with the family and focus on the children.” She notes that cuddling a closely monitored program. Now several decades into a career related to the preemie feels different from snuggling a healthy infant, but for criminal justice system, she says spending time among innocent Thurman, that makes the moments of peace more noticeable. children appeals to her – then and now. “I had some free time “It is always gratifying to me when I see a baby that’s been and felt like I had something to give,” she says. struggling, [but] then they can sleep in my arms or have a It also offered a welcome distraction from her career. “All I moment of rest when the monitors stop beeping for awhile,” she see are people in crisis,” she says of her criminal justice work. says. “That makes me know I need to keep coming back.” “Being with babies is as cathartic for me as I hope it is healing for them.” Around the time she got involved at Northwest, Thurman was Another veteran cuddler, Judy Solomon, describes her facing an empty nest. Her children had grown up and moved experience similarly. She joined the program around the time out. A decade later, she has grandchildren. “It’s an adjustment she was planning to retire from a 30-year career teaching to have my healthy grandbabies, and then go to the hospital elementary school in Gruver, Panhandle and Vega. Like with these sick little ones,” she says. But she sees her time at Thurman, Solomon had already begun volunteering in Pediatrics Northwest as offering a sort of stability in a rapidly changing when the cuddlers program solicited its first volunteers. “At world. “Lots of things have happened over the last 10 years. the time, they didn’t have the program going yet, so I was just My husband is retired. My kids have gotten married and had helping kids paint and play games,” she says. kids. My life changes, but the needs of the NICU stay the same. Solomon retired in May of 2008, but she enlisted in the There’s always sick babies.” cuddlers program several months before her teaching career Imel describes Thurman as one of her “elite cuddlers,” which ended. “I would go after school and sit and hold babies,” she means Thurman is on-call to help out in Pediatrics any time says. A first-grade teacher, Solomon acknowledges that the there may be a traumatic event – for example, a car accident in quiet, soothing time with a baby offered a necessary antidote to which an infant is protected by a car seat but family members her noisy classroom. are hospitalized. “Cuddlers are some of the people we call for Today, she has two grown children and four grandchildren, all between the ages of 2 and 5 years old. The grandkids are still

From Chaos to Calm

JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

The Magic Touch Over the past few decades, more and more hospitals like Northwest have been enlisting volunteer cuddlers to leverage the well-researched benefits of human touch for infants. For babies, physical contact is crucial for the healthy development of their brains, their physical bodies, and even their immune systems. The best kind of contact is skin-to-skin, which Northwest reserves for a child’s parents. But the next best contact is the warm snuggling of a cuddler. “Human touch and human warmth is better than nothing,” says Northwest neonatologist Dr. Jenda

young, but they’ve graduated from the cuddling stage. Solomon misses that phase, but she still has an outlet for her affection. “My husband calls this my ‘grandkid fix,’” she says, laughing. “After five years of cuddling grandkids, I didn’t have anyone else to hold. I’ve always loved babies.” Imel says that’s the best part of cuddling – and a reason grandmothers are so good at it. (Currently, no men are among the 20 active cuddlers.) “That is the best part of cuddling,” she says. “You get to cuddle, but poopy diapers and feeding are [handled by] the staff. You don’t have to do any of that dirty stuff. You just get to be the cool grandparent.” Judy Solomon and her husband, Craig, manage a family farming operation between Vega and Hereford. Judy drives into Amarillo once a week to get her grandkid fix. “Usually it’s for two hours at a time,” she says. “Mostly it’s with the same baby, but if there are multiple ones, I’ll cuddle for an hour and then switch.” Premature infants are not always ready to be cuddled. According to Imel, some babies need to be “trained” before they can last that long with a cuddler. This is especially true of the smallest babies, who might weigh less than 3 pounds. “Some of our itty-bitties, we have very experienced cuddlers with,” says Imel. “They’re going to be the most comfortable and have the most experience in some of those situations. Some of our babies might make it five or 10 minutes but they’re not calming down. Their heart rates aren’t settling or they’re fidgety.” In those cases, a baby might go back into his or her crib. “They might not be ready to come out today, so we can do something as simple as putting our hand on their hand or back, to try to calm them that way, to get them used to touch. We work towards [the baby] coming out and being held. It takes practice on everybody’s part.” Solomon says the proximity to a dedicated, experienced neonatal nursing staff helps her feel calm even around such fidgety babies. “It doesn’t bother me, the tubes and stuff,” she says. “I have had a baby where beeps started going off and [the nurses] came running. I know I have trained nurses right there who can help and know what to do. It would be much more stressful without the security of the nurses right there.” She loves that so many people benefit from her volunteer hours. “It’s something I can do to help the nurses, help the parents, and help the baby,” she says. “I find it a real satisfying way of volunteering and I enjoy it as much as they do.” 24

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

Arawiran. “We love our cuddle program because they can help us give the human touch to these patients.” A 2014 study from the journal “Biological Psychiatry” revealed that premature babies who were cuddled – even just an extra hour a day – enjoyed better sleep habits and showed improved focus over those who did not receive that extra attention. Amazingly, the study showed that the benefits of extra touch during those first few weeks of life were still measurable up to 10 years after the child’s birth.

Prayers and Blessings

Not all babies in the NICU are premature. Some are just infants who require intensive care. “We have those who are 10 or 11 pounds and still get held in the NICU,” says Imel. “You don’t always think of big babies in there, but they can be just as sick as the littlest one.” She says she and the nursing staff try to match the baby’s needs with the personality of the cuddler. “It’s a magic that works,” she says. As those needs change, Imel might bring in different cuddlers. “They each have their own identity in how they work with the babies. That’s the beauty of it – that these babies get to experience multiple cuddlers throughout their journey in the NICU. Each has a different experience.” Because infants grow best as they rest and sleep, the smallest infants require minimal stimulation. But as they add weight and make progress, some cuddlers begin adding different elements to their efforts. “As they get older, they’re going to [need] to get used to noises and different things,” Imel says. That’s when some cuddlers begin communicating with the children. They talk, sing or pray. “I always pray a blessing over those babies,” says Thurman. So does Solomon, who thinks of her time as both a form of ministry and a volunteer pursuit. “I pray for the babies and their families,” she says. “For their health and the homes they’ll be going home to. I pray for strength, wisdom and peace for the parents.” Imel smiles at this aspect of her cuddlers. “We have some that sing with them, some that pray with them,” she says. “I love to hear stories of cuddlers saying, ‘I was giving them advice about when they get older and what it is like to be treated like a princess.’ That’s great to hear.” Occasionally, cuddlers get to meet the parents of the child with whom they have spent so much quality time. “Every cuddler is very much aware that, if they’re here, it’s because the mom is not – and how difficult that can be,” Imel says. “It is hard to leave your baby in the NICU and step away, but we also know that they have to take care of themselves to be able to take care of their baby when they come home.” Thurman has met a handful of parents during her time with the program. “That’s something to celebrate,” she says. “When you see them so sick but then they are getting close to going home, it’s wonderful to know they’ve made it. I’m sure their struggles

continue long after they leave the unit, but the resilience of those little ones is amazing. With every struggle, to hear that they’ve gone home makes my heart smile.” The parents are grateful, too. “The one thing we hear from parents is ‘I’m so glad there was somebody there to love on my baby,’” Imel says. In situations where a mother might have to leave her child in the NICU and return to work, she will return each evening to find a comprehensive report of her child’s day. “They have a little schedule on their bed that shows they’ve been cuddled today. It may be hard, but at the same time, they’re appreciative that there was somebody that took the time to give their baby a little extra tender love and care.” Of course, not every story has a happy ending, and some infants don’t make it out of the NICU. This generally occurs after a multi-month stay, which means cuddlers may sit with the same child for several weeks in a row. “I had one who was there for a very long time,” says Solomon. “He had so many issues and infections. Since he was there so long you felt like you got close to him.” The cuddlers don’t know the names of the children or any identifying details. But they do know what it means when a

Streaming Preemie Two years ago, a grant from the Children’s Miracle Network allowed Northwest to purchase 15 NicView web cameras. These small, wifi-equipped cameras suspend over a NICU bed and are directed at the child. Each family gets a secure username and password to access their child’s camera, allowing them to view their child even when they can’t be at the hospital. Families love this technology because, for premature births, a mother’s hospital stay typically ends long before the child’s. “With those cameras, they’re still able to see their baby when they’re not able to be here,” says Becky Imel. Other family members, from siblings to grandparents, can also take advantage of the technology, which can be accessed on a laptop computer or smartphone. “The cameras serve as a way to make sure that family that isn’t able to be here has the ability to have access to their baby at any time through any type of electronic device – especially families that don’t live here in Amarillo.” Research has shown that NicView cameras enhance family bonding and improve peace of mind during what can be a very stressful situation. Imel says the benefit becomes clear when childbirth occurs when a baby’s father is in the military. “These cameras are great for anyone who is deployed. They can gain access and see at anytime their baby that is born here and is in NICU,” she says. Mothers recovering from surgery or more traumatic births also benefit. “If we’ve got a mom who’s delivered, and she can’t see that baby for a day, we can instantly get that camera on and Mom can see just from the phone. That’s a big sigh of relief,” Imel says. She says the NICU nursing staff occasionally even hears from families who are so dedicated to watching their baby that they begin to worry about the smallest details. “We have moms call in and say, ‘Oh, they moved their oxygen [tube] a little bit,’” she says. “It’s very sweet. You know they’re being checked on and loved on. For them, it’s a huge affirmation that their baby is being taken care of. They can’t be there but they’re as close as they can get. The technology is a way of connecting them.”

child’s health doesn’t improve. They know what it means when, suddenly, he or she isn’t around the next week. “That’s just heartbreaking,” says Thurman. She gets teary talking about it, and she and Solomon both have stories about infants that didn’t make it. They may not know names, but they remember little faces. They remember little personalities. They think about the grieving families that get left behind. And still these women keep coming back, week after week. That’s because, more than anything, cuddlers like Solomon and Thurman focus more on the sacred value of their work than the occasional heartache. “It blesses my heart,” Thurman says. “Through the years, I’ve developed relationships with the nurses and staff and they are incredible heroes. I see them struggle and fight for those babies. It’s rewarding to see people in any profession where it’s not just a job to them. I stand in awe of them daily.” That’s music to Imel’s ears. Fulfilled, calm, volunteer cuddlers are essential to rested, happy and healthy infants. “At the end, it’s a great experience for both of them,” she says. “The baby and the cuddler.”

The NicView camera gives baby David’s family the ability to see him 24 hours a day.

JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

F E AT U R E

A Place to Start Over By Jason Boyett PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

Stevi Larson and April Riggs

ne set of clothes and a check for $50.

That’s all Stevi Larson had when she was released from prison. She had nothing else. No family. No skills. No work history. No job prospects. No transportation. No home. But Larson did have one prized possession: a Life Recovery Bible that had been sent to her by Sharing Hope Ministry in Amarillo. And because of that Bible and the relationship she’d built with the faith-based nonprofit, Larson also saw a light at the end of what had been a very dark tunnel. That light was shining 300 miles away from where she was being detained in Bridgeport, Texas. “I got on a bus out of prison and came to Amarillo for the first time in my life,” Larson says. She’s never been the same. “You need an option,” Larson says about the uncertainty of being released from incarceration. “If you don’t have anywhere to go or anyone to turn to, you’re most likely going to end up back where you started.” For her, that was a life of drug addiction. A native of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Larson had fallen in with the wrong crowd during her teenage years and spent nearly a decade as an addict. “I just got into trouble,” she says. “I was completely miserable.” Larson was 25 when her offenses landed her in the now-closed Bridgeport Pre-Parole Transfer facility. That’s where she finally got clean – and that’s where she discovered Sharing Hope and Patsy’s Place. Based in Amarillo, Sharing Hope gives assistance to incarcerated women all over the United States, and then works to educate and rehabilitate female post-offenders after they’ve been released. The organization provides 12step based “Life Recovery” Bibles, Bible study resources, and prayer correspondence for women serving time in prison or jail or in addiction rehab facilities. And each year, the organization accepts a limited number of women for a year-long residence at Patsy’s Place, a 12-bed transitional facility for women. “I met a woman whose sister had been to Patsy’s Place,” Larson says about her time in the correctional facility. “I needed somewhere to go when I got out. I wrote to them and went through the application process and they accepted me.” JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

This page from top: counseling rooms, a full kitchen, and offices. Facing page: a classroom and computer lab.

Fifteen months after being locked up, Larson finally was released and made her way to Patsy’s Place. That was more than two years ago. Today, Larson runs the Sharing Hope intern program and is the organization’s special projects coordinator. Sharing Hope also operates a thriving community garden and a brand-new Center for Advancement that provides education and other resources for women with similar stories as Larson. “She’s a very talented and smart woman, and her passion makes her perfect for this job,” says April Riggs, executive director at Sharing Hope. “Her position here is super-important because of her background. So many people don’t really want to look at a woman who’s made that kind of mistake, but there’s a real ministry for that.” That ministry is why Sharing Hope exists.

Overcoming Obstacles

Founded in 1999, the nondenominational Sharing Hope has given hundreds of thousands of Life Recovery Bibles to incarcerated women like Larson, at the rate of around 10,000 Bibles a year. On an annual basis, some two dozen women rotate in and out of Patsy’s Place. The recent opening of the organization’s Center for Advancement, located at 2308 SW Seventh Ave., allows Sharing Hope to expand its reach even further, offering resources like food staples, clothing, and hygiene items for women upon release. The organization is 28

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

primarily run by volunteers and offers one-on-one counseling, mentoring and other educational opportunities (see sidebar). Beyond Larson’s real-life example, Riggs explains why it’s so necessary to provide these types of resources for post-release women. A woman who is incarcerated for any length of time, says Riggs, “may have lost any job she had, any housing she had. She may be more in debit. She’s lost all her possessions. So when she comes out, she’s usually in a worse situation than when she went in. It’s really hard for women to get out of that cycle because there are so many obstacles.” While incarcerated men and women face many of the same barriers – from an immediate lack of resources to lifelong struggles to find steady work – Riggs says it can be especially difficult for women suffering from addiction. “There was a criminal justice survey done a few years back that compared incarcerated men and women,” she says. “With women, almost all their incarceration came back to an addiction.” The survey found that most men admitted using drugs for recreational purposes. But women? “In the same survey, women said it was to help them cope with either physical or emotional pain,” says Riggs. For men, drugs were a distraction. For women, drugs became a way to survive. To understand this, Riggs says it’s important to consider what was happening in women’s lives before they made the poor

“

These women just need one year of safe shelter where they can focus on something other than just survival. – April Riggs

decisions that landed them in jail, prison, or a recovery center. “They come in with a lack of education,” says Riggs. “Less than a third have completed 12th grade. They all have addiction issues. Last year, 94 percent of the women in our program had been victims of some kind of abuse. That’s a staggering thought.” Moreover, nearly 9 out of 10 women had unresolved health issues when they arrived at Patsy’s Place. “A lot of that has to do with mental health,” says Riggs. “The things we see over and over are issues with depression and anxiety.” These are the obstacles – depression, abuse, addiction, limited education – that await women even after a prison term is over. “I feel like I have ‘OFFENDER’ tattooed across my forehead,” one woman once told Riggs in an anonymous survey. That individual self-consciousness, whether imaginary or not, can pull back the reins on even the most confident of women. Some women walk out of prison and don’t even know where they’re going to sleep that night. “That’s why we have Patsy’s Place,” she says. “You might be homeless and don’t have a place to go to. Maybe you’ve burned bridges with family, and the only friends that will give shelter are the ones doing drugs.” Despite having the chance to start over, a woman’s only options may be the very people and environment that led her to prison in the first place. “These women just need one year of safe shelter where they can focus on something other than just survival.” Named for Patsy Britting, an early volunteer with Sharing

”

Hope, Patsy’s Place offers women that positive environment and the tools to rebuild their life. Once there, Sharing Hope helps reintegrate women into the community. It requires them to attend church and recovery meetings on a regular basis and helps them find jobs. If necessary, it helps them save to buy a car, pay off debt, or prepare to live independently in an apartment. Volunteers offer financial education and mentoring. “We equip them to take care of their own issues so they can better handle any crisis situations that come up,” says Riggs.

A Surprising Gift

The fall opening of the Sharing Hope’s Center for Advancement allows the ministry to expand the educational aspects of Patsy’s Place, offering those resources to women outside the program. “Before, we had one classroom upstairs where the women [were mentored and educated], but it was hard for a woman who wasn’t living in Patsy’s Place to come get any of those resources,” says Riggs. “It was during the day. It wasn’t advertised. But now we have a building with a large classroom. We have a computer lab. We have a small food and clothing pantry just for post-offending women. We have a counseling office so our mentors and coaches can have privacy with women working on their goals or on a budget.” She hopes that the Center for Advancement will provide just as positive an environment, where regardless of her past or JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

Sharing Hope’s wall of graduates.

Women meet for class at the center.

The clothing closet at TCFA.

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

appearance, a woman won’t “feel different or feel judged.” The story behind the center’s opening provides a compelling reason to withhold that judgment – not just from women or recovering addicts, but from people of all walks of life. “That was one of the things that was pretty unbelievable,” says Riggs. She launches into the story of how the Center came to exist. The modern new building, located north of Sharing Hope’s community garden, is officially called the Lucille and Leo Caiafa, Jr. Center for Advancement. For years, the Sharing Hope headquarters has shared its building on Seventh Avenue with Stout Safe Storage. Leo Caiafa, a World War II veteran and retired mechanic who used to own Stockyard Garage, was a friend of the Stout family and a frequent visitor to the business. “He would go every day,” says Riggs. “It was his routine. He was just a good ol’ guy.” When Sharing Hope started construction on Patsy’s Place, Caiafa became curious about what exactly Sharing Hope did. “We got to know him pretty well as we were renovating the top floors. I think early on he didn’t like the change, but as we assured him about what we were doing, over time he got interested,” remembers Riggs. One day, out of the blue, Caiafa offered to help fund part of the construction, providing enough money to complete one of the bedrooms in Patsy’s Place. The generosity surprised Riggs, but she was immensely grateful. She could tell it meant something to Caiafa. “He was very proud of what he was able to do for us and he let his family know about how he had been a part of our ministry,” she says. “After it was established and he saw the women coming in, I think he realized the impact of what his gift had done.” Then, in early 2013, Leo Caiafa died at the age of 86. His surviving family members all lived far from Amarillo, including siblings in San Diego and Brooklyn. It took awhile for the legal process to run its course, but in 2016 Riggs was surprised – in more ways than one – to get notice that the retired mechanic had left behind a sizeable estate. “They told me he saved everything and made some very good investments,” she says. Caiafa instructed his family to distribute most of that money to nonprofits. One of them was Sharing Hope. “His sister knew how much he had loved what he did for Patsy’s Place, and that’s why they decided to give a large portion of that [estate] to us,” Riggs says. “You would never have known he had that kind of money.” That’s how Caiafa ended up giving $765,000 to an organization that helped women struggling to rebuild their lives after prison. “This never happens,” Riggs says. “It was totally unexpected, but it came at a time when we were trying to figure out [what to do]. We didn’t have enough room. We couldn’t grow. They said, “if we give you this money, what would you do with it?” The Lucille and Leo Caiafa, Jr. Center for Advancement is precisely what Sharing Hope did with the gift. “It was such an incredible blessing,” says Riggs. “Leo saw the need.” If Sharing Hope exists at all, it’s because so many others have seen a need and stepped forward to help. Including Stevi Larson.

Get Involved

Life Beyond Prison

“Recently we had a woman come to the center to get food and clothing,” says Larson on a windy, cold afternoon. “She had just gotten out of jail. She was telling me that she was an addict. I was able to share my story. I was able to say I’ve been there and done it and this is what I did.” Larson suggested that the woman get plugged into a support group and surround herself with mentors and people who cared about her future. “That’s what helped me when I lived upstairs,” Larson says, indicating the second floor bedrooms of Patsy’s Place. “It wasn’t until I got to Patsy’s Place that I learned the person I was before prison was not who I have to be today. That’s not who I want to be today. There is life beyond prison and addiction.” That life most definitely exists because of nonprofits like this one. It’s clear in stories like that of Stevi Larson. It’s available to women because of the hard work of people like April Riggs. It exists because of the surprising gifts of seemingly random residents like Leo Caiafa. All of them, in their own way, are playing a life-changing role in women’s lives. All of them are Sharing Hope in hopeless situations.

“With a nonprofit, anything you can think of, we can use,” says April Riggs with a laugh. “All of our services are done by volunteers.” From the intensive programming for Patsy’s Place residents to the classes offered at the Center for Advancement, Sharing Hope is built on the backs of volunteers who visit local women in jail and generously share skills and knowledge. “We have volunteers who come and send Bibles out and write a note of encouragement. Our teachers are women in the community who have a background in whatever subject they’re teaching. We have mentors who are women just willing to meet one-on-one once a week to give encouragement to a woman who’s learning some new skills. We have financial coaches. We have women who open mail and come do data entry for us.” One of the central volunteer opportunities at Sharing Hope is a group of women known as Patsy’s Pearls. These dedicated volunteers support the women in the program, from planning birthday and graduation parties to helping graduates furnish new apartments. The organization is primarily supported by churches and individual donations, so financial donations are always welcome. “Since we are Christ-centered, we don’t receive any government funding,” says Riggs. “We always have a need for men and women to help with fundraising.” To explore opportunities to volunteer or give, visit sharinghopeministry.org.

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W H AT ’ S C O O K I N G ?

Beyond Bacon

“P

ersonally, I just love pork,” says Chef Josh Fuller of OHMS Cafe & Bar. “The flavor, the richness. It’s so versatile.” (Also, he adds, bacon comes from pork, “and bacon is the best thing in the world.”) That’s far from a stunning revelation or a bold opinion. But since the pork industry began advertising itself as “the other white meat” in the late 1980s, pork has embraced its second-fiddle status among meats. That’s a shame, because as Fuller says, pork has two distinct selling points. First, it holds

moisture really well, which is a key to its delicious versatility. And second? “It’s easy to cook. It’s hard to mess up,” says Fuller. If that’s music to your culinary ears, then you’ll enjoy the three pork-based recipes in this issue, from roasted pork belly and biscuits to a flavorful bone-in pork chop. Then there’s the bacon-wrapped, stuffed pork tenderloin. “It’s easy. It’s pretty. Anybody could do it but it looks like it’s done by a professional,” says Fuller. “This is a cool dish you could impress your friends with.” In other words, you’re welcome. PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON RECIPES COURTESY OF CHEF JOSH FULLER, OHMS CAFE & BAR

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Stuffed Pork Tenderloin 1 (1 ½ pound) pork tenderloin 1 poblano pepper 1 medium onion 1 tablespoon minced garlic ½ cup panko bread crumbs 1 cup shredded fontina cheese 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped Salt and pepper to taste 8 to 10 slices bacon Julienne poblano and onion. Saute in oil over high heat with garlic until tender. Set aside to cool. Butterfly pork tenderloin lengthwise and pound out to about ½ inch thick. Combine poblano and onion mixture with bread crumbs, cheese and cilantro. Salt and pepper pork tenderloin. Spread pepper mixture thinly across tenderloin. Roll tightly. Lay out bacon side by side and gently roll tenderloin up in bacon. Bake at 350 dgrees until meat thermometer reads 150 degrees. Let rest for 15 minutes. Slice and serve. Makes 4 to 5 servings

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

Pork Belly 3 pounds pork belly (skinless) ¼ cup kosher salt ¼ cup sugar Mix together salt and sugar. Place belly in roasting pan and rub salt mixture all over. Let stand in refrigerator for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. Remove any liquid from pan and roast at 400 degrees for 1 hour. Turn oven down to 225 degrees and roast for another 2 hours, or until belly is tender. Let cool and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator to chill at least 2 hours. Slice and fry in skillet to serve.

Chow Chow 1 head cabbage ½ cup chopped onions 1 cup red bell pepper, julienned 2 tablespoons salt 2 cups apple cider vinegar 1 ½ cups sugar 2 teaspoons dry mustard 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon ginger 2 teaspoons celery seed 1 tablespoon mustard seed Toss together chopped vegetables and sprinkle with salt. Let stand 3 to 4 hours in refrigerator. Combine rest of ingredients in large pot and simmer for 15 minutes. Add vegetables and simmer for 10 minutes. Cool and serve.

Buttermilk Biscuits 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 2 tablespoons baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons salt 8 tablespoons butter, chilled and cut into cubes 1 cup buttermilk 2 tablespoons butter, melted to brush tops Heat oven to 425 degrees. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into bowl of food processor. Add chilled butter cubes and pulse until mixture resembles rough crumbs. Pour flour mixture into bowl and add buttermilk. Stir with fork until dough forms rough ball. Turn dough onto floured surface and roll into a rectangle about an inch thick. Fold it over and roll it down again. Repeat 6 times. On final roll cut biscuits using floured glass or biscuit cutter. Place biscuits on baking sheet and bake until golden brown, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Remove, brush with melted butter and serve. Makes 20 servings

JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

Double Bone Pork Chop Brine ¼ cup salt ¼ cup brown sugar ½ tablespoon juniper berries 2 bay leaves 1 cup apple juice 1 cup ice 4 (16-ounce) double bone pork chops Bring first five ingredients to boil. Remove from heat and add ice. Cover pork chops in brine for 2 hours. Remove and rinse clean. Pat dry and cook on grill over medium heat until meat thermometer reads 140 degrees for medium. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Makes 4 servings

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

MEET THE COOK

Josh Fuller of OHMS Cafe and Bar

osh Fuller doesn’t know what he would have done with his life had his mother not bought OHMS Cafe and Bar. Mary Fuller had begun catering and asked Jonathan Early, the restaurant’s original owner, if she could rent the kitchen to prepare for an event. Instead, he offered to sell her the entire restaurant. That was 1992, and at the age of 15, Josh found himself thrust into a family business. This one happened to be located on Tyler Street in the shadow of Chase Tower downtown. Josh worked on-and-off at the restaurant through high school until moving to Phoenix in 1996 to attend a culinary institute. “I worked at a bunch of different places once I got out, then moved back to Amarillo in 2002,” Josh says on a recent Monday afternoon, when the restaurant and bar are closed. “That’s when we changed the concept at OHMS. I’ve been here ever since.” Before 2002, OHMS served a cafeteria-style lunch and dinner. “You would go through [the line], see everything first, and choose an entrée,” he explains. “It was a buffet and we served beer and wine. When I got back, we got rid of that and went to full-table service at dinner.” He oversaw a remodel of one end

of the space, turning it into a sophisticated cocktail bar with signature martinis and an extensive wine list. Josh also began to develop a new menu, and before long, the cafeteria experience had given way to something else, becoming one of Amarillo’s most-loved fine dining destinations. “It’s definitely upscale. We specialize in steaks, seafood and wild game,” he says. “A lot of people say it’s like going to Santa Fe.” Two of the pork dishes in this issue – the roasted pork belly, biscuit and chow chow combo and the bone-in pork chop cooked three ways – were recently added back onto the OHMS winter menu after having rotated off. Fuller says he loves having the freedom and flexibility to change the menu whenever he wants. Sometimes it’s because he gets tired of a certain menu item. At other times, it’s because a certain dish may not be selling as well as others. Regardless, some kind of pork is always available at OHMS “We always have at least one pork option,” says Fuller. “That’s the nice thing about our menu. We’ve got every type of protein you can think of: beef, fish, chicken, pork, lamb, elk. There are lots of options.”

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Perfect Pasta

“F

resh pasta is unlike anything you’re going to buy in the store,” says Steve Bautista, a lifelong chef, self-taught pasta maker and cook at Embassy Suites Amarillo Dowtown. Anyone who’s dined on fresh pasta during a vacation to Italy or over a meal in a gourmet restaurant knows this is true. But the prospect of making such a traditional dish may be daunting for at-home chefs.

Recently, Bautista has collaborated with Jessica Higgins of Girasol Cafe & Bakery – along with other area chefs and food professionals—to launch West Texas Chef’s Table, a platform for the region’s chefs and culinary enthusiasts to advance their art with education and collaboration. Fresh off leading a pasta-making class in November of last year at Girasol, Bautista walked us through the steps required for do-it-yourself pasta. PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON RECIPES COURTESY OF STEVE BAUTISTA, EMBASSY SUITES AMARILLO DOWTOWN

JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

Recipe:

2 cups all-purpose flour 6 eggs, divided

Step 1:

Start by mounding the flour in the middle of a clean work surface. “You want a very clean surface,” says Bautista. “Any little bits that are on the surface can invariably end up in your dough.” However, if you’ve been working with herbs or spices, incorporating those into your dough may add visual appeal. “It’s something that says, ‘I made this.’”

Step 2:

Using the bottom of a measuring cup, form a good-sized well in the center of the mound. This will become your mixing bowl. Separate the eggs into four egg yolks and two whole eggs. “The egg yolks are the moisture and offer up the color as well as a richness and depth when it comes to flavor,” Bautista says. While he’s prepared noodles using only egg whites, he believes those noodles don’t quite have “that extra oomph.”

Step 3:

Put the eggs in the middle of the flour well. “Leave about an eighth of an inch of flour under the eggs, get a fork, and start whipping the eggs there in place until they combine,” says Bautista. Slowly, you’ll begin incorporating the walls of the flour bowl into the mixture as the dough forms. “You have to keep on working it. If it looks like it’s flaky and not working at all, it just needs more time and more love,” Bautista says. He describes it as equally meditative – “You get in a zone, you’re working the dough, and everything else is gone” – and physically demanding. “It’s a good workout,” he says. “There’s a reason Italian grandmothers from back in the day had really thick wrists and forearms.”

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

Step 4:

Step 5:

Eventually the dough will come together and you’ll enter the point where you are actively kneading it. This may last up to 10 minutes. You’ll know the dough is ready when it becomes elastic and springy. “It’s going to have some bounce,” says Bautista. “Get your dough ball and press it with your finger like you’re poking it. It should come back up pretty readily.” The kneading develops glutens in the bread, which contributes to the texture and helps it hold up better when dipped into boiling water.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for a minimum of 30 minutes. “If you can give it two hours in the refrigerator, that’s even better,” he says. “You’re giving those glutens you’ve stressed out and mashed up time to relax and continue forming.”

Step 6:

After the dough has rested, divide it into fourths. This will keep the amount of dough you are working with manageable. Re-wrap dough that you are not working to keep it from drying out. Knead it just a few times to prepare it for rolling. Begin rolling it out into a sheet that’s around onesixteen of an inch thick. The sheet’s length and width is a personal choice, says Bautista. Using a hand-cranked pasta roller can be an easy way to do this, but since it only has that one purpose, it may not be an option for most home chefs. The same goes for roller attachments for KitchenAid stand mixers. “A rolling pin works great, but it’s pretty labor intensive,” he says. Regardless of the method, be careful: The longer you leave the dough exposed to air, the more it will begin to dry out. “It’s forgiving, but there’s a tipping point where it’s been out in the air way too long,” Bautista says. “It will be hard to work.”

JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

Step 7:

After rolling the dough into a sheet, cut it into strips. This can be done using a chef’s knife, a pizza cutter, or any number of different tools and attachments available for making pasta. Perfectly straight cuts aren’t necessary, Bautista says, though he admits he’s experimented with cutting alongside a ruler in the past. Still, he believes slightly misshapen pasta “lends to the character and the ownership of the dish.”

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

Step 8:

Once cut, you can prepare the pasta immediately. If you wish, put it on a drying rack dusted with flour so it doesn’t stick. “But realistically, it can go into boiling water from that point,” says Bautista. “Heavily, heavily salted boiling water.” He says 30 seconds is all the time fresh pasta needs for a traditional al dente preparation. “You want it a hair underdone and optimally, you’re finishing it in the sauce,” he says. “That’s going to give your sauce a little bit of the starch water that’ll thicken it up and gives the noodles time to marry with the flavors of the sauce.” He says this technique is traditionally called à la minute, or “at the minute.” Meanwhile, Bautista recommends using a lighter amount of sauce with fresh pasta. “You put all the work into the pasta. The pasta is the star and the sauce is the condiment.”

8 Adding Flavor: Prefer to ramp up your pasta game by flavoring the noodles? Bautista recommends first perfecting the preparation of regular pasta before experimenting with flavors. “But once you get the basic dough down, you can start throwing everything in,” he says. For chocolate-flavored noodles, add cocoa powder to the flour before adding any wet ingredients. Another technique is to mix the eggs in a blender with spinach and basil. “It gives it a nice flavor and the color will just pop at that point,” he says, noting that a spinach dough will feel stickier and softer than regular dough. “Tumeric will give you some interesting color and a little bit of bite,” Bautista adds. For exotic black pasta, add activated charcoal or squid ink to the eggs. For pumpkinflavored noodles, he recommends using store-bought Libby’s Pumpkin Puree. “I’ve yet to meet a chef anywhere who’s been able to do a pumpkin puree that can match Libby’s,” he says.

JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

MEET THE COOKS

“I

Jessica Higgins, of Girasol Bakery, and Steve Bautista, of Embassy Suites Amarillo Dowtown

’ve cooked all my life,” Jessica Higgins says. “My grammy was a cook, my mother was a darn good cook, and I grew up in the kitchen with them.” A graduate of New Mexico State University’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, Higgins immersed herself in a corporate hospitality career. “I’ve been in kitchens ever since. I never went to the other [hotel] side,” she says, laughing. Her most recent kitchen environment included experts from Holland, France, and San Francisco. “I met a lot of interesting characters.” After Jessica’s father, Cliff Higgins, died in 2013, she departed Albuquerque to join her mother, Jeana Higgins, in Amarillo. “I was looking for something to do,” she says, when an opportunity presented itself in the former location of Black Forest Bakery, tucked behind the Toot’n Totum at Holyoke and Coulter. Jessica and Jeana combined resources to open Girasol Cafe and Bakery in early 2016. Today both Jeana and Jessica operate the artisan bakery, serving fresh, creative fare to a dedicated lunch clientele. “People come in all the time and ask ‘Do you make this or that? Do you make it from scratch?’” Jessica’s answer,

of course, is yes. Everything at Girasol is made from scratch. “I think there’s a standard in this town where people are expecting mixes or powders. But everything we touch here is so labor-intensive because it is all from scratch. All real ingredients.”

As part of her work with West Texas Chef’s Table, Higgins has begun offering educational classes on the third Thursday of every month at the cafe, starting last month with the pasta class led by Embassy Suites cook Steve Bautista and continuing with a January pie dough class and a February class on bread and starters. “It’s per customer request and demand,” she says. “People were asking us all the time if we would host classes. We’re finally prepared to meet that demand.” Part of the mission of the West Texas Chef’s Table is to meet a similar need. “The culinary world is starting to inspire people. They’re so curious,” she says. “We’re trying to step into that void and help them get started.” Though there are culinary schools in large cities like Denver and the DFW Metroplex, Amarillo is in what Higgins calls “a dead zone” – an area with fewer resources for those interested in the culinary arts. She and the West Texas Chef’s Table are working with Amarillo College and area high schools to build awareness and inspire a generation of younger chefs. “We want to inspire kids to be a part of this community and a part of the collaboration,” she says. “Everyone in this group is a foodie to the nth degree of ‘foodieness.’”

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January

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EVENTS

Chamber Music Amarillo presents “Concerto Extraordinaire”

hamber Music Amarillo will present its third classical concert of the 2017-2018 season on Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. Held at Chamber Music’s Fibonacci Space downtown, the concert will be preceded at 7 p.m. by a lecture led by High Plains Public Radio along with a few of the evening’s featured musicians. “Concerto Extraordinaire” will feature soprano and West Texas A&M University School of Music faculty member Suzanne Ramo, conductor and Georgia State School of Music faculty member Michael Palmer, and CMA’s chamber orchestra, The Amarillo Virtuosi, which is comprised of musicians from Amarillo, the High Plains region, and across the U.S. the evening’s program will feature works by Igo Stravinsky and Gustav Mahler. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.cmama.org, by calling 236-3545, or at the door. Fibonacci Space 3306 SW Sixth Ave. 236.3545 cmama.org VIEW AN UPDATED LISTING OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH AT AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM. To have an event listed on the calendar, email details to michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com or fax a press release to 806.345.3282.

JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Jan. 5 First Friday Art Walk 5-9 p.m. The Galleries at Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd., 353.5700

A Night with Janis Joplin 7:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 20

Jan. 17

The Cody Sparks Band 10 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.0097

BENEFITS & FUNDRAISERS

Jan. 21

Cheer Texas Showcase 4:30-8:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 6

Jan. 12

“AMoA Open” Reception 7 p.m. Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St., 371.5050

“Floor to Ceiling” Opening Reception 6-8:30 p.m. Benefitting The Amarillo Symphony. Cerulean Gallery, 814 S. Taylor St., 576.0063

Chamber Music Amarillo presents “Concerto Extraordinaire” 8 p.m. Musicians Suzanne Ramo, soprano; Michael Palmer, conductor; The Amarillo Virtuosi chamber orchestra. Repertoire: Igor Stravinsky, Dumbarton Oaks Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 4 in G major. Fibonacci Space, 3306 SW Sixth Ave., 236.3545

Jan. 13 Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 13 Tri-State Open Chili Championship 11 a.m. Funds raised will benefit Make-A-Wish. Tri-State Fairgrounds Rex Baxter Building, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

Jan. 26 The Big Cheese 6-8 p.m. Funds raised will benefit The Hope and Healing Place. Tri-State Fairgrounds Rex Baxter Building, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767 2018 Amarillo Area Bar Foundation Wine Dinner 6:30 p.m. Amarillo Country Club, 4800 Bushland Blvd., 371.7226

Jan. 18

Jan. 27

David Crowder “Texas Takeover Tour” 7 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

“Achievement in Art” Gala 7 p.m. cocktails and gallery viewing; 8- p.m. dinner. Honoring the collection of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Engler. Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St., 371.5050

Amarillo Little Theatre presents “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” 7:30 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Jan. 19-20 Amarillo Symphony presents “Mostly Mozart” 7:30 p.m. Michelle Skinner, violin; Yael Hyken, viola; Jacomo Rafael Bairos, conductor. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096 Amarillo Little Theatre presents “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Jan. 25 Amarillo Little Theatre presents “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” 7:30 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Jan. 26-27 Amarillo Little Theatre presents “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Jan. 28

MUSIC Jan. 6 Ragland 9 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840

Jan. 9

Jan. 22 Matt Bradford 9 p.m. The 806, 2812 SW Sixth Ave., 322.1806

Jan. 18-20

Jan. 27

Amarillo Bulls vs. Odessa Jackalopes 7 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Afroman Live 8:30 p.m. Azteca Music Hall, 500 N FM 1912, 335.9990 Bradley Sherrer 9 p.m. The Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 SW Sixth Ave., 373.9149

SPECIAL EVENTS Jan. 12 WWE Live! 7:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 18-20 National Pigeon Association Grand National 2018 All day. Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 25 AGN Media’s Man and Woman of the Year Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

SPORTS & RECREATION Jan. 4 Lady Buff Basketball vs. Midwestern State 5:30 p.m. First United Bank Center, Canyon, 651.4400

Jan. 10

Jan. 6

American Aquarium 9 p.m. Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road, 356.7548

Jan. 12 Bri Bagwell and The Banned 8 p.m. Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road, 356.7548

Jan. 14 The Living Deads 7 p.m. Zombiez Bar & Grill, 711 SW 10th Ave., 331.7305

Jan. 19 The Music of Cadillac Fraf 9:30 p.m. The 806, 2812 SW Sixth Ave., 322.1806 Fracture 432 10 p.m. Skooterz 6th St. Bar and Grill, 4100 Bushland Blvd., 355.6600

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

Jan. 18 Lady Buff Basketball vs. Tarleton State 5:30 p.m. First United Bank Center, Canyon, 651.4400

Pentley Holmes 8 p.m. The 806, 2812 SW Sixth Ave., 322.1806

Amarillo Little Theatre presents “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” 2:30 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Scarlet Canary 7 p.m. Zombiez Bar & Grill, 711 SW 10th Ave., 331.7305

Lady Buff Basketball vs. Cameron 2 p.m. First United Bank Center, Canyon, 651.4400

Jan. 12-14 McCracken Team Roping 8 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

Jan. 13-14 Amarillo Bulls Youth Hockey Tournament 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 15 Amarillo Bulls Youth Hockey Tournament 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 20 Original Team Roping 8 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767 Lady Buff Basketball vs. Texas A&M Commerce 2 p.m. First United Bank Center, Canyon, 651.4400

Jan. 20-21 Panhandle Cutting Horse 7 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Bill Cody Arena, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

Jan. 25 Lady Buff Basketball vs. Eastern New Mexico 5:30 p.m. First United Bank Center, Canyon, 651.4400

Jan. 26 Lady Buff Basketball vs. Western New Mexico 2 p.m. First United Bank Center, Canyon, 651.4400

Jan. 26-27 Potter County Junior Livestock Show 7 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Gary McMennamy Building, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

Jan. 30 Lady Buff Basketball vs. UT Permian Basin 5:30 p.m. First United Bank Center, Canyon, 651.4400

TRADE SHOWS Jan. 7 The Bridal Show of Amarillo 12-4 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex North Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 27 Academic Advantage Program 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

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Buzula Furniture Years in business: More than 45. Buzula was created in 2009. Specialty: Quality furniture at an affordable price, available to take home immediately. We are known for: Friendly faces, knowledgeable staff, price, factory warranty, and quality inventory. The secret to our success: The best prices and excellent service. We’re set apart from the competition by: Carrying some of the best furniture manufacturers in the world – England (a LaZ-Boy company), Lane, Pulaski, Steve Silver, Albany, Amish by

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Fushion design, and Best Company, just to name a few. We are proud of: Being the first store in the country without a commissioned sales staff, and giving back to the community. We are thankful for: God’s blessings and a great hometown. We value: Our excellent employees. Plans for growth include: An accessories store, which will offer a huge selection of wholesale items. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: The more than 20,000 customers that continue to come back to Buzula. Awards and accolades: Winner of Amarillo Globe-News Best of Amarillo Best Furniture for four years in a row. Community involvement: March of Dimes; Martha’s Home; American Cancer Society; Khivas; Make-A-Wish; Faith City Ministries; Junior League of Amarillo; West Texas A&M University; Potter County; Eveline Rivers Christmas Project; Coffee Memorial Blood Center.

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Casey Carpet One Floor & Home Years in business: This year we are celebrating our 70-year anniversary! Specialty: Flooring and installation for residential and commercial applications Company size: Two locations (Amarillo and Lubbock); 25-plus employees. Business philosophy: Serve every customer every day. We believe every client that passes through our doors each day deserves 100 percent of our attention, regardless of who they are or how much money they have to spend. The secret to our success: We stand behind our products and our service. If it’s not right, we fix it. If you’re not happy, we’re not happy. We’re set apart from the competition by: Our people. We have the most professional, most educated sales team in the Panhandle. We are proud of: Our heritage in the Texas Panhandle. My grandfather and his buddy started Casey Carpet Co. when they returned to Lubbock after WWII. We are the oldest flooring store in the Panhandle. We are thankful for: Our customers! They are the reason we get to keep celebrating anniversaries. We have customers

come in all the time that have stories about buying from sales people that have long since retired or about visiting our old showrooms, like the one we first opened on Polk Street in 1949. We are very humbled by and grateful for the customers that have kept us in business all these years. We value: Service. Flooring is not a small purchase. Behind a house and a vehicle, we are sometimes one of the biggest purchases a person will make in their lifetime. We don’t take that lightly! Plans for growth include: We are always looking to grow and always looking for good people. Like John Wayne said, “Even if you’re on the right road, you’ll get run over if you’re just sittin’ still.” Community involvement: Over the years, we’ve been involved with good folks like Habitat for Humanity, Eveline Rivers, and The Downtown Women’s Center, just to name a few.

3500 I-40 West 310.2360 caseycarpetone.com

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Commercial Industrial Builders, Inc. Years in business: 34 Specialty: Commercial design/build Company size: Seven employees Business philosophy: To provide a complete service to our customers that is superior to that of our competitors Mission statement: Seeking the highest balance between quality and economics.

2901 SW 11th Ave. 376.6295 designbuildamarillo.com

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We are known for: Butler Buildings Systems and other pre-engineered metal buildings. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re set apart from the competition by: We produce our own design/drawings from concept to turn-key. We are thankful for: Our customers. We value: The relationships we create with our customers during the course of our projects. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: We get the opportunity to serve our community. Awards and accolades: Top 100 metal building sales in 2010 and 2015; High Performance Butler Builder for 12 consecutive years.

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The Donut Stop Years in business: 43 Specialty: Making doughnuts. Company size: 80 We are known for: Our delicious doughnuts, longevity, and open kitchen design. People love to see the product being made from start to finish. The secret to our success: Our doughnut mix and being able to offer a superior product that is made from scratch each and every day. We also value the importance of providing great customer service to our patrons. Finally, good employees and lots of hard work. We are proud of: The opportunity to continue the success of The Donut Stop. We are thankful for: Our customers more than anything. We know keeping our customers satisfied and retaining them is vital to our continued success.

Plans for growth include: Licensing opportunities. We currently have a couple in the Dallas area (Prosper) that will be opening a location some time in December of this year. We also have an interested party looking at Lubbock. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our home! This area is where we grew up. The people of Amarillo and the surrounding communities are good, hardworking people that care, love their community, and value family, God and country. Awards and accolades: Best of Amarillo winner for Best Doughnuts since its inception.

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The ER on Soncy Years in business: 1 Specialty: Emergency medicine Company size: 40 employees Business philosophy: To deliver high-quality emergency care to patients while treating them like family. Mission statement: To provide efficient, high-quality emergency room care. We are known for: Our local emergency specialists and minimal to no wait times. We want patients to be treated, not seated. The secret to our success: Taking our time with patients and delivering compassionate emergency care on a personal level. We’re set apart from the competition by: We are locally owned, staffed with board certified emergency physicians, and

3530 S. Soncy Road 340.0608 eronsoncy.care

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the only ER in-network with the BSA Provider Network. We are proud of: Our emergency trained and experienced staff, and board certified emergency physicians. We are thankful for: The community of Amarillo, and the chance to care for our population. We value: The patient-physician relationship, providing efficient, high-caliber emergency care. Plans for growth include: We have no plans for expansion like many of the freestanding ER chains. We were founded in Amarillo and are only in Amarillo. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: Being part of the wonderful Amarillo community – caring for our neighbors, colleagues, friends and family. Awards and accolades: Doctors of Distinction in Amarillo Magazine. Community involvement: Another Chance House; Race for the Cure; WRCA Rodeo; Up in the Air for Family Care Balloon Rally; West Texas Youth Baseball Team; Tri-State Fair parade; Hurricane Harvey donation drop-off center.

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Janey’s at 2500 Years in business: 32 Specialty: Bringing the latest fashion trends to Amarillo and the surrounding areas. We are known for: Our superior customer service and knowledge of the products we sell. The secret to our success: Our honesty and work ethic. We’re set apart from the competition by: Our ability to research and find the latest products/lines, and carrying products/lines that are exclusive to us. We are proud of: Our continued growth. We are thankful for: Our amazing clientele, whom we consider our friends. We value: God, our family, friends, co-workers, and clientele.

The best part of doing business in Amarillo: The support of the community. Community involvement: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure; 24 Hours in the Canyon; Colorful Closets of Amarillo; The Children’s Home; The Amarillo Symphony; Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School; The Amarillo Little Theatre; ADVO and many more.

2500 Paramount Blvd. 359.4156 janeys.com

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018 Joe Watkins and Jim Morgan

JW Properties Years in business: Oil business, 34 years; real estate business, 31 years Specialty: Oil and gas producer and commercial real estate. Mission statement: Growth. I’m always searching for a way to expand my businesses contacts and relationships. This is why I’m so excited about the new Estancia Development. It’s a tremendous opportunity to service the growth of Amarillo. We are known for: Honesty and integrity, particularly on our efforts to take care of our business. The secret to our success: Perseverance! We’re set apart from the competition by: Accommodating our tenants’ wants and needs. We take care of our business associates as best we can, as quickly as we can. We are proud of: Our relationships with all of the people with which we have done business. And I’m proud of the way the

3131 Bell St., Suite 203 467.9600 estancia-amarillo.com

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good Lord has blessed me in my career. We are thankful for: My education. I grew up very blessed and worked under my father. He was very successful in retail, ranching, real estate, oil and gas. My education has had a huge impact on my success. Plans for growth include: The new Estancia Development. It’s going to be a premiere development for Amarillo in an area that is not only beautiful, but also unique. It will offer great opportunities for commercial businesses and residential homes that are exclusive to Amarillo. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: I’ve lived all over this state, traveled all over the world. I believe there is not a better business climate than what we have here in Amarillo. Everyone is upbeat, fair and friendly. Community involvement: Downtown Women’s Center – on the board for 20-plus years and board president 2017 and 2018. It is very rewarding to dedicate a great deal of time to this cause. I have also served on the Catholic Family Services Board and other boards throughout my career. Helping those that are interested in helping themselves is very easy for me to do.

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018

Panhandle Plastic Surgery Years in business: 3 ½ Specialty: Plastic and reconstructive surgery/surgical breast oncology. Company size: Dr. Roe-May and three staff members. Business philosophy: Embracing a long, hard work day for the benefit and well-being of patients. Mission statement: At Panhandle Plastic Surgery we provide our patients with an unparalleled surgical experience, both in the office and operating room, tailoring each patient’s experience to their individual needs and desires. We are known for: Tastefully done cosmetic surgery with exceptional results, as well as the most comprehensive and up-to-date surgical treatments of breast cancer/ breast reconstruction. The secret to our success: Treating patients like family. We’re set apart from the competition by: Best said by our patients: “I feel like family here.” “You have my well-being as your best interest.” “I feel like I can call at any time with questions.” We are proud of: Finishing nine years of residency/fellowship training and being able to build a successful practice here in Amarillo in only 3 ½ years. We are thankful for: Being able to return to my hometown

to fulfill my dream of helping others through the power of medicine. We value: Honesty and compassion. Plans for growth include: We will be breaking ground in 2018 for our new state-of-the-art office in Pointe West. We will offer additional services in the new office, and plan to keep our practice small and continue to provide the personal care our patients deserve. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: Practicing in a city big enough and with a strong enough economy to afford us a successful practice, yet being a small enough town that people are not forgotten and personal relationships are paramount. Community involvement: Susan G Komen Race for the Cure; Panhandle Breast Health Breakfast of Champions sponsor; mentor for Amarillo and Canyon ISD Allied Health High School Students.

1301 S. Coulter St., Suite 413 350.7929 panhandleplasticsurgery.com

LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018

Proffitt’s Lawn & Leisure Years in business: Family-owned since 1970. Specialty: Sale and service of lawn and garden equipment. Company size: Typically employ 17 to 18 full-time and two to three part-time people. We are known for: Servicing what we sell. Most companies sell equipment but do not service or repair it when an issue arises. The secret to our success: Having the best employees! Most of our employees have been with us from five to 35 years. We treat customers how we would want to be treated.

PROFFITT’S LAWN & LEISURE

7611 S. Coulter St. 354.8676 proffittslawn.com

LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

We’re set apart from the competition by: Selling the best equipment at the best price. Also our service department sets us apart. We have four full-time, factory-trained technicians that have been here from six to 32 years each. We are thankful for: All of our customers. We have been blessed with thousands of loyal customers that we have built lasting relationships with. We value: The rain! Rain drives this business. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: The loyal customers in Amarillo and the entire Panhandle. Awards and accolades: Stihl Gold Certified Dealer; Top 25 Walker Dealer in the World; Hustler Turf Diamond Dealer; Toro Summit; Exmark Turf Star Dealer.

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018

Rabern Rental Years in business: 33 Specialty: Rental and sales of industrial and construction equipment. Company size: 40 employees Business philosophy: To rent the highest quality equipment at reasonable rates to make your jobsite run more efficiently. Mission statement: Our pledge is to establish lasting relationships with our customers by exceeding their expectations and gaining their trust through exceptional service by every member of our team. We are known for: Superior service and a friendly attitude. The secret to our success: Our people. We are proud of: Our involvement in the community. We are thankful for: The business community and the great people in the Panhandle.

We value: Being locally owned and operated. Plans for growth include: Adding locations throughout West Texas. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: The people and the business community. Awards and accolades: 2015 Rental Person of the Year Community involvement: All Chamber events; APD Summer Camps; WT Buffalo Club; Coors Ranch Rodeo; Southwest Baptist Church.

For locations, visit rabernrental.com.

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018

Rockwood Furniture Co. Years in business: 10 Specialty: Custom furniture sales – residential and commercial. Company size: Eight employees Business philosophy: To provide the finest quality Americanmade furniture and to treat the customer like they are our own family. Mission statement: Rockwood is determined to provide the highest-quality furniture with unparalleled craftsmanship, beauty and class. We match the quality of our products with stellar customer service that exceeds all expectations. Rockwood operates under God’s direction and seeks Him through each business transaction to stay sound in an ever-changing market. Rockwood’s furniture is handcrafted in the United States of America, and we are proud to hold tight to American quality and standards.

11570 I-27 | 358.8778 rockwoodamishfurniture.com

LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

We are known for: Real solid wood, American-made furniture. The secret to our success: Always putting family first, working hard, never giving up, and taking care of our customers. We’re set apart from the competition by: We offer true, solid wood furniture that can be made to work for you, not you work around it. We have a strong commitment to quality and solid American craftsmanship. We are proud of: Our product quality, attention to the detail, and high level of customer service. We are thankful for: God’s grace, the wonderful United States of America, and the good people that continue to support small businesses. We value: A handshake. Plans for growth include: Enlarging our footprint/territory from our Amarillo store. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: The good Panhandle people. Community involvement: SnackPak4Kids, various others.

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018

Sound Systems, Ltd. Years in business: 40 Specialty: Home technology solutions with a focus on audio/ video, home automation and networks. Company size: 10 associates Business philosophy: Be the very best you can be. We are known for: Being on top of our game and bringing the finest brands to Amarillo. The secret to our success: We under promise and over deliver. We are set apart from the competition by: Our experience, and we send our techs to training often so we can stay on top of the ever-changing technology. We are proud of: Putting together a first-class team, and being able to grow every year for 40 years. We are thankful for: Our customers. We have a very loyal customer base. We value: Our customers and associates, whom we call friends.

Plans for growth include: More training and expanding our facilities. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: The people. They are not only loyal to local businesses, but also are very forward-thinking. Awards and accolades: We have many certifications, from training to sales. Community involvement: We support many organizations, which include 24 hours in the Canyon, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Amarillo Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home, The Amarillo Symphony, The Amarillo Little Theatre and many more.

2502 Paramount Blvd. 353.9527 soundsystemsltd.com

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018

Street Auto Group Years in business: 35 Company size: Street Toyota and Street Volkswagen have more than 200 employees. Mission statement: To employ the best people, who offer customers the most ethical, respectful treatment in a professional and friendly workplace. We are known for: A friendly and professionally trained staff. We are set apart from the competition by: The best products, best associates and best service.

4500 S. Soncy Road | 904.8417 streettoyota.com

2725 SW 45th Ave. | 553.6862 streetvw.com

LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

We value: Associates that are customer advocates with the heart to serve others. We are thankful for: The opportunity to represent Toyota and Volkswagen in the Texas Panhandle. We are proud of: The great and talented work force of our area. Awards and accolades: Toyota President’s Award; VW Wolfsburg Crest Award. Voted in the Top 100 Best Dealerships in the U.S. to work for by Automotive News. Community involvement: We encourage all of our associates to serve on nonprofit boards. A few of these are: United Way of Amarillo and Canyon; Leadership Amarillo; Rotary Club; Lions Club; Guyon Saunders Resource Center; Amarillo Symphony; Amarillo Chamber of Commerce; Golden Spread Council of the Boy Scouts of America; Panhandle Fellowship of Christian Athletes; The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center.

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018

TexMex Fence Supply, Inc. Years in business: 36 Specialty: Fence supply only Business philosophy: If you take care of your customers, your customers take care of you. We are known for: Excellent quality and customer service. The secret to our success: We understand business is not always about numbers, but more importantly about treating people right and doing the right thing. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re set apart from the competition by: Providing a wealth of knowledge in the industry while offering competitive wholesale prices. We are proud of: Our history. Original founder and owner Fred Carter started installing wood and chain-link fences as a side job in 1957. He was so successful in his part-time endeavor that he quit his full-time job to install fencing full time for Western Fence, Co. After many fruitful years Fred decided to start a new

business, and he and his son, Rick Carter, opened a supply only fencing business in 1981, Tex Mex Fence Supply. After retiring, Fred sold the business to Rick, and it will eventually be sold to his grandson, Derrick, keeping the business in at least three generations of family ownership. We are thankful for: All of our customers and our employees. We value: Hard work, dedication, and family values. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: The people in the community and their support for small business.

1101 Ross St. 383.8833 texmexsupply.com

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018

Underwood Law Firm Years in business: 105 Specialty: We are a general civil practice firm with an emphasis in long-term care, public education, public finance, health care law and agriculture. Company size: 50-plus attorneys Business philosophy: We ride for the brand. If we see a job that needs to be done, we do it. We are known for: A century of service to our clients. We are proud of: Our involvement in the revitalization of downtown. We value: Lawyers who provide timely, top-quality legal services. Plans for growth include: In the past month, we have opened our sixth location in Austin, Texas.

500 S. Taylor St., Suite 233 | 376.5613 | uwlaw.com

LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The best part of doing business in Amarillo: The wonderful people with whom we’re able to interact. Awards and accolades: Texas Treasure; Two members of the American College of Trial Counsel (Tom Morris & Kelly Utsinger); Super Lawyers Best Law Firm; Best Firms. Community involvement: Our lawyers have been presidents of these Amarillo-area boards: Amarillo Country Club; Amarillo College Foundation; The Rotary Club of Amarillo; Amarillo Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center; TTUHSC Advisory Council. They have also served on numerous boards such as West Texas A&M University Foundation; Labor and Employment Opportunities; Leadership Amarillo. In a state-wide and national context, four Underwood lawyers have served as president of the Texas Association of School Boards Council of School Lawyers. Our lawyers have also served for the State Bar of Texas: President of the Texas Young Lawyer’s Association; Chairman of the Section of School Law.

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018

U.S. Cleaners

Years in business: Caron Turner Sansing has owned U.S. Cleaners for more than 23 years. Specialty: Dry cleaning and laundry services, and have recently started a new process called “wet cleaning”. We clean all kinds of bedding (including sheets), curtains, tablecloths, blankets, towels, etc. We also provide wash-and-fold services by the pound. We have recently launched a new division of our company called, “U.S. Cleaners Concierge”, which is our pick-up and delivery service for individuals and businesses. Company size: 40 We are known for: Our customer service. We hire the very best employees and are proud of how they represent our company. We’re set apart from the competition by: Offering the best service in town for the best price in town. We are proud of: Our employees, our family values, and our finished product. We have employees that have been with us for almost as long as we have been open, and they are truly part of our family. My three children have worked for the company, as well as many of their friends. My daughter is the general manager. It’s a true family business.

We are thankful for: Amarillo and our loyal customers. We love this city and we try to give back to our community as often as we can. All our locations are donation drop-offs for Colorful Closets, which is a local nonprofit that provides clothes to children in need. During the holidays, we also accept donations to High Plains Food Bank. Plans for growth include: Opening our newest location in Canyon. This will be our fifth location and we have plans to open more in Amarillo. We aren’t slowing down anytime soon! Follow us on Facebook to keep up with our plans. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: The people! Amarillo loves to support local, and we are grateful for that. Awards and accolades: Winner of Best of Amarillo Best Dry Cleaner award for a total of eight years.

For locations, visit uscleanersamarillo.com.

LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Local Business 2018

Xcel Energy Years in business: The TX-NM operating company, Southwestern Public Service Company, started in Roswell in 1904 and took over the Amarillo system in 1925. We became Xcel Energy in 2000. Company size: Xcel Energy serves eight states including Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. Total number of employees is 12,000. Business philosophy: We will be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. We are known for: Being the largest utility provider of wind energy in the country. The secret to our success: We anticipate our customers’ needs and exceed their expectations. We are proud of: Our employees and their commitment to being involved in the communities we serve. We are thankful for: The friendships and long-term relationships we’ve nurtured over many years with both our customers and suppliers.

790 S. Buchanan St. | 303.294.2294 | xcelenergy.com/SupplierDiversity

LOCAL BUSINESS • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Plans for growth include: We are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the systems that generate power and deliver it to our towns and cities, which involves the construction of hundreds of miles of power lines, dozens of substations and the complete modernization of our delivery systems. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: The growing number of diverse suppliers that Xcel Energy is able to do business with in the Amarillo area. Awards and accolades: Recognized as one of the Best Corporations for Veteran’s Business Enterprise, National Association of Veteran Business Owners; finalist Corporation of the Year, Rocky Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council (RMMSDC); recognized as one of the top corporations doing business with women-owned companies, Women’s Business Enterprise Council-Southwest; recognized as key corporate partner with Panhandle Regional Planning Commission; recognized as key corporate partner with Women’s Business Enterprise Council-Southwest Division; recognized as key corporate partner, Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Community involvement: Xcel Energy employees are very involved in the community, from participation in United Way campaigns to employee involvement on boards of directors of various nonprofits and area chambers of commerce.

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018

DermAesthetica Med Spa Years in business: 1 Specialty: Laser services such as hair reduction, body contouring, and facial resurfacing, as well as medical grade skin products. Company size: Two practitioners, two marketing staff members, a cosmetic professional specializing in eye lash extensions, a receptionist and a business manager. Business philosophy: Subtle Changes, Perfectly Executed. The secret to our success: A staff that loves working together and working to help our clients achieve their goals. We are proud of: Being a part of the Panhandle community. Our clients are the most precious resource in the area, and we are honored they choose us. We are thankful for: The wonderful opportunity to interact with and make the changes our clients desire. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: The support we receive from other local businesses. Community involvement: We believe in giving back to our community. We’ve been able to do so by giving a percentage of our profits from certain events. This past year, we were able to make a donation to The Turn Center as well as the local CASA chapter.

2800 Civic Circle | 367.9155 | dermalaserandvein.com

Goodin’s Jewelry Years in business: Since 1983. Specialty: All aspects of jewelry, from repair to customization to just having the perfect piece in our inventory. Company size: We have two jewelers and three part-time sales associates. We are known for: Jewelry repair. Our repair department stays constantly busy. The secret to our success: Giving the best customer service. We try to get to know our customers so we can better serve their needs. We are set apart from the competition by: Our diversity. From our extensive inventory of jewelry and gifts to endless possibilities with jewelry customization and design, we rarely turn away a job. We are thankful for: Our customers. They continue to come back and we are proud to have them. They come in smiling and leave smiling. We value: Our employees and their families. We always communicate with them to see what’s going on in their lives and how they are doing.

3701 Olsen Blvd., Suite I | 351.2634 | goodinsjewelryamarillo.com

LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Locally Owned Businesses 2018

Randy’s Shoes Years in business: 10 Specialty: We have the largest selection of comfortable, quality fashionable footwear for men and women in the Amarillo area. Company size: We have 10 employees. Business philosophy: To provide fashionable and comfortable footwear to fit our customers’ wardrobe needs. We are known for: Offering quality shoes with personal service. We’re set apart from the competition by: Our selection. We stock popular brands like Birkenstock, Earth, Dansko, Rockport, Klogs, Hoka One One, Fly London and many more. We are proud of: The professionalism and dedication of our employees. We enjoy helping people find shoes that are made for their foot type so they can feel comfortable all day. We are thankful for: Our customers! We value: The repeat business of our customers from Amarillo and across the Panhandle. The best part of doing business in Amarillo: Getting to know our wonderful customers through the years.

2636 Wolflin Ave. 353.2404 randysshoes.com

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

DISHED UP

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Get Your Summer Heat on at La Fiesta Grande

he sounds, sizzles and smells of summer have arrived. Not to be outdone, La Fiesta Grande is cooking up some savory senses of its own. Try the Steak Ranchero and you’ll feast on eight ounces of tender rib-eye grilled to your taste and served with a dinner salad, beans, rice, guacamole, pico de gallo and steaming hot tortillas. Have a penchant for heat? Ask your waiter for the spicy version of the Steak Ranchero and you’ll feast on a hefty plate of mesquite-grilled rib-eye with fresh grilled tomatoes, onions and jalapeños complemented with rice, beans, avocado and pico de gallo. Add a baconwrapped shrimp skewer for even more mouth-watering, belly-filling goodness. Cool your taste buds with a refreshing drink from La Fiesta’s fully stocked cantina. The Fiesta Michelada is a great Um facil et ipsaepelis et Mulientiam vehem oc re summer choice. Served in a cold glass with intelus An dius num essatus terisquem dium tela a salted rim, the Fiesta Michelada is a tall feribu locure cla rei is. Nam ta Scia tabus sima, La Fiesta Grande Locations vas nonsil consus is se niam. draft beer served with a shrimp-based tomato juice, fresh lime juice, a dash of 2200 Ross St. 7415 SW 45th Ave. celery salt, along with some tabasco and Expeliqui ist excerferi voluptate si bea dolo tem re venimilis versperissit est minctat 352-1330 374-3689 Worcestershire sauce. epeLavelentus con has tempor sitiore. lafiestagrande.com Fiesta Grande plenty au of drink and dining options to suit your summer nobisim velleni dolorerum lauditas et ecturiam, que opta di is taste. Drop by either location and take ulpa sitiore sequide vellenda earum eliquia idelicias quid antipasto skewers and crostini appetizers to reat is thedrink hit ofeverro any party, advantage of food its many specials, like or shrimp-tini. start your fine dining experience, and “wow” and if you’re tying the knot this While La Fiesta’s Tex-Mex entree options facculpa aut mo ommosam exerfero omnisevery evel Saturday il ius quethrough lit Sangria ut Saturday your guests with entree ideas such as beef summer, you’re already perusing include a Taco Bar, tequila lime chicken, thealiquae end ofideas summer. Enjoy glass for and beatum quo there occulparciis voluptuste ut deribus daecerrum explit filet with red wine sauce, Brussels sprouts to make your one reception steak ranchero, are also American $3, or share with your amigos and order one to remember. La Fiesta Grande offers dishes like chicken with mushroom cream etur? Quia dolupitia des ea qui conet rerum eos essequam el mos iusciawith bacon, and mashed potatoes. Your two distinctively catering options: a carafe of 5 todifferent 6 glasses of wine for $10. sauce and grilled rib-eye steak. For wedding taste is La Fiesta’s command! suntus res endam renitLafuga. alitiusam recerfere nossus apietur La Fiesta Grande Catering and Caterings by parties that prefer a classic dish, Fiesta Di disciCall now to get your wedding in the Party throughout the week with Margarita Roy. Whether a casual or Grande’s menu also features baked books and let La Fiesta put the “grande” in tem catering restia dolendebis moluptatur.Vid Mus asyou’re estrum aliquodi offic Wednesdays and planning Happy Hour Monday your fiesta! formal celebration, La Fiesta can add flair pasta in an Italian meat sauce, topped with Saturday from 4 tonum 7 p.m. et autcheese repudamus doluptatem tothrough mossita quistiur resti voand flavor to your festivities. mozzarella and served with a mixedaut di Laesequi Fiesta also has atovariety catering green salad and French bread.quatem ipsum From tacos and fajitas chicken-fried offictorae doloribus lupta omnimus ut amofnonseni options. Call, check out menus online, La Fiesta knows no two weddings are steak and cheeseburgers, Lathe Fiesta Grande’s vendisint eari blant omnis est offic Contact our catering managers to mporest mafeatures volest aeat asvariety eos simocatering menu wide of morealike, and its sister company, Caterings or follow La Fiesta on Facebook for book your next event: temqui testecus, luptia doluptature core porem offers veliquam, a custom gourmet menu nimus traditional and information. non-traditional favorites.fuga. by Roy, specials and

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2200 Ross St.

Amarillo, Texas 79119

0000 N. STREET W AY next event: ipsumsandre feum zzrit iriure Amarillo, ea ad Texas ciderum rem incipsam aut ea volor79103 806.352.1330 John Cardwell 806.290.1147

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Restaurants • Food • Spirits

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

D LE EP TA’RST EMAETN! T

1887 Social House

ocated inside Embassy Suites Downtown, 1887 is open for lunch and dinner. It’s important to note that 1887 Social House is a restaurant inside a hotel, not a typical hotel restaurant. At 1887, you’ll find a modern take on classic dishes like smoked duck “nachos”, lobster ravioli, and tender and juicy rib-eye steaks. The focus on every item served at 1887 is fresh ingredients, bold flavor combinations, and delightful presentation. The lunch menu offers lighter gourmet fare, with an expanded dinner menu that includes shared appetizers, and a balance of light and heavy entrees with classical French preparation techniques. The menus will change seasonally, with Sunday brunch in the works soon – complete with bloody mary and mimosa bars. Escape the rigors of daily life at Amarillo’s newest downtown oasis. We’re impressed.

550 S. Buchanan St., 803.5500, embassysuites3.hilton.com

PRICING GUIDE $ most entrees under $10 $$ most entrees $11 to $20 $$$ most entrees over $21 RESTAURANT KEY y Outdoor Dining ☎ Reservations Recommended T Live Music c Full Bar C Beer and/or Wine only ^ Best of Amarillo Winner NEW New to Let’s Eat! UPDATE

Updated entry

THE LET’S EAT! GUIDE IS A READER SERVICE COMPILED BY THE AMARILLO MAGAZINE EDITORIAL STAFF. THE MAGAZINE DOES NOT ACCEPT ADVERTISING OR OTHER COMPENSATION IN EXCHANGE FOR A LISTING. THE GUIDE IS UPDATED REGULARLY. TO CORRECT A LISTING OR RECOMMEND A RESTAURANT FOR CONSIDERATION, CONTACT MICHELE MCAFFREY AT MICHELE.MCAFFREY@AMARILLO.COM.

JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

LIFE IS WORTH SEEING

1887 Social House Located inside Embassy Suites Downtown, 1887 is open for lunch and dinner. And 1887 isn’t your run-of-themill “hotel” restaurant. Start you meal with delectable smoked duck “nachos”, smoked duck confit atop fired chicken skin with smoked Gouda and pickled peppers. The culinary delights don’t stop there; the limited menu is full of delightful options like flatbreads, salads, hamburgers (even vegetarian), rack of lamb, seafood pasta and beef. We’re impressed. 550 S. Buchanan St., 803.5500, embassysuites3.hilton.com $$ c y Acapulco Mexican Restaurant & Bar When the weather’s nice, enjoy sitting on Polk Street while you sip a margarita and sample a traditional Mexican-style shrimp cocktail. 727 S. Polk St., 373.8889, acapulcomexicanrestaurant.net $$

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Bagel Place Whether for breakfast or lunch, the Bagel Place offers a wide variety of cream cheese and bagel flavors. Zip through the convenient drive-thru for a great, lazy morning take-home breakfast. For lunch, try the bagel sandwiches made with Boars Head cheese and meat, a generous salad, or a tasty bowl of soup. 3301 Bell St., 353.5985 $ y Blue Sky Blue Sky’s burgers and homemade fries are the perfect companions to a Lone Star Beer or an Oreo shake. Be prepared to share the one-size-feeds-a-lot cheese fries. 4201 I-40 West, 355.8100/ 5060 S. Coulter St., 322.3888, blueskytexas.com $ C y ^ Cafe Marizon Cafe Marizon serves up great, homecooked taste with consistently delicious specials of the day. Go early so you can have a piece of the homemade pie or cake. 6151 Hillside Road, 352.2046 $ y C Copper Fire Grill Experience fine dining at Copper Fire Grill. Innovative cuisine with a focus on prime cuts of beef, lamb, quail and fresh fish, complemented by locally sourced produce gives discriminating diners plenty of options. Begin your evening in Copper Fire’s cozy bar area before experiencing a memorable evening in the dining room. 2800 Civic Circle, Suite 500, 803.9432, copperfiregrill.com $$-$$$ c y

Address: 3408 Olsen Blvd, Amarillo, TX 79109 Website: EyeCareAmarillo.com Phone: 806.355.5633 74

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

Crush Wine Bar & Deli Crush’s excellent tapas, sandwiches, entrees and desserts are a big enough draw. Add an extensive and impressive

wine list, one of the few covered patios in town, and excellent service, and you’ve got one of the city’s premier hang-out spots. The Saturday morning brunch is hard to beat, too. 701 S. Polk St., 418.2011, crushdeli.com $$ C y ^ T Dyer's Bar-B-Que If you’re a meat lover, Dyer’s is the place for you. The family-style, all-you-can-eat lunch special is hard to beat. On Fridays and Saturdays, eat your fill of premium smoked prime rib. 1619 S. Kentucky St., Suite E526, 358.7104, dyersbbq.com $$ c Eat-Rite The food at Eat-Rite isn’t just good for you; it’s delicious as well. Pile your plate high from the organic salad bar or choose from a variety of tasty sandwiches, soups and entrees. The marinated carrots are pure, tasty goodness. 2425 I-40 West, 353.7476, eat-rite.com $$ El Tejavan We love El Tejavan’s homemade guacamole, served up thick with onions and cilantro. The ceviche makes for a great starter or a light meal. For authentic taste, try the soft corn tortilla chicken tacos. The recipes at El Tejavan have been passed down for generations, so everything’s good. 3801 I-40 East, 372.5250/3420 I-40 West, 354.2444, eltejavan.com $$ c T Elmo’s Drive-In This classic drive-in offers old-fashioned burgers and fountain drinks to-go from its original location in the San Jacinto neighborhood. Fill up on fresh grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, fries, and soda fountain-style sundaes. 2618 SW Third Ave., 374.3566 $ Evocation Coffee You’ll find a thoughtful, simple menu at Evocation Coffee. Pour-over coffees and espresso dominate, but you’ll also find tea, cold press juices, fresh in-house waffles with a variety of spreads, and thick-sliced toast drizzled with sweetened condensed milk. Visit Evocation for expertly roasted and brewed coffee and a snack. Hang out because of the peaceful, modern vibe. 3300 S. Coulter St., Suite 5, 418.8968, evocationcoffee.com $ Fire Slice Back Alley Pizzeria You know you’re in for a good time at Fire Slice when you see the menu. Choose from pizza specialties, such as “Tommy Boy” and “Hot Momma,” or build your own. Each pizza is made fresh in a custom-built pizza oven. Try savory Italian brunch items on Saturdays and Sundays,

Joe Taco Great atmosphere and a variety of Southwest favorites make Joe Taco a great place to sit and relax, especially while enjoying a signature margarita. Soak in the sun on the patio when the weather is nice. 7312 Wallace Blvd., 331.8226, joetaco.net $$ c T y ^ Kabuki Romanza Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar Who says you can’t enjoy fresh sushi aboard a boat in the heart of the Panhandle? Kabuki Romanza serves teppan-style cooking and fresh-sliced sushi in a dining area that resembles a boat, surrounded by special effects that add to the tropical feel. 8130 I-40 West, 358.7799, kabukiromanza.com $$-$$$

La Fiesta Grande Authentic taste and a lively atmosphere make La Fiesta a great place to take the whole family. From nachos to barbacoa, there’s something for every taste. 2200 Ross St., 374.3689/7415 SW 45th Ave., 352.1330, fiestagrande.com $$ c

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My Thai It’s hard to find authentic Thai cuisine that compares to My Thai. We recommend the angel noodle with sauteed tomatoes and mushrooms for a tasty alternative to fried rice. 2029 S. Coulter St., 355.9541, mythaiamarillo.com $ ^

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It’s a Punjabi Affair If you were among the many Indian food fans that despaired when Amarillo Hut closed its doors, brood no more. Punjabi Affair serves Indian-style street food, available for dining in or to take out. Savor classics like flat bread, butter chicken and samosa, and a few you might not be accustomed to like lamb curry, or marinated and fried tilapia. You’ll also find options for vegans and vegetarians. The menu will change with the seasons in order to offer fresh local ingredients. 4201 S. Bushland Blvd., 414.2114, itsapunjabiaffair.com $ y

Macaroni Joe’s Macaroni Joe’s isn’t just a place to eat a great meal. The Tuscan-inspired rooms are the perfect place for creating memories. Whether for a first date, the start of a new life together, or celebrating important milestones, the restaurant offers excellent service and an exquisite food and wine menu. It’s at the top of our list. 1619 S. Kentucky St., Suite D1500, 358.8990, macaronijoes.com $$-$$$ c Job/Order #: 299003 Operator: cs

Hoffbrau Steaks Family-owned Hoffbrau has been serving Texas-style steaks and beer for three decades. We recommend one of the Gr8 Steaks or something from the Hill Country Favorites list upon your first visit. Guaranteed, you’ll go back again. 7203 I-40 West, 358.6595, hoffbrausteaks.com $$ c

Brand: Budweiser Item #: PBW2017032

Girasol Cafe & Bakery If you’ve missed having an artisan bakery in Amarillo, you’re in luck. Head over to Garisol Cafe and enjoy fresh baked goods along with a rotating menu of salads, soups, sandwiches and entrees – many with a Latin influence. Check the bakery’s Facebook page for daily featured items. 3201 S. Coulter St., 322.0023 $

Lupita’s PRINT Lupita’s comes from a long line of restaurants in Amarillo, all springing from the original Tortilleria Lupita. Find fresh fare, such as chile rellenos or a green chile Puerco torta, a basket brimming with pork, lettuce, tomato, onion and avocado. 4013 SE 10th Ave., 372.3537/ 3221 S. Western St., 350.7638/ 2403 Hardin Drive, 350.7637/ 3309 Bell St., 350.7297/316 SW Sixth Ave., 350.7705 $ c

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starting at 11 a.m. 7306 SW 34th Ave., Space 10, 331.2232, fireslice.com $$ c T

Napoli’s Fine Italian Restaurant Napoli’s has created an oasis in downtown Amarillo. Indulge yourself with the housebaked bread while you browse the ample menu. Try the hearty lasagna or one of the over-sized calzones while enjoying live music on the spacious patio. 700 S. Taylor St., 220.2588, napolisofamarillo.com $$ c T y ^ OHMS Cafe & Bar Set in downtown Amarillo, OHMS serves a buffet-style lunch then switches to wait service in the evenings. The chef features specials each week that range from seafood and smoked duck to beef tenderloin. Start with daily Happy Hour and give the Bar Burger a try. (It’s not on the menu, but it might be the best burger in town.) Excellent cuisine and service make this a delightful place to linger. 619 S. Tyler St., 373.3233, ohmscafe.com $$$ y c ☎ On the Border On the Border’s made-to-order fajitas will knock your socks off. Of course, good Mexican food is even better with a cold beer. Go ahead, indulge. 2401 Soncy Road, 553.3900, ontheborder.com $$

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JANUARY 2018 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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Pan-Handlers Cafe Kick your lunch experience up a notch at Pan-Handlers. Settled in the basement of Amarillo National Bank Plaza One, this family-run restaurant supports the community by using farm-fresh produce. With a list of daily specials ranging from Mexican to seafood and cleverly concocted sandwiches (try the ANBLT on ciabatta bread), your dining experience will be anything but bland and boring. 410 S. Taylor St., 352.2590, thepan-handlers.com $ C Public House You’ll want to take your time to enjoy the ambience and upscale Southern comfort food at Public House. Savor the house favorite, a generous portion of meatloaf comprised of ground duck, pork and beef with mashed potatoes, a house-made pimiento grilled cheese sandwich, or enticing nightly specials. 3333 S. Coulter St., Suite A, 398.7777, publichouseamarillo.com $$-$$$ c ☎ Roosters Restaurant and Catering Roosters offers more than just a good cup of Joe. Stop in and plan on staying for a hot breakfast pastry or one of the delicious lunch specialties. It’s the perfect place to relax with friends for lunch. 3440 S. Bell St., Unit 110, 353.7309, silver-fork.com $ y

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

Scratch Made Bakery & Cafe Conveniently located in downtown Amarillo, Scratch Made has the solution for your sugar cravings. This small bakery features cupcakes, along with a variety of from-scratch cookies, pastries, pies and cakes. Feast on some of the best biscuits and gravy in town during the weekday and Saturday brunch, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 118 SW Sixth Ave., 731.4477 $ Spicy Mike’s Bar-B-Q Haven Diners won’t leave Mike’s hungry; they’ll leave licking their fingers. With chopped brisket sandwiches, tender pork ribs and more, Mike’s is a meat lover’s paradise. 6723 S. Western St., 358.8550, spicymikes.mymobisite.us $ Thai Palace With more than 100 entrees available, your first visit to Thai Palace might feel somewhat overwhelming. Rather than settling for boring chicken fried rice, mix things up and opt for something from the curry menu. With red, green, yellow, Panang, or Masaman, there’s a flavor for every palate. 4723 S. Western St., 331.6011 $

Tyler’s Barbeque Going back to the basics, Tyler’s Barbeque combines a straightforward menu with a relaxed atmosphere. We suggest the mouth-watering Man-Sized Double Meat Sandwich or the tasty Frito pie. 2014 Paramount Blvd., 331.2271, tylersbarbeque.com $ ^ y Urbana Coffee Works Southwest Amarillo can get its caffeine fix a little closer to home with the opening of Urbana Coffee Works. Hang out with a fresh brew and breakfast pastry, or enjoy lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. daily with hearty, hot sandwiches, tapas, soups and salads, and desserts like gelato or cupcakes. In the evening, listen to live music while you sip. 5215 S. Coulter St., Suite 100, 803.9022, urbanacoffeeworks.com $ T Vince's Pizza Vince’s calzones are some of the best we’ve had. The pizzeria also offers huge Greek salads, Giro and an even larger family-sized pizza. Enjoy the quirky atmosphere or get your food to go at the convenient drive-up. 2413 S. Western St., 352.2656 $ Wesley’s Bean Pot & BBQ Loyal customers return again and again to Wesley’s. The atmosphere is friendly and the barbecue is genuine Texas style. The baby back ribs and brisket The baby back ribs and brisket are customer favorites. 6406 River Road, 381.2893 $ The Windy Cow Cafe and Dessert Bar This family-owned cafe is located in Wildorado, less than a 15-minute drive from west Amarillo. Fill up on all-youcan-eat catfish on Fridays and Saturdays, from-scratch comfort food, and delicious homemade pie, cake, cookies, brownies and more. 709 I-40 West, 426.3001 $ YCSF Craft YCSF Craft serves its popular gourmet eats for lunch and dinner. The diverse but limited menu boasts burgers, tacos, and daily specials, and features craft beer and a well-rounded wine list. 2916 Wolflin Ave., 353.9273 $-$$ C Zombiez Bar & Grill Locals rave about the homestyle offerings at Zombiez Bar & Grill. Fill up on daily specials, burgers, chicken-fried steak or chicken-fried chicken. Dine-in, takeout and delivery are available. 711 SW 10th Ave., 331.7305 $ c T y

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RETRO REWIND

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Lon Marrs

t one point, during a political campaign, the Amarillo News wrote this about candidate Lon Marrs: “So well-known is Judge Marrs in Potter County that any introduction at this time seems almost superfluous.” That was early in the 1900s. But in early 2018, an introduction may be necessary. Shown in front of his home at Sixth and Taylor – located across the street from the courthouse – Marrs was one of Amarillo’s most prominent politicians and community leaders during the city’s crucial first decades. He served two terms as mayor, from 1908 to 1910 and again from 1917 to 1923. Prior to that, he’d served six years as Potter County Attorney and eight

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

years as County Judge. Born in Kentucky, Marrs first arrived in Amarillo in 1890. In 1899, he helped engineer the city’s incorporation and expansion. During his tenure as mayor, he oversaw the development of the city’s first paved streets and most of its utilities. He was instrumental in opening Amarillo’s first public school and even directed the Amarillo Unit of the Red Cross. Upon completing his last term as mayor, Lon Marrs enjoyed a successful law career in Amarillo. In 1936, Lon Marrs retired and returned to his native Kentucky, where he died in 1943. Marrs Street in East Amarillo, which borders Dick Bivins Stadium, is named for him.

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20 QUESTIONS WITH

Marcie Rea PRESIDENT, MARCELLA FURS & LEATHER, INC.

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2018

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

What is the best advice you received when you were beginning your career? When I was a young woman, I went through a divorce and became a single parent. I had been out of the workforce for a couple of years while I was at home with my little boy. I didn’t know how I was going to provide for us. My adopted grandmother, who had been one of the working women from WWII, took my face in her hands and said, “Honey, you can do anything a man can do.” We went shopping, she dressed me from head to toe in business attire, and then she said, “Now, type up your resume, and go get that job.” I did. My grandmother was by no means a feminist, but she believed you should always roll with the punches. That kind of work ethic is what makes a successful entrepreneur. And by the way, she was right. I am the founder and president of Marcella Furs & Leather, Inc. I also serve as the Chairman of the Fur Information Council of America and as a U.S. delegate for the International Fur Federation. I work in a completely male-dominated industry, in which I now have the privilege of a position of leadership. How do you use social media to grow your network? My son, who is a millennial, is the social media networking guru for our business. Social media has become one of the most important tools in reaching potential customers, as well as communicating with our current customers. How do you maintain balance? That one is easy. It’s Jesus. I spend time with God every morning. Everything else seems to fall in order when I do that. What has been your wisest investment? The $5,000 loan against my husband’s 401K to start Marcella Furs & Leather. It was a scary move at the time, but the investment has paid off. How has your past work experience shaped you into a leader? Over the years, I have worn many hats in the workforce, and I’ve worked for good and bad employers. Hopefully, I’ve learned to lead with compassion and not by force. This world needs more leaders and less bosses. What is the best part about your job? Working with designers. The creative side of my business is the best! How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and private life? We have a Christian group of business leaders from every walk of life that meets at my store every Wednesday morning. We lean on each other, pray for each other, and glean from the wisdom of the group. Those men and women have totally changed my life! Which living person do you most admire and why? Billy Graham. I’m sure he’s probably not a perfect man, but he has sure walked the walk. When I die, I hope they will say, “She walked the walk.” Which over-used word or phrase makes you cringe? The use of “honey,” “sweetie,” “sugar,” or any other derivative to refer to another woman, especially an older one. These terms of endearment are wonderful in our families, but they have no business in business. What is your business philosophy? If you will take care of your customers, they will take care of you. “Give and it shall be given to you … For with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38 (NIV) Which quality do you most value in an employee? Loyalty. What personality trait has most helped you succeed? Tenacity. Who is your favorite author? Joel Osteen. He writes about hope, and I’m an optimist at all times. The glass shouldn’t just be half full; it should be running over! What did you learn from your best boss? That employees are not there just to serve the business. A good manager considers it his job to care for his employees. Your worst? Employees are human beings. They have families and lives outside of work. They should never be treated as though they are the property of the business. How can Amarillo improve its business environment? We need to encourage our area to buy local whenever possible. Online sales are killing some of the important businesses in our area, and we need to be sensitive to that. We must have thriving businesses to feed our economy. Most important tech tool: My smart phone! Best management tool: An app on my phone called Any.do. It helps keep me organized! I can’t live without my: husband. He’s my best friend. My favorite thing about Amarillo is: the people. The friendly, gracious, loving, giving people of Amarillo. Most unusual job or task: Taking apart a fur coat, restyling it, and giving it a new lease on life.

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