These new expanded hours are a great incentive to start your weekend away a little early. Leave on Thursday after work and start your mini-holiday with some tasty down home cooking at Carol’s. Or put in a few hours of work on Friday morning and leave in time for lunch at our casual fine dining restaurant – just an hour outside of Houston. It’s the perfect way to begin a weekend getaway at our Houston area Guest Ranch.

Our Cat Spring, Texas, restaurant serves delicious plates such as Seared Beef with Jalapeno Grits and Maple Vinaigrette. We also have a deep wine cellar featuring outstanding wines from around the country and the world; we’re especially proud to offer several excellent wines from Texas.

Join us for the next Wine Dinner at Carol's. More details to be released soon.

Include a meal at Carol’s Cat Spring Restaurant the next time you stay at our Texas Vacation Ranch, or simply the next time you’re in the neighborhood and feel like some good food. We’re excited to be open on Thursday evenings and for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays. Hope to see y’all soon!

Carol’s Cat Spring, Texas, Restaurant is open on Friday and Saturday evenings and for Sunday brunch. Doors open at 5 p.m. for Happy Hour, which lasts for an hour; dinner service begins at 5:30 p.m. and concludes at 9 p.m.. Sunday Brunch is offered between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

We serve hearty, seasonal cuisine. The food is creative and upscale, but the atmosphere is relaxed and casual. Sample entrées include Grilled Cajun Spiced Shrimp served on a bed of wild rice with fresh green beans, and Pork Loin with avocado salsa,melted cheese, and mashed potatoes. Our informed servers are happy to recommend wine pairings.

We’ll work with you to help create the holiday party you desire, whether it’s for your business or for a group of friends and family. Let us help make your holiday festive and stress-free.

The Truchard Wine Dinner at our Cat Spring Restaurant.

Call 979-865-1100 to book your holiday party at our Houston area restaurant today.

Carol’s Cat Spring Restaurant is serving a Thanksgiving feast on November 25, 2010, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be Carol’s Rosemary Brined Oven Roasted Turkey and Whiskey Glazed Country Ham. We’re serving Traditional Stuffing and Chipotle Cornbread Dressing, as well as Fried Green Beans and Brussels Sprouts & Bacon. If you have room for dessert (and who doesn’t on Thanksgiving?) there will be many available.

Head home after the feast, or head to our Guest Ranch for a peaceful evening in the country. Stroll through ancient live oak trees and grassy fields. Sit by the pond or on the porch of your private cabin and watch the sun set. This is a wonderful place to reflect on the many reasons you have to be thankful.

Bring your friends and family to a Thanksgiving feast at Carol's.

Reservations are required for the Thanksgiving dinner at Carol’s. Please call 979-865-1100.

Truchard's Cabernet Franc with filet mignon.

Tony was raised in Texas, and he and Jo Ann are returning to attend the next Wine Dinner at our Cat Spring Texas restaurant, at 7 p.m. on November 16, 2010. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the wine industry from the inside, and to meet a delightful couple, as well.

During the evening we’ll pair delicious hors d’oeuvres with Truchard wines from the Carneros Region of Napa Valley. Expect a night of excellent company, delectable food, and extraordinary wine.

Enjoy 2008 Truchard Roussanne with Sunchoke Veloute, Foie Gras, Pecans.

Sip 2008 Truchard Chardonnay with Seared Scallops, Cauliflower Puree, Arugula, Dijon Creme.

Sample 2007 Truchard Pinot Noir with Olive Oil Poached Salmon, Matsutake Mushroom, Celeriac, Truffle Vinaigrette.

Savor 2006 Truchard Merlot with Duck Breast, Sour Cherries, Clove Oil,

Grilled Treviso, Duck Jus.

We’ll pair 2007 Truchard Cabernet Franc with Filet Mignon en Brioche, Cabernet Demi Glace.

Finish the evening with 2008 Zinfandel and Orange & Amaretto Chocolate Terrine.

Interested in staying close to our Cat Spring Restaurant? Please consider Blisswood Texas guest ranch.

Please visit Truchard Vineyards for additional information about Truchard wines.

Our Truchard Wine Dinner is $89 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required. Please call 979-865-1100.

Enjoy a glass of Texas wine at our Houston area fine dining restaurant.

Plan to visit several Texas wineries during a relaxing weekend or mid-week holiday at our vacation ranch Houston area. It’s fun to hit the wine trail with no specific destination in mind. You may stumble across Rosemary’s Vineyard and Winery, in nearby La Grange, where you’ll sip a variety of wines in a tasting room surrounded by acres of Muscadine grape vines. Or head in the opposite direction and stop by Colony Cellars, in Waller Texas; sit back and enjoy a selection of their Texas wines in the tasting room after a trolley tour of the vineyard.

If you are curious about the Texas wines we feature at our Cat Spring Restaurant, Carols, drive an hour north to Bryan Texas and visit Messina Hof Winery. Or head west to Fredericksburg for a tour of Becker Vineyards. Of course, the easiest way to taste these wines is at Carol’s, accompanied by tasty food and cheerful company. Serious oenophiles will want to attend  monthly Wine Dinners at our Cat Spring restaurant.

Enjoy Award Winning Meritus at the Fall Creek Vintner's Dinner.

Fall Creek Winery is located in Tow, Texas. This Hill Country winery was created by Ed and Susan Auler in 1975, after the Aulers visited France and noticed a strong similarity between some French wine country and the Texas Hill Country in which they lived. Fall Creek has been producing award winning wines since 1982 – a testament to the accuracy of the Auler’s observation.

The Fall Creek Vintner’s Dinner starts at 7pm and costs $79 per person (excepting tax and gratuity). The menu features mouthwatering combinations paired with Fall Creek wines. Diners will feast on seared scallops and sip Sauvignon Blanc; they’ll dine on succulent roasted antelope paired with the award-winning Meritus. Five courses. Five wines. Heaven.

Compliment the meal with a stay at the adjacent Hill Country vacation ranch, located just a few miles from the restaurant. You won’t want to travel any farther than that after such a feast.

Read on for the complete menu of the Fall Creek Vintner’s Dinner at Carol’s Restaurant.

• Salt Pork, Watermelon and Chevre with Cilantro and a Drizzle of Jalapeno Carmel. Fall Creek Chenin Blanc

• Seared Scallop on a Bruleed Pear with Chile Dust and Texas Honey. Fall Creek Sauvignon Blanc

• Beef Shank with Tomato Confit. Fall Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

• Roasted Antelope Chop with AParsnips and a Port Reduction. Fall Creek Meritus

• Apple Panna Cotta. Fall Creek Muscat Carelli

Cap*Rock Winery wines.

Why not make a long weekend out of this event? Take off from work a little early on Thursday, get settled in one of the vacation cabins on our Texas guest ranch, and then head out to Carols Cat Spring Restaurant to enjoy fine food and wine. Relax at the ranch during the next several days; long hikes or horseback rides will work off the meal, and shady porches are perfect places to enjoy a glass of wine, a good book, and good company. You’ll return to work Monday refreshed and relaxed.

Look forward to a delicious four-course meal paired with four different Cap*Rock wines – followed by the perfect summer dessert. Read on for the menu:

Pheasant Soup: Roasted pheasant in Champagne consomme, served atop a “bottom of bowl” English pea risotto. Paired with Cap*Rock Palo Dura Canyon White

Orange Roughy: Pan seared orange roughy filets glazed with a tamari orange suace and served over Napa vegetable medley. Paired with Cap*Rock Chardonnay

Spiced Duck Daimonte: Lightly spiced fire seared duck filets served over pearberry dressing and topped with a warm apple compote. Paired with Cap*Rock Merlot

Bison Roulade: Thinly sliced filet of buffalo wrapped around warm spinach and brie stuffing, served atop butter herb squid ink fettuccine drizzled with cabernet buerre rouge. Paired with Cap*Rock Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Strawberries Romanoff: Ripe strawberries marinated in Curacao, served with Russian cream over French vanilla pastry and dark chocolate drizzle

For reservations, please call 979.865.1100

Carol, Paul and Merrill at the May Vintner's Dinner.

Paul and Merrill planted their first grapes in 1977. During the past 30 + years they have worked hard to refine and develop their wine; today Messina Hof wine regularly wins awards for excellence in national and international competitions.

The next Vintner’s Dinner will be on July 15, 2010 at 7pm. We’ll feature Cap Rock Winery from Lubbock, Texas. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to explore Texas wines and meet Texas winemakers.

Destination Dining food writer John Mariani (who has written for Esquire) described our Central Texas restaurant as “beautifully situated in the middle of nowhere, where relaxing is what you do between courses…” The restaurant is rich with Texas country appointments in cedar, cowhide, lace curtains and Pulitzer Prize winner Skeeter Hagler’s autographed photos about Texas Cowboys. Food specialties range from Black and Bleu Filet Mignon to Mango Margarita Shrimp, all accompanied by an extensive and contemporary wine list.

BlissWood Texas Guest Ranch and Carol’s Restaurant are located 60 minutes west of Houston, 90 minutes from Austin, and two hours from San Antonio. Once you get here, it seems like a you’re a million miles from the rest of the world.

Bliss awaits you at BlissWood Bed & Breakfast. To learn more about BlissWood B&B, BlissWood’s Oasis, the ranch and Carol’s Restaurant, or to make reservations, visit www.blisswood.net or call 713-301-3235.

Our Houston area restaurant is preparing a feast that will satisfy everyone in the family, from grandparents to grandchildren. Sink those teeth into succulent prime rib and savor Texas caviar pasta. Mmmm. Feed him the foods he dreams about.

Our FATHER’S DAY BUFFET takes place on Sunday, June 20, 2010, from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. We are located close enough to Houston to make this a convenient gathering place for everyone. At the same time, our beautiful rural setting in Cat Spring will make this Father’s Day feel special.

If you really want to treat your dad to something wonderful this year, give him a getaway at our Houston area guest ranch. Let him stretch his legs on our 650-acres. He can go horseback riding. He can fish. He can even ride in a hot air balloon if he likes. Or he can just relax on the porch of his Texas vacation rental.

Bring the whole family or plan something special for just dad. This year, give Dad a Father’s Day he’ll always remember.

Does Dad like to horseback ride? Let him explore our 650-acre Texas guest ranch.

Read on for the menu of our FATHER’S DAY BUFFET:

Warm artichoke and oyster soup.

Carol’s special prime rib roast dry aged and delicately seasoned, served at our carving station with honey dijon cream au jus.

Seared red snapper with Creole seafood sauce, served with shitake mushroom and wild rice pilaf.

Bacon wrapped pork tenderloin smoked over pecan and hickory, served over sweet potato souffle with nutty apricot glaze.

Coq a vin, served with herb roasted new potatoes.

Colossal honey ginger glazed carrots.

Sauteed Asian vegetable medley.

Texas caviar pasta.

Tropical Summer Salad.

Summer fresh fruits and veggies served over fresh mesculun greens accented by a mango ginger vinaigrette or your choice of dressing.

Fresh yeast rolls.

Mini dessert bar.

The buffet is $26.99 for adults and $12.99 for children under 10 (exclusive of tax and gratuity).

The meal is prix fixe; select one mouth watering choice listed for each course:

Appetizers:
*Baba Ghanoush with garlic and olive oil croutons
*Spicy Scallops on Jalapeno Grits with fire roasted red pepper cream
*Seafood stuffed mushrooms on garlic beurre blanc

Soup or Salad:
*Italian Wedding Soup
*Fresh Spring Greens with candied pecans, pear julienne, shaved pecorino romano and house balsamic vinaigrette
*Spinach and Romaine with feta crumbles, candied nuts, dried berries, mandarin oranges and poppy seed dressing

Entrees:
Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon with Merlot Demi Glace
Live Maine Lobster with Scampi Butter
Pistachio Crusted Lamb Chops with Mint Jelly

All entrees are served with pumpkin and wild mushroom risotto and herb roasted root vegetables.

Deserts:
Bananas Foster
White Chocolate Bread Pudding
Chocolate Mousse

Reservations are required. Please call 979-865-1100. The New Year’s Eve prix fixe dinner costs $79 per person, and includes a glass of champagne.