Parker County Today November 2018 | Page 28

Continued from page 19 for our attendees to sample. Choosing just one chef was no small task. A number of the ballots had a couple of choice checked and then crossed out as attendees struggled to decide which one was their favorite. Short Chef Creations Owned by Jennifer Lundy, Short Chef is a widely popular catering company that can cater any special occasion from small intimate gather- ings to weddings of 1,000, to special- ized events and banquets. Short Chef has won multiple awards, including the 2016 Boots, BBQ & Bachelors Chef of the Year (also a PCT event) Award and was the 2016 Taste of Parker County overall winner. These two incredible distinctions top several first-place awards over the past four years, including placing second and third place. With Chef Cynthia Patterson now at the helm (or should we say oven), the catering business is exploding with fantastic dishes for your special event.  Drake’s Yoke Wood and Wine 26 A first-time contestant of Sweet Charity and Bachelorettes, Drake’s Yoke is the exciting, new, restaurant everyone is talking about, based in Willow Park, it’s one of the anchored businesses in the new Wilkes Development. If you haven’t had the opportunity to eat there yet, it is a place unique to both Parker County and Texas. Considered a southern kitchen serv- ing all of Parker County, Drake’s Yoke has given back to the commu- nity by leaps and bounds.  Named after the persistence and resilience of the workers who raised Drake’s Yoke in the oilfield, the restaurant has all the ambience and atmosphere of a working rig. Drake’s Yoke provides a dining experience and is one of the only open kitchens in Parker County with a fully open- concept kitchen.  Decorated with what owner Ryan Stockard wanted in a restaurant, including the handmade taps behind the bar, it takes more than one visit to see all the different décor that is exquisitely hung throughout the restaurant. With a background at Pappadeaux and Pappa’s Brothers restaurants, Stockard brought all the strength and knowledge of the restau- rant industry with him to his business, while presenting a unique dining experience to Parker County.  Chef Joel Rhodes is at the helm of this knockout restaurant. The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts alumnus has brought his barbe- cue and pastry skills back to Parker County after taking some time off. They barbecue over mesquite and oak wood, and offer craft beers and handcrafted cocktails. They also offer six different sandwiches and six different burgers. With smoky barbe- cue, southern hospitality, friends and family, Drake’s Yoke is everything that we love about Texas all in one place.  Vintage Grill and Car Museum  The Vintage Grill & Car Museum is a returning restau- rant with PCT Sweet Charity and Bachelorettes. Winners of our 2016 Sweet Charity and Bachelorettes Chef of the Year and our 2017 Boots, BBQ and Bachelors Chef of the Year awards, this Weatherford staple features farm-to-table southern-style cuisine with a twist and vintage cars. The idea for Vintage is nearly three decades old, dating back to 1988, back when local entrepreneurs Tom and Therese Moncrief were on their honeymoon in Australia. During their trip, the two visited an eating establishment that took them back to the 1950s. The museum houses many of cars from Moncrief’s own collection as well as a rotating collection of one- of-a-kind classic automobiles. Most recently the museum housed Aretha Franklin’s 1975 Eldorado Cadillac, a one-of-a-kind car that was created specifically for Franklin.  The restaurant is Southern Comfort at its best. A good spread at Vintage is consistent, but what is surprising is that the restaurant caters to no age group in particular. You can go on a date, have a business lunch meeting, or be young and fun and karaoke on a Thursday night. With Executive Chef Caitlyn Brendel at the helm, entrees like Farm-to- Market Chicken and Waffles, Lobster Ravioli and their well-known Fish ‘n Chips are all perfect reasons to stop in, have a bite to eat, and check out some classic cars.  Fish Creek Restaurant and Bar  Fish Creek is another favorite of PCT. Our 2015 Boots, BBQ, & Bachelors Chef of the Year and the restuaurat’s owner Joe Lane, took over the restaurant location and turned it into one of the most successful restaurants in Parker County. A Fort Worth native, Lane got his first job in the restaurant busi- ness working for a friend at a large seafood eatery in Fort Worth in 2001.  Lane spent the next eight years working at different restaurants in various positions to learn everything he could about the business. He saw Fish Creek as an opportunity to use his skills and become an entrepre- neur after his family moved to Aledo. The Fish Creek location had been riddled with failed restaurants, but after years of hard work, the business became successful and a top place in Parker County to host a business mixer or go on a date night. Fish Creek also caters their amazing menu for your upcoming gathering. Lane’s award-winning potato balls are a hit for any appetizer or catering event, as well as his fantastic seafood. If you like to go and “brunch,” Fish Creek hosts a famous brunch menu that comes with free beignets and fantastic drink options. If you don’t have a hankering for seafood, Joe’s Artisan Pizza or Po’boys and burgers are sure to please everyone in your group. Whatever you decide to eat, plan for it to be delicious.