S4E2 – La Playa Mexican Grille, Shell’s Pasta & Seafood, and Venetian Hot Plate

Last year, the Gulf Coast was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. In this week’s new episode of Goodtaste, we’re heading to Port Aransas to visit some of the coastal restaurants that were affected by the storm. These incredible humans were able to turn their pain into passion, and you won’t want to miss their stories or their food. I was so touched by their stories—you will be too!

Our first stop is  Venetian Hot Plate, an authentic Northern Italian restaurant owned by a woman who grew up in Venice, Italy. After seeing the dismay of her Port A restaurant, she knew she had to reopen—and made it happen in only 8 months.

Then we visit owner Greg Villasana at  La Playa Mexican Grille. In addition to extensive damage to his restaurant, Villasana also lost his home. He believes he never would have been able to rebuild his life without the kind gestures of his neighbors.

Our last stop is a family-owned favorite, Shell's Pasta & Seafood. This intimate spot has been a fixture of the Port Aransas community since 1996. In addition to keeping locals well-fed with their fresh pastas, the owners, Heber and Karen Stone, also opened the door to Shell's to anyone who needed shelter during the hurricane.

Don’t miss out on all of the action (and incredible  H-E-B wines).