Here's your chance to see Joel Melton and friends at The Regency Bridge.

Saturday, November 28th Joel will be back at the White Wolf Trading Post by The Regency Suspension Bridge 14 miles NW of San Saba Texas on FM500 Playing all day and evening with Alton and Sue Watson come on out.

Alton and Sue Watson singing at the Regency Suspension Bridge in Regency Texas. Filmed by Joel Melton and Edited by T. Howard Maxwell for the film "There's Something in the Water".

Catching Up With Tom Bowden

If you wondered where he is and what is happening with our crazy guy on a bike, you can read about and see Tom's pictures here. I tried to post some of his pictures but apparently they won't upload from his website. So far Tom has made it to Roy's Campground somewhere in Mississippi.

We hope you will join us to celebrate his safe and heroic return and to contribute to Lance Armstrong's stem cell fund raiser on November 17 - Real Ale Beer and real beef hotdogs for everyone who donates. Why wait? You can donate here.

As you read Tommy's journal you meet people who have benefited from stem cell research in other countries, ordinary people like you and me whom he met as he rode his bike across America. By "other countries", I mean these Americans had to travel to other countries in order to receive treatment because other countries are more advanced than we are in their methods of the applications of stem cell research which they supported. That's embarrassing. We're supposed to be a world leader. Stem Cell research saves lives.

Our First THANKSGIVING At The Turtle

We've been opened almost 5 years and decided that since last year that number of families called to see if we would be opened on Thanksgiving, that we better accommodate our customers.

This is the menu: Chef Thomas' juicy melt-in-your-mouth prime rib or house smoked turkey. Dinner will start with our Windy Hill Mixed Green Salad. You'll choose three sides from of our list of traditional comfort dishes followed by a selection of traditional desserts. Home made milk and butter rolls will be on the table. Coffee and Tea included. Prime Rib Dinner is $36.00, Smoked Turkey is $27.00 Children under three are free. Reservations are required. Call 325-646-8200 or make them online. We'll be opened from 6:00pm - 9:00pm Not part of a big group? We'll have a community table for singles who want to dine with someone.

November 19th, 2009 Is The 5th Wine Exploration Dinner - With Alphonse Dotson Of Certenberg Vineyards

Here's a really special event. We know Brownwood is a football town and we're pretty sure Brownwood is a wine lovers kind of place. Now football and wine go together and no one has proved it more than Alphonse Dotson. He was drafted by the National Football League's Green Bay Packers, but signed with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. He played for the AFL's Miami Dolphins. From 1967-1970 he played for the AFL's Oakland Raiders Mr. Dotson has traveled a long and dusty road from professional football to Certenberg Vineyards in Voca, (population 50) Texas. Wine, yes, wine.

There's a lot more to this story but we'll let Mr. Dotson tell you that himself while you dine and taste Gotas de Oro. Alphonse and his wife Martha have until now, sold all of their grapes to Fall Creek Vineyard. Fall Creek is Texas' oldest vineyard. Ed Auler, owner of Fall Creek has called Dotson's grapes the best in Texas. Fall Creek wines made with Dotson’s grapes have won major awards. Well, now the time has some for The Certenberg Vineyards to make it's own wine. The Turtle Restaurant is proud to present the first bottling of Gotas de Oro or "Drops of Gold." this nectarous wine has a heady peach, apple, floral nose with a long finish to match. It is a perfect foil for many kinds of spicy world foods from Thai to Indian to Latin. For our dinner we are choosing Latin. It could also be a dessert all by itself and complements many cheeses and sweets.

Other things you should know about Alphonse Dotson and proof he is an all round Renaissance man and a charming dinner companion: Mr. Dotson is on the board of the Texas Commission on the Arts. He studied Impressionistic Art with George Dureau and is (as we mentioned above) a former professional football player, teacher, and juvenile probation officer. Mr. Dotson is a cum laude graduate of Grambling College. In 2008, Saveur Magazine named Mr. Dotson as one of the Top 100 Most Interesting Personalities. Mr. Dotson served as President of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association in 2006 and 2007.

Sooo we can't think of any reason why everyone won't enjoy this event. Make your reservation now at The Turtle Restaurant by calling 325-646-8200 or online November 19th, 2009 7:00 pm

Our customer, Tom Bowden, 71 years old will ride his bicycle from Brownwood, Texas to St. Louis..

down to Natchez, MS then back to Brownwood. The Trip begins October 4, 2008 and will last about 45 days. Tom is available for speeches and discussions on the subject of Adult Stem Cell Research (or your favorite conspiracy theory, Tom is the owner of the former Dallas Conspiracy Museum). Tom is riding to raise money for The Lance Armstrong foundation. On line donations can be made at http://www.livestrong.org/grassroots2009/ahimsa one cent per mile is $35.00, two cents per mile is $50.00. Let's make it worth the old man's time. You can view trip progress at the following site http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/ahimsa

The Turtle will celebrate Tom's safe return home with kosher hotdogs, home made buns and Texas' Real Ale Beer in the garden out back of the Enoteca on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Proceeds from hotdogs and beer will also be donated to Livestrong.org to honor Mr. Bowden's spectacular ride and safe return.

We'll soon be posting pictures of his riding rig. Mr. Bowden is proof that it's not how old you are, but how old you feel that counts. Some of our younger wine bar crew are going to ride with him part way to Oklahoma. If you are interested in riding along contact Tom at the the crazyguy web site listed above.

September 17, 2009 Our 4th Wine Exploration Dinner with Bluff Dale Vineyards


David & Theresa Hayes make one of the few sweet white wines I will drink, Sweet Caramella. This golden wine has a heady floral bouquet with just enough citrus to balance the sweetness. The finish is what does me in on most sweet whites, no cloying finish there, just a saweeet snap! Great ice cold on the patio with apple pie for two or a good Texas cheddar made by our friends at Veldhuizen.

The veranda at the Bluff Dale Winery tasting room has a view of the beautiful vineyards and the Hill Country of Bluff Dale. It is located between Stephensville and Granbury on 377.

Menu

Cabernet Sauvignon - Beef Tournado
- green peppercorns, foccacio crouton

Chardonnay - Pan Seared Ahi Tuna
- Asian greens, wasabi cream, pickled ginger

White Cliff - Peking Duck Salad
- pulled duck, Asian vegetables, glass noodle, sweet sesame vinaigrette

Nexus - Rosemary Garlic Seared Pork Tenderloin
- roasted garlic whipped potatoes, french beans, mango chutney

Lenoir - Caramelized Peaches

For tasting notes visit Bluff Dale vineyards wine list.

Jazz on The Patio Sept 11 and Sept 26, 2009

Enjoy a relaxed balmy evening on the new patio behind The Turtle Enoteca catching the groove of The Heartland Jazz Combo. The band will play two sets on Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 26, 2009. There will be two shows each day starting at 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm. The Heartland Jazz Combo was founded in 2004 by Brownwoodians, Stephen Cox, Gannon Phillips, Mathew Ramirez and Kristopher Redus, with the mission to bring their love of Jazz music to the surrounding area. Since then the ensemble has played at local weddings, celebrations, and the Brownwood Reunion. Members of the band have performed and won awards in various jazz festivals including the Temple Jazz Festival, the North Texas Jazz Festival, the North Sea jazz festival in France, and for the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The Combo plays a variety of jazz music styles including swing, be-bop, and latin styles such as the bossa nova and samba. They are excited about bringing life and music to downtown Brownwood, especially on September 11. As jazz great, Steve Toure says, "A musician is like a doctor, he's supposed to heal people and make them feel better."

Cover charge is $7.00 seating on the patio or $5.00 (bring your own blanket) on the grass in the Event Garden behind the Turtle Restaurant. Enoteca Menu or Brown Bag Picnic in the grass available. The Turtle Enoteca is located at 510 Center Avenue, Brownwood, Texas The Event Garden and Patio is directly behind the building. For reservations call 325-646-820.

Picture left to right: Stephen Cox, Gannon Phillips, Mathew Ramirez, Kristopher Redus