Sounds Good

Taste of the Triangle draws food lovers to sample specialties

BEAUMONT — Taste of the Triangle has moved to Ford Park in Beaumont, and the venue is still packed with food lovers lined up for what area restaurants are dishing out. Fans of gumbo, bread pudding and wine were in luck. There was abundant flow of each of these.
As for our Mid-County contributions, Sanderson’s delivered chicken Pontchartrain as promised and Geo Burrito made countless mini versions of their giant wraps and Stingray employees asked “pecan or raisin” as they moved hundreds through their line.
The Sabine Area Restaurant Association raises scholarship funds at this event and this year, honored the Young Men’s Business League.
The Grill won best restaurant with Goodfellows second runner-up and best decorated and Moncla’s first runner-up.
Savor of Ford Park won best associate with Lamar Institute of Technology as second runner up.
The next chance to feast like that:
The Rotary Club of Port Arthur will present the 23rd annual Taste of Gumbo, Etc. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center, along Texas 73.
Restaurants and other groups will provided tastes of their specialties. There will be a silent auction. Tickets will be $8.

Poor, healthy potato
Mourn the poor potato, forced to carry all that extra fat, dietitian Susan Burke March tells readers.
“Oh, the poor potato — never did any harm, just sitting there, waiting to be eaten for its delicious flavor, in its own lovely bare skin, without all that added fat,” she laments in “Making Weight Control Second Nature: Living Thin Naturally.”
I hear her. I used to think a baked potato was my healthy option, without realizing I was piling on several servings of cheese, sour cream and butter. Now I pretty much enjoy the flavor of the actual potato, like she does, by splitting baked potatoes, brushing them with olive oil and broiling them until toasty.
Fitness and diet charts help readers track their progress as they read through this thick book and learn about portion control and alternative food picks and healthy habits. The author used to weigh a whole lot more than she does now, and takes a bit of offense when folks give her the old “You don’t have to worry, you’re naturally thin” bit. She wants everyone to know fitness is a commitment you have to work at, and it can be a fun and healthy deal for you and your loved ones.

Open It
Statistics are, you have someone in your life who could use Open It!, if not now, then soon. My mother was thrilled to try out a set of three red tools that have all you need to open tricky medicine bottles. OPENRX1 is bulbous, for pushing and turning, and has a slide-out magnifier for reading labels. OPENRXFT slides over push and turn bottles and has a blade for opening foil packets. OPENRXST is like a thick band for squeeze and turn lids. I was amazed by them all and she called them invaluable. Look for them at CVS or at EnjoyZibra.com.
ddoiron@panews.com