Rotary’s Shrimp and Wine Fest Draws Record Crowd

SAN ANGELO, TX - A line formed at around 3:30 p.m. Saturday as the San Angelo Rotary Club was seen boiling the first round of shrimp and smoking the first batch of sausage.

Wayne Merrill hinted that the special seafood boil seasoning was the secret to the shrimp’s signature taste; however, he didn’t say what it was exactly. Sam Smith and Steve Talley manned the boilers.

Starting at 4 p.m., a rotating band of Rotarians served generous helpings of shrimp, sausage, beans and coleslaw. Tea and water were also served. San Angelo Host proprietor Carlo Campanelli said he was pleased with the better-than-expected number of patrons, and sales were good at the cash bar. Host served the wine and a selection of beers.

At the center of the Paseo de Santa Angelo, a stage featured local San Angelo musicians recruited by San Angelo’s favorite tenor, Monte Mahon. The shrimp, wine and song lasted until 7:30 p.m.

The final numbers for the event haven’t been tabulated, but the turnout eclipsed last year’s event. Rotary Executive Secretary Linda Smith lamented about three hours into the event that her supply of plates had dwindled to a low number and a steady stream of patrons were still flowing through the entrance. Last year, 850 people attended. This year, many expect that record to be broken. All-you-can-eat plates were $20 each this year.

The Shrimp and Wine Fest is an annual event usually held in November. Every year, the San Angelo Rotary Club selects a recipient for the profits. This year’s non-profit beneficiary is Operation Finally Home. The San Angelo Home Builders Association orchestrates local OFH projects. The program constructs and then donates a home to a wounded member of the U.S. Military mortgage-free. The Today Show featured a segment on what Operation Finally Home accomplishes back in August.

The San Angelo Rotary Club meets every Friday at noon at Zentner’s Daughter Steakhouse. It is a volunteer service organization comprised of business leaders in the San Angelo area.

This year’s Shrimp and Wine Fest sponsors included: Texas Bank; San Angelo Area Foundation; Mortimore Wealth Strategies; Twisted Root Burger Co.; Holland Hearing Center; Cornerstone Builders; Commercial Appliances Services; PK Kelley Insurance Agency, LLC; The Salvation Army Family Store; Joe R. Hoelle CPA, PFS; Cassandra Fillingim CPA, PFS, CFP; Culligan Angelo Water Service; Mazur Construction; Cecil A. Ross Investment Insurance Group; Rivercrest Hospital; Atmos Energy; Smity’s Roofing; San Angelo LIVE!; Kwik Kar Lube & Wash; FJJ Consulting, LLC; Principal LED; Harper Funeral Home; Details Cabinets and Home Furnishings; and Coverlay.

By 7:30 p.m., the line died down and Rotarians began the cleanup. Roland Peña, who was this year’s organizer, grinned ear-to-ear. This was a successful fundraiser, he said.