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by Ann Ramsbottom
Battalion staff
Route 2, Navasota. Actually,
closer to Plantersville.. .off Texas
105 East to FM 2445. You're not
likely to stumble onto Southern
Breeze Plantation and if you're
not careful, you might miss it.
While establishments of fine
food and entertainment are
typically dressed to suit a parti
cular mood and create a certain
atmosphere. Southern Breeze
Plantation takes you to the
atmosphere. Gracious living,
hospitality and everything the
storybooks promise of a south
ern plantation.
Just off the dirt road a modest
sign clearly identifies Southern
Breeze Plantation. The sign
hangs distinguished, leading to
the plantation-style entryway.
A meandering driveway leads
up through 24 acres of land
scaped grounds. Magnolias,
photos by John Makely
wisterias, azaleas...and fresh
air. A quaint Victorian gazebo
overlooks a small pond. A lawn
swing dangles beneath a tower
ing oak tree.
At the end of the drive stands
a huge plantation home; magni
ficent, yet subtle. An old-
fashioned rocker sways on the
porch.
Part-owner Willa Lowe pon
dered over a fitting description
of her business. A restaurant-
...not really, a meeting facility-
...more than that, an activity
center.. .possibly.
"No, Southern Breeze Planta
tion really doesn't fit into any of
these categories," Lowe said.
Southern Breeze Plantation is
a seven-year-old, family-
owned, family- operated busi
ness that resulted from the long-
range plans of Mrs. Billie Dell
Layne Parks. Her dream was to
create a family business cen
tered around fine food. Parks
moved to Grimes County in
January 1977 to initiate her
dream. A few weeks later she
died.
Parks' three daughters: Willa
Lowe, Mary Lou Epps and Kim
Parks pursued her dream. The
three daughters and three full
time employees (including a sis
ter-in-law and some childhood
friends) make up the staff of
Southern Breeze Plantation.
"The employees are more
family than staff," Lowe said.
"We all work together seven
days a week preparing and host
ing. Just keeping up the
grounds is a full time job."
The most popular offering at
Southern Breeze Plantation is
the formal dining facility.
Groups of eight to 90 reserve the
morning, afternoon, evening or
entire day.
"The group has the facility en
tirely to themselves during this
time," Lowe said. "Meetings,
parties and weddings are some
of the frequent groups we host.
Social, religious, fraternal, busi
ness and/or family groups also
enjoy barbeques, plays, musi
cians and formals. We plan to
add an overnight cabin facility
on our 24 adjoining acres of un
developed land.
"We also offer samplers on a
regular basis," Lowe said.
"These are individual or group
events including such activities
as instruction on gingerbread
house-making and sugar egg
making. We also offer hot-air
ballooning on a regular basis.
Each of these samplers are
accompanied by a home-cooked
meal."
Home-cooked meals are a
highlight of Southern Breeze
Plantation.
"All three of us cook," Lowe
said. "Everything is home-made
from scratch. That includes
bread and decorated cakes
which we make for special
orders."
Homemade bread and honey
are always present on the dinner
tables to honor the Grimes
County tradition: the land of
milk and honey. The rest of the
menu is not so basic, however.
The group reserving the facil
ity may choose from any one of
14 menus ranging from sour
cream breast of chicken to sea
food creole over rice or quail
with wild rice. These selections
may be completed with such
finales as chocolate covered
crumble balls made with vanilla
ice cream, crepes with fruit fill
ing, liquor and a sprinkling of
almonds or chocolate marble
cheesecake.
"All group reservations are
very individualized," Lowe
said. "We like for our guests to
feel as though they're eating at
home. To further create this
mood we work as little from a
cash register as possible."
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