TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Cowboy Rides Herd In Tearoom Kitchen

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2007

PLANT CITY - The frilly lace curtains, gilded forks and elaborate place settings convey the cozy elegance one might expect from a tea room best described as "country Victorian."

The blue-jeaned cowboy whipping up scones in the kitchen, however, is a pure Plant City twist.

The irony does not escape Rick and Susan-Lynn Lewis, proprietors of Simply Country Gifts & Southern Belles Tearoom, 2214 Thonotosassa Road.

"He's always liked to bake," Susan-Lynn Lewis said. "I'm glad he does, 'cause he sure can't decorate."

Rick Lewis does make a mean scone - among the best of the best, according to Teamap.com, which rates Southern Belles No. 6 among 101 tea rooms in the state.

If the truth be known, he would rather be riding a tractor or tending cattle at the family's 10-acre Lithia ranch than creating delectable finger sandwiches and audacious desserts.

"My therapy is my cows," he said. "All they want is something to eat and they're sweet."

Jan Hollingsworth

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT