In her tastefully rich, elegant cookbook, Linda Breece Bates spotlights the history of Breeces CafE over the years, which her grandparents, John and Bessie Breece, started as a pie wagon in 1939. Lindas parents, Lucille and Edward Breece, joined the family business in 1947. Linda and Jerry, her husband, began working at the CafE in 1980 and continue serving Southern-style home cooking today. Sharing samplings of the CafEs favorite recipes, Linda complements her cookbook, dedicated to the memory of her Mother, with photos of paintings and artwork by local artists. She remembers Minnie Pearl, internationally known comedian and benefactor of both the Sarah Cannon Research Institute and Cancer Centers, with favorite recipes, memories and wit. Linda relates information regarding the National Banana Pudding Festival, held annually in Centerville, along with special sections such as Gift Jars and Cast Iron Skillets offering delicious ideas for food and drinks.
As they remember growing up in the CafE, Linda and her sister, Sherry, recall happy memories on the square in Centerville. Some claim this small town in middle Tennessee replicates the quaint, peaceful, fictitious town of Mayberry featured on the Andy Griffith television show from the past. During those innocent times, people looked out for each other and communicated face to face without the distractions of cell phones and tablets.
While Linda and Sherry were growing up in Centerville, shops on the Square bustled with life especially on Saturday. Each Saturday evening when shop owners closed their doors, they along with their friends and neighbors often ate and visited with each other at the CafE. Linda treasures the moments when customers, who now bring their grandchildren to the CafE, talk about their good memories of eating there with their grandparents. Over the years as Breeces has shared Family...Friends...Food, customers of all ages have not only seasoned the CafE with their unique flavors of personalities, many have become life-long friends
Over the years...Linda emphasizes--friends become family.
About the Author
Various published authors.
