Citizen, business of the year named for BC Chamber banquet

Two longtime members of the Bridge City community will be honored on Monday night for the 2015 Taste of the Bayou Annual Banquet, presented by the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Mark Messer, DDS, will be named citizen of the year and Bill Nickum's State Farm Insurance agency will be named as business of the year. The new chamber president will be Scot Shaffer of Farmers Insurance. He replaces outgoing president, Lucy Fields.

The event will start at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12 at the Bridge City Elementary School cafeteria and gymnasium. The banquet is open to the public and is a family-friendly event. The chamber annual meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. B.J. Hanneman, administrative assistant and museum curator for the chamber, said a $15 ticket brings with it a lot of entertainment and a lot of food.

Rusty Benoit and The Gulf Coast Playboys Band will provide the entertainment. Restaurants participating will begin serving at 6:30 p.m. and include: Hushpuppy's Seafood, Peggy's on the Bayou, Texas Gumbo Hut, Moz Grill, Gulf Coast Cajuns, Bridge City Pizza, Tico's Cuban Cafe, Domino's, Da Shak, Little Caesar's Pizza, Tequila's and Chicken Express.

Hanneman said all of the restaurants are local and from Orange County.

“The Taste of the Bayou is an opportunity for Orange County restaurants and food service businesses to showcase their wares to the public,” she said.

Tickets are $15 per person or a sponsored table for eight people with special business promotion for $160.

To make reservations for this event, download a reservation from the chamber's website at www.bridgecitychamber.com, or call 409-735-5671, or email at [email protected], or fax 409-735-7017, or come by the office at 150 W. Roundbunch Rd. in Bridge City. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Checks and credit cards are accepted.

Hanneman said attendees don't have to make reservations and can pay at the door on Jan. 12. She added the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce is doing well with a growing membership and an even bank balance.

The museum is receiving donations and offering free tours. The chamber plans to expand the tours with different area schools.