Tangling up Temple

This is the third year we’ve been to Temple for the Texas Bead Retreat

The Hub in Temple

and we’ve discovered another place to eat in this little town. While the old town remains relatively unchanged, except for some refurbishing, the area around this original spot is booming. The two previous blogs are Tempting Temple and Beaders on the Road. They have historical information and also some reviews of where we stayed and ate during those visits.







This year we all tried something new at the beading retreat. The Texas Bead Retreat is run by volunteers; the instructors donate their expertise

L to R: Wrap bracelet, Silver pendant,
Earrings

to teach folks how to do a particular technique. This time I finished three pieces. The Celestial earrings, by Sue Charette-Hood, used a new type of bead called Kheops because they are shaped liked pyramids. The bracelet, It’s a Wrap by Nina Owens, uses leather, a metal button, and super-duo beads. I had never worked with Precious Metal Clay, but had the chance to take a class from Barbara Bessire; she taught us how to mold the clay into a wearable piece. Of course, I had to sculpt a rabbit. The pendant I’ve not completed was called, Wild Thing; Beth Dewey taught us how to use natural materials to craft a free-form pendant. I was pleased with all the pieces and I can’t wait to make other pieces using what I’ve learned.

Again this year, there was a Bead Challenge. We were given a list of required bead colors we and asked to use our imagination and creativity

First Prize for Linnea

to produce a beaded product. The entries ranged from a large box to a bracelet, and to several styles of necklaces. The NearNormal Travelers were delighted that one of our members, Linnea, won first place! An excited shout went up from the beaders at our table.

As Temple grows, so do the options for a meal outside the hotel. For information about my rating system, see Reading the Reviews.

Four carrots

Pignetti’s Italian Restaurant (14 S 2nd St, Temple, TX 76501, 254-778-1269) is called an ‘Upscale, brick-&-stucco venue for Italian specialties & an extensive wine selection’. This is an accurate description of this excellent eating establishment. It was a good thing that we went early

Top L to R: Menu, bread
Center L to R: Goat cheese, Salad, Ravioli,
Wine
Bottom L to R: Salad, Linguine, Limoncello
cake, Cream cake

since by the time we left the restaurant was full. They do take reservations so if you intend to arrive at 7:00PM or after, it’s a good idea to reserve a table. On Wednesday nights there is a special wine tasting. This includes four large tasting portions of wine plus two quarter-cup sized appetizers. I decided that this sounded perfect for my dinner. The wines were good if not exceptional and the two appetizers, fried goat-cheese with avocado sauce, and pasta with a spicy cheese sauce were especially prepared for me by the chef to accommodate my food allergies. Both were tasty and set off the flavors of the wines nicely. Linnea had a lovely side salad that was fresh with a nice mix of greens and a light dressing. She followed that with lobster ravioli that rivaled any she had eaten previously. Barb decided that the fresh bread and dipping oil were the perfect appetizer to her clams with linguine. She was thoroughly pleased with the pasta and wouldn’t let the waiter remove the bread, saving it for a dessert, as well. Shelley also had the wine tasting, but supplemented it with a Caesar salad that was fresh, full of cheese and well dressed. Three of us decided to sample the desserts. Linnea and I chose the Limoncello Cake, while Shelley sampled the Italian Cream Cake. Both choices were excellent. This was an exceptionally good restaurant with excellent service, a chef sensitive to the needs of the patrons, and a varied menu. We’ve decided that eating at Pignetti’s will be an annual event for us!

 

Three and one-half carrots

We stayed in the Hilton Garden Inn (1749 Scott Blvd, Temple, TX 76504, 254-773-0200), as we have previously. While the rooms still have the same rating, the little restaurant has done nothing but improve. The service has become better, as well. The food is good, well served, and a reasonable price.

Methodist Church Gates

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