Caring couple cooks up food, fun & fellowship for Mansions residents

GoodEats_Need2Feed_Mike and Linda — “It’s always been Mike’s dream to own a restaurant. It’s his passion,” says Linda Jones. The couple is so popular at The Mansions Active Adult Community that several residents suggested them for an article in Blue Ribbon News.

ROCKWALL, TX (May 11, 2014) When two different worlds converge, good things usually happen, as with Mike and Linda Jones.

Mike is the chef at Need 2 Feed Café, which is located at the Mansions of Rockwall Active Adult Community. Linda, who doesn’t like to cook, describes herself as “a waitress and cornbread cooker,” but she is the baker. They also operate Need 2 Feed catering.

GoodEats_NeedToFeed_PlateofFood — Mike’s recipes include many from his mother. Linda tried her hand at Southern cooking when she asked his mom how to cook greens, only she didn’t tell Linda to throw away the stems. It only took one taste for Mike to know what was wrong with it! This is the fried chicken dinner Blue Ribbon News staffers enjoyed during a recent visit.

“I enjoy – LOVE – cooking,” Mike said with a big smile. “She, not so much; she’s more corporate.”

Mike grew up in East Texas picking cotton with his sharecropper family. In 1961, they moved to West Texas where his restaurant career began at his mother’s barbeque stand. A star football player in high school, he attended Lubbock Christian College.

GoodEats_Need2Feed_DanceFloorGroup — The Mansion’s Activities Director Cindy Thompson (back row, wearing skirt) joins residents for some karaoke action. The Mansions of Rockwall Active Adult Community offers residents a full activities calendar which includes Live Music or Karaoke on Friday Nights during restaurant hours at Need 2 Feed Café. Mike Jones often DJ’s at the Mansions and draws a crowd to dance floor as well.

In 1978, Linda moved from New Jersey, where she was as a self-described “spoiled brat,” to Lubbock. A 25 year Southwestern Bell employee, she worked in the optometry business until dedicating herself to Mike’s dream of owning a restaurant – a journey guided by faith.

“We trust God so much. We prayed about a restaurant knowing we didn’t have the money,” explained Mike. “We made a list of what we needed, and He fulfilled everything on the list. It was a gift from God.”

They never imagined his dream would come to fruition debt free at The Mansions.

“We’ve grown close to the people here,” Mike said. “We’re like family.”

They are very popular among Mansion residents.

“They are always smiling and are so kind to everyone that residents have adopted them as part of ‘our family,’” said Mary Weedon.

GoodEats_Need2Feed_CoachSinging — Coach Joe Longino, a Mansions resident, entertains the dinner crowd with Christian music during karaoke. Longino served as Athletics Director and principal at Rockwall High School before suffering a stroke in 2002. During his days at Austin College, he was captain of the Kangaroo basketball team (1974). He was also Wylie’s Head Coach in 1979 before taking the head coaching position at Richardson High in 1981.

The couple feeds from 10-40 people Monday-Friday lunch ($6.50) and dinner ($7.50) in the Mansions’ dining room (open to the public). Mike sometimes DJs on Friday nights and encourages residents to get on the dance floor.

“This couple not only serves a great home cooked meal at a great price, but most of all can make the worst day better with their caring dispositions, and they always have a hug if you need one,” said Judy Jackson.

Their restaurant career progressed from operating a 12-foot concession trailer in Wylie (2003) to operating a food stand along SH-205 in front of their Terrell home. Its success led them to transform their bedroom into a restaurant with a patio decorated with Christmas lights. After a move to Elmo, they were back on the highway with picnic tables and Heaven’s Gate Catering was born.

A friend at Cornerstone Baptist Church told them about The Mansions opportunity, and Heaven’s Gate became Need 2 Feed Catering.

“If you plant a seed only God can make it grow,” said Mike. “I started it, and He took it from there. God is strong; we don’t move without asking Him.”

By Judy Evans, Blue Ribbon News contributing writer. She is an award-winning journalist who spent her career in Rockwall as a reporter, editor and columnist working with The Rockwall Success/Rowlett Record and The Dallas Morning News. Photos by Blue Ribbon News.

Make it like Mike

Buttermilk Catfish
Catfish Fillets
Buttermilk
Flour
Fish Fry (in the grocery store on the seasoning aisle)
Seafood Fry Mix
2 Tablespoons Weber Bold Chipotle Seasoning
1 Tablespoon Head Country Seasoning
Combine flour, Fish Fry, Seafood Fry Mix, and seasoning. Dredge each fillet in buttermilk and then in flour mixture. Fry fillets in oil. Let drain on paper towel.

Sour Cream Sweet Onion Apple Slaw
Red Delicious Apples
Sweet onions
Honey
Sour cream
Pecans
Cream Cheese
Powered Sugar
Core, peel, and slice apples. Set aside.Peel and slice onions. Set aside. Mix sour cream and softened cream cheese together. Add in 1 tablespoon of honey and stir to combine.
Place apples and onions in dish, add the sour cream mixture, and add the pecans and powdered sugar to taste.

Honey Guacamole
Avocados
Honey
Shredded cheese
Diced tomatoes
Onions are optional
Mash the avocados and combine with the other ingredients. Serve with chips of your choice.
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