LIVE OAK-It's been a decade of cooking, baking and blessing for Williams Confectionery Crafts. The Live Oak bakery and restaurant is recognized for its special touch on food.
"It's impacted and full of love because the intent is to serve and see my customers satisfied," says Joyce Williams.
The retired educator always had a longing to cook and bake. She recalls reading cookbooks as well as taking homemaking classes throughout her high school years in Brownsville. Williams recall a great deal of her skill was gleaned from her mother-in-law in Harlingen who had a restaurant called Williams Confectionery.
"When we opened up a business i wanted to show her homage because she was one of the reasons i continue to embrace cooking and baking," she said.
The wife, mother of four and grandmother added "Crafts" to the business for artful reasons.
"You know when you're able to prepare and serve in such a manner it's an art itself," she says.
She and her family opened the doors to the bakery/restaurant at 12107 Toepperwein Rd in 2006. Two of her children assist with the business. Williams is there six days a week serving breakfast all day, preparing homemade lunch specials and baking everything from cookies to kolaches.
"The response we get is...boy that taste like my granny's or my grandmother used to make it like that," she said. "That for me is the ultimate compliment."
She's been known to take on the challenge of customer's walking in the door with recipes. It almost seems easy for a retired principal who used to spoil coworkers and friends with the spoils of her kitchen.
Williams greatest service she believes is the space for a ministry through her food. The former choir president traded her robe for an apron. But stills follows the urging of God. He, she says, has blessed her business size to double.
Neighborhood Eats decided to sample the breakfast menu. First up, her stuffed biscuit: Eggs, cheese, bacon and a biscuit as light as a cloud. Que Rico!
We also indulged in the fully loaded omelet: Tomato, peppers, onion, mushroom, spinach and three meats with a side of wheat toast. Que Rico!!!
The entire menu is priced under $7.00 which makes this place even more attractive to those who come for some great Neighborhood Eats.
That's this week's Neighborhood Eats. if you have a suggestion for Marvin send an email (mhurst@kens5.com), tweet (@mhurstkens5) or post it on the KENS5 Facebook page. #KENS5EATS