06/29/2026
Earl did that
Friday night was about so much more than food.
A total of 124 people came together for Earl’s Finest Dining Experience—117 guests, judges and vendors, along with seven additional individuals who helped bring the evening to life.
Earl Waller invited nine local food vendors to showcase their talents through three appetizers, three entrées and three desserts. Guests and judges tasted each dish and helped determine who would earn the title of “Earl’s Finest.”
Congratulations to the winners:
🏆 Appetizer: Rossler’s Blue Cord Barbecue
Instagram:
🏆 Entrée: Kimberly Coleman Johnson of KJ’s Sipsations
🏆 Dessert:Kitty’s Kakery
🏆 Overall Earl’s Finest Winner:Kitty’s Kakery
While accepting the appetizer award, a representative from Rossler’s thanked Earl for bringing everyone together and described him as someone who is “starting ripples and big waves.”
Kimberly Coleman Johnson thanked God, her husband, her son and everyone who encouraged her to move forward.
“I look forward to serving you all more,” she told the audience.
The owner of Kitty’s Cakery explained that this was the first event of its kind for the business and credited her team for helping create the winning dessert.
After learning that Kitty’s Cakery had also received the overall award, she became emotional.
“The fact that you guys voted us overall means so much,” she said.
But this experience was about much more than selecting winning dishes.
We had the opportunity to meet the chefs and business owners behind each creation. We heard their names, experienced their passion and supported the dreams they are working so hard to build.
I had followed Earl for some time before meeting him personally, and when we finally connected, I knew it happened in God’s timing.
He is humble, genuine and has a heart of gold.
When Earl addressed the room, he gave the credit back to everyone who made the experience possible.
“Without you guys, everyone coming together to make this happen, this doesn’t happen,” Earl said.
Earl reminds me to continue doing more—not only within my military and veteran community, but within our civilian community as well.
Bridging that gap has always been important to me. Seeing 124 people from different parts of our community sitting at the same tables, supporting the same businesses and celebrating one another showed exactly why it matters.
Earl said this was “one of many more to come,” and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
The evening started with food, but it ended with connection.
Earl did that.
Read the full story on my website:
https://www.awildridecalledlife.com/post/earl-did-that-how-one-dining-experience-brought-124-people-together-in-central-texas
