Taste of the Triangle: A Texas-Sized Food to Do

Content Produced in Partnership with Beaumont CVB

On the Lonestar – Louisiana border, Beaumont’s location makes it the best of both worlds — Texas-sized fun with the revelry of Southern traditions like Mardi Gras. And one of the best ways to celebrate Fat Tuesday? The Taste of the Triangle.

A long-running food festival that’s had many iterations from open bar to Black Tie, the 30-plus year event is a highly anticipated town to-do. Put on by the Sabine Area Restaurant Association (SARA) as a way to showcase the Golden Triangle’s unique culinary scene, participating restaurants prepare 2-3 dishes that highlight the area’s Cajun-Creole-Southern roots in booths adorned with masks, beads, and balloons to get in the festive spirit.

There were muffulettas, gumbo, jambalaya, and more bread pudding than I could possibly imagine, but some of the more standout bites actually came from the ethnic spots in town. In fact, local favorite, Chaba Thai Bistro, took home the top prize for best dish with their mouth-watering Panang curry, savory dumplings, and fried rice.

The event is all you can eat and drink (beer, wine, and spritzers) with “bites” that are actually Texas-sized portions (think entire racks of ribs and full sandwiches) ensuring everyone leaves stuffed and happy. Despite the amount of food available, people have creatively mastered the art of getting the most bang for their buck over the years, sneaking in frisbees to double as plates and one woman who brought in a muffin tin and empty baby carriage as a way to stash to-go treats. Bless her heart.

But it’s all in good fun because at the end of the day, it’s eating for a cause. The event is actually a fundraiser for Lamar culinary scholarships and the purchase of livestock which will be used to feed local food banks. You can feel good about overindulging and supporting the mission.

Make sure to put it on the culinary calendar for next year — and be sure to pack your stretchy pants.