Whitehall Icehouse & Cafe: Where A + B = WOW!!!!

NAVASOTA, TX -- When in a rural setting, and especially on a Saturday when you have some extra time. Always take a turn off the main road. Just because. You’ll never know what you will find.

A few Saturday’s ago, I was headed back to Conroe on SH 105 from Navasota where I attend a cowboy church. I had a music event to attend at 2pm, but it was still a half-hour before noon. I had heard of some small restaurant in the Whitehall area, so I turned right at the Baptist Church at the SH 105/FM 362 intersection, and drove for a little while. They have some nice picturesque ranches along that little stretch, and about 2 minutes down the road on the left, I saw ‘The Whitehall Icehouse & Cafe.’

What I found was extraordinary. I didn’t have time for a full sitdown lunch, so I got some cannolis, and took a seat to finish a piece I was working on. OMG! I was blown away, and came to find out that the pastries are made on site. I got four cannolis, and ate two, tempted to go for a third, before my willpower set in. The other two were for a friend, and it would have been unusual to present only one cannoli as a gift. On the way to Montgomery to pick up my friend, I got to thinking about the delicious pastry. What a minute? If that is made at the cafe, then what else am I missing? So I put it on my calendar to drive out the next week.

Tucked away in an off the main route nook, you will find two Le Cordon Bleu trained chefs, one sweet, the other savory. Who are happy being in a rural setting, after years of working in fine dining, creating world-class offerings for distinguished palates who appreciate the finer things in life. Owners Don and Kristy Schoenburg are using their talents to create masterpieces that some may call a ‘simpler fare,’ but their dishes are never ordinary.

After the first bite of WIC’s ‘Bacon Cheeseburger,’ I said to myself, “There has to be a formula for this,” seeing as I view life as being a series of mathematical computations. And, not really being a mathematician, I started to think what formula can be applied to my find? It has to be something simple like E=MC². Then you have Kristy, Don’s wife, and the ‘sweet’ side of the duo. The creator of those lovely cannolis that I craved over. More on that later.

So I'm driving back to Montgomery County, and here I am thinking. If Don is A (savory), and Kristy is B (sweet)? Then it hit me. A + B = WOW!!!! Since Nobel has no prize for mathematics, then perhaps I might be up for a Fields Medal, or the Abel Prize. I will accept any nominations submitted by my readers. lol.

The formula does make sense. And quite frankly, when you put a World-Class chef in a kitchen tasked to come up with a rural nooked menu, you ARE NOT gonna wind up with an average Bacon Cheeseburger. It’s far from that. It’s the best burger I’ve ever tasted. And there was no mayo or mustard in sight, and I didn’t miss ‘em. I likened the burger to going to a top of line steakhouse, where you don’t ask for any sauce. The steak stands on its own. That’s the case with Don’s version, and it was a privilege to have taken part. The bacon atop the cheeseburger was fresh, and the thickest on a hamburger I’ve ever seen. The one good thing about WIC is that they have no freezer, and all of their ingredients are fresh and locally sourced.

I’ve written before, to bring a bid. Well, bring a double-sized bid, a good pack of heavy-duty napkins, you’re gonna need ‘em. And do yourself a favor. Take off your rings and watch. It’s best to debling to save on cleanup. The juice makes the burger, and its fingerlicking good. Incredibly, the toasted bun holds up, even with the wondrous juices that the burger offers. I saved some for the next day, and wasn’t disappointed.

I also tried Whitehall Icehouse & Cafe’s Pull Pork Sandwich and Texas CheeseSteak, and both offerings were exceptional. The PorkButt was smoked onsite for the Pull Pork Sandwich, and with housemade BBQ sauce and topped with their coleslaw (also housemade), you can’t go wrong. Truly, this is a knife and fork job, which is the way that most patrons attack it. WIC’s Texas CheeseSteak, is layered with thin and juicy flank steak strips, nicely crisped sauteed veggies (you can nix the jalapenos if you want), seasoned perfectly, and topped with a housemade cheese sauce. It’s another knife and forker, and will fill you to the brim, but save a little for dessert.

The fries served at WIC are made from the Kennebec potato, which you usually can’t buy at the supermarket. The potato is mainly used for potato chip manufacturing, and tastes awesome. I was struck by the texture of the fries, which featured these little bumps. And if I could read potato braille, it would say, “Go to Whitehall Icehouse & Cafe for World-Class Burgers and Sweets.”

And funny thing I mentioned sweets, since it was WIC’s cannolis that started me on my mathematical adventure. Kristy’s ability in pies, cookies, and pastries is exceptional. Everything is made onsite. Her Key Lime Pie is a masterpiece, with an awesome graham cracker crust topped with a filling that is wonderfully balanced between sweet and tart. On the fork it is matched with a browned meringue topping that you know was whipped up just hours before, and the taste is one of pure joy. A fitting end to a wonderful lunch.

The Oreo Cheesecake Pie and Buttermilk Pie are excellent choices as well. The cheesecake pairs two of the greats: Oreo cookies and cheesecake. Topped with a solid layer of chocolate, whipped cream, and Oreo crumbles, it’s a great dessert for adults and kids alike. And WIC’s Buttermilk Pie, topped with a strawberry and whipped cream is equally inviting. The lemony, tangy, cream filling is hinted by key lime juice that makes it taste all so better. You can't go wrong here with the sweets on offer at The Whitehall Icehouse & Cafe. Kristy has you covered. Her cookies knock it out of the park as well. They’re huge, and practically take up their own zip code. I tried several flavors including her Snickerdoodle, with its cinnamon sugary taste; The Cowboy Cookie, with its oatmeal pecan; and her kicked-up Chocolate Chip cookie, which tastes heavenly free from preservatives; since they are all designed to be eaten immediately.

So when in a rural setting, and you have some extra time, don’t hesitate, take that turn, and see where you wind up. And perhaps you will find a hidden gem like I did. I highly recommend ‘The Whitehall Icehouse & Cafe,’ for its country atmosphere, and hands down excellent savory and sweet offerings made by true professionals.

The Whitehall Icehouse & Cafe is located at 1863 County Rd 306, Navasota, TX 77868

Their website is: facebook.com/whitehallcafe/

Ruben can be reached at: ruben@montgomerycountynews.net