Taste of the Triangle – a true foodie fest for all

What is synonymous in Southeast Texas with Fat Tuesday? The long-standing tradition of Taste of the Triangle, which will celebrate 42 years Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Beaumont Civic Center.

Hosted by the Sabine Area Restaurant Association (SARA), the chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association and local resource for hospitality and foodservice industries, Southeast Texas’ premier foodie fest will have everything your taste buds desire as more than 40 area restaurants will be serving up best bites from Italian, Cajun and Thai, to country classics and soul food, in a festive Mardi Gras atmosphere. A hotly contested competion will also be held for “Best Restaurant” and “Best Decoration.”

Foodies will be able to enjoy deliciousness from area favorites, new restaurants and food trucks including 1014 Plethre, Buckstin Brewing Company, Bullfish, Bruno’s Italian Kitchen, Casa Ole, Charlee and the Cookie Factory, Cotton Creek Winery, For The Love of Foods, Fuma Dubai Bar & Grill, Gator Country, J. Wilson’s, Judice’s 1927, JW’s Patio, Kat’s Korner, Ko Korean Grill, Lamar, State College Port Arthur Culinary Arts, Lamar University Culinary, Longhorn Steakhouse, Mama Kim’s, Marisela’s Tamales, Modelo’s Sports Cantina, New York Pizza & Pasta, Pour09 Rooftop & Bar, Smoothie King, Soiree and Vine, Stacked Cake and Confection Co., Sweet Basil, Tacos El Primo, Taco Mex Fire, Texas Roadhouse, Texas Star Bar & Grill, The Park on Calder, Tokyo Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, Truth Lounge & Bistro and others.

If that’s not enough, patrons can cruise throughout the Civic Center while listening to the sounds of Catalina Wine Mixer – The hardest soft rock experience that provides a ship-full of your favorite yacht tunes that take you back decades with soft tunes to bring out your inner “Dancing Queen” and have you dancing “All Night Long.”

Each year, SARA honors a chef, restaurant owner or culinary enthusiast for work in their communities, leadership success, and entrepreneurial spirit. This year’s recipient for Restaurateur of the Year is Min Dai and the Obana Restaurant Group.

“The Obana Restaurant Group has five brands underneath its umbrella with over seven locations across Southeast Texas in the past 28 years and our organization believes Dai drives a passionate team who is committed to providing unique experiences continuously across the Golden Triangle area, whether inside his restaurants or on location at events like Beaumont Mural Fest,” said Lauren Bebeau, media relations spokesperson for the Southeast Texas Chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association.

Obana’s brands include Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, Ko Korean Grill, Pour 09 Rooftop and Bar, McMorris Events, LLC., and Suite C Event Lounge. The growth doesn’t stop there, with many plans in the works for this team including a new concept with a family-oriented venue where families can enjoy food, drinks and entertainment as well as sand volleyball and pickleball courts, along with a kids play area and a fully air-conditioned space overlooking the Neches River in Port Neches.

Dai was also instrumental in coordinating Beaumont’s Mural Fest, an annual downtown mural project that has brought local and visiting artists to the city. Artists, both locally and nationally, have ascended to Beaumont to paint dozens of murals that has left a lasting impact on the area.

Tickets for Taste of the Triangle are $35 and can be purchased online at thetastebmt.com. Those wanting VIP treatment can purchase special tickets ($150), which allows entry for two at 5:30 p.m., an hour before doors open to the public.

The mission of SARA is to support scholarships for Lamar University’s Hospitality Management Program, the Texas Restaurant Association’s Education Foundation, and educational and professional development for the Texas Chefs Association. Proceeds from the Taste of the Triangle go back into the community through support of many local charities.

“This event is very impactful in supporting local culinary arts,” said Bebeau. “We want to give the community a chance to get out and try some of these restaurants that they haven’t tried before, all in one place.”