ORANGE, Texas — As Black History Month comes to a close 12News is diving into the heart of Orange and how a small snow cone stand evolved into the city's only soul food sanctuary.
"I said to myself…they're really calling it soul food, you know when in my mind when I got started I just named it Real Southern Cooking," said Owner Michael Rhines.
Real Southern Cooking is located on the corner of Eleventh and Green Avenue in Orange. It's the only soul food restaurant in the city.
"It's a little soul food place sitting right on the right side over there when you cross the track," Michael said.
Real Southern Cooking didn't originally serve beef tips, rice and gravy back in 1992.
"I went and got a 10x16 building and went and purchased a snow cone machine and I set up shop," Michael told 12News.
27 years later, it's a family business.
"We work together, we live together," said Michael's wife, Jeanne Rhines. She's been with him through it all.
"My husband has a garden in the backyard where he grows tomatoes, collard greens and peppers," she said.
The food goes straight from the garden and into the stomachs of hungry customers.
"It reminds me of my mom's home cooking," said one customer, Norman Doyle.
"I'm a long way from home in Maryland. So when I come here it makes me feel like I'm over at my grandmother's house on Sunday," said Kenny Thompson, another customer.
For the Rhines, customer satisfaction is the priority.
"When they leave here they say 'we're gonna put that review in for you. The food was really good'," Michael said.