Wanna Know What's Going on? Find out at Raos!

The name Rao's Bakery Cafe brings a smile to anyone's face who lives in Beaumont. There are four such establishments here in town and one in Houston. We met Jake Tortorice Jr, the owner of them all when we stopped by for a groaning plate of his goodies...kolache, spicy sausages in pastry, breakfast croissants filled with egg, czech pastries, breakfast burritos, blueberry bran muffins and the like.

I particularly admired the giant glass urns filled with ice tea sitting right next to the coffee urns. (note to self: buy these for our cafe!).

Everyone in town stops by here in the morning including the mayor, city counselors and people high and low. It's a jovial place where you can sit a spell and catch up with what's new in town. A coffee haven that our hosts are very, very fond of, and as result, a fixture of any press trip.

Passing Tapas at Easy's in Beaumont

Last night we got a chance to visit one of Beaumont's favorite restaurants, which is known for being easy. Wayne and Karen Ingwerson opened up Easy's six years ago on the main drag, Calder St. here in this oil city. "We wanted to attract an older crowd, and be a place where you'd want to spend time and hang out," Wayne told us. He liked the name because it reflects his attitude, laid back and fun.

So they created a menu of mostly tapas and martinis, two words which ensure that only us older folks will show up. Last night we sat on couches around a big round table and passed plate after plate of his delicious little concoctions. It was the first time I can remember eating like that on a press trip, usually we have to choose from a big menu and there is just too much food.

But the light bites kept coming; fried chicken livers (no, they really were good) and thai-inspired calamari, and little slices of tenderloin with pesto, and balls of goat cheese. Then we retired out to the patio where at 8:45 pm it was still balmy and pleasant. That's a big change from the temps back home where it's still freezing after dark.