Kara Timberlake
Beaumont Enterprise
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Past articles by Kara:
GUEST COLUMN: Ranching comes to life at McFaddin-Ward summer camps
Children in Southeast Texas can recreate the ranching experience at two summer camps... → Read More
Step back in time with McFaddin-Ward's Movies by the Decade series
The lawn of the historic McFaddin-Ward House will be the site of three classic movies... → Read More
Beaumont tortilla bar isn't just 'another Mexican restaurant'
With its exterior yellow and flashes of neon pink, Amacate Tortilla Bar is hard to miss. → Read More
Lumberton yogurt shop is topped off perfection
A little over six years ago, Nathan Cross became inspired to open his Lumberton frozen yogurt shop while spending time with his family. "I had grandchildren who were living up here, and I was just getting into retirement," Cross said. "One of my grandsons mentioned one Sunday when they were over at the house, 'You know what we need in Lumberton, Grandpa? We need a frozen yogurt shop. We have to… → Read More
Uncorking tacky wine fun in SE Texas
A trip to visit family in Virginia gave Melanie Dixon the inspiration for the Tacky Wine Tour. "Back in October, I was up there visiting my family and my father bought me and my mom a wine tour," Dixon said. "So we went on it, and at the first place, (my mom) was like, 'I think you should have a vineyard' because we have 10 acres. I can kill anything, so I decided that would be a really bad… → Read More
Changin' Cajun: Crawfish served with a twist
Mudbugs, crayfish, crawdads, crawldads, freshwater lobsters - whatever your name of choice may be, crawfish is more than a culinary staple here. It's a way to bring people together. The delectable crustaceans can be found at dozens of Southeast Texas eateries, but some local restaurant owners are starting to get creative with how they serve the spring staple. At Beaumont's Crazy Cajun, for… → Read More
At Bruno's, diners should 'sit, eat and stay for a while'
After 10 years of working in the restaurant industry together, two couples - Sarah Saldaña and Bruno Nokshiqi and Zamira and Henry Gjyriqi - saw an opportunity to begin their own culinary venture. "We all worked at Tuscany for about 10 years, and my husband's brother sold it to a different owner," Sarah Saldaña said. "We decided to open up our own restaurant." ❯ Pooling their knowledge, the… → Read More
Gritty art inspired by a tattoo
Shaun Roberts' impetus for becoming an artist started with a tattoo. "I always admired people who could draw and paint, but I didn't really think that I had what it took and never really gave it a chance," he said. "I thought it was something like a natural gift you had to be born with rather than a skill you could develop and improve upon over time. "Something changed when on my 18th birthday I… → Read More
Juan's Mexican Food is traditional, with a twist
Amparo and Rafael Hernandez have overcome much adversity in pursuing their dream of a restaurant. "They're immigrants from Mexico, so they came over here with inspiration for a better life," said James Hernandez, son of the Juan's Mexican Food owners. "They aspired to have everything they never had when they were younger. They've always worked hard, and they saved enough money to start their own… → Read More
Beaumont restaurant mixes big-city taste with hometown feel
Tucked into the commercial heart of the West End is the chic Green Light Americana, which has a modern yet neighborly feel. Light bulb salt and pepper shakers, wooden tables and neutral colors give the space a contemporary vibe, while each guest who walks in is greeted by the owners and asked about their dining experience while they're there. ❯ Known for Green Light Kitchen in Edison Plaza and… → Read More
Beaumont graphic designer says art can shape ideas
A career in art was never part of Beaumont native Cameron Uresti's master plan, but when it came time to choose a path, graphic design called to him. "I spent a lot of time at school doodling at the expense of my grades, so I've always had a love for art, but it wasn't something I imagined myself doing as a career," said Uresti, 23. "But I guess it made sense in the end because it was the only… → Read More
Restaurant of the Week: Spoon it! in Nederland
Nederland native Shamsha Ali knew she wanted to start a business. Unsure where to begin, she turned to Google. "I knew I wanted to start something small," she said. "It was my first business. When I started looking for places and searching and doing my homework, I came across the frozen yogurt concept, and I thought it was very interesting. "Personally, I had never seen it in Houston at that… → Read More
Causeway Bait and Tackle's grill is a relaxing, roadside stop
It's early morning at Causeway Bait and Tackle with Grill in Port Arthur, and two cats are lazily perched on a bench outside, indicative of the relaxed vibe of the eatery and its surroundings. Workers from the nearby plant sit at a table, laughing and preparing to head to their job sites. With calming blue walls and coastal decor, the Pleasure Island one-stop-shop is a favorite among local plant… → Read More
Bluebird Fish Camp has deep roots in community
At Bluebird Fish Camp in Orange, neither fire nor flood can stop the LeBlancs from serving their customers. "There was a fire in December of 2016,then Harvey came," said owner Sonya LeBlanc. "We almost closed after Harvey. We got three to four feet of water in here. It was shaky for a while if we were going to come back." However, encouraged by the community, Sonya and her husband, Oscar, chose… → Read More
The Pompano Club gets a new identity as Benton's
After Tropical Storm Harvey dumped six inches of water in what was formerly The Pompano Club in Port Neches, owner Catherine Bruney saw an opportunity to make long-awaited alterations. "We couldn't get in the parking lot for three days because it was so flooded," she said. "It just sat there in all of that water. We were going to have to do so much renovation, so we thought now is the time to… → Read More
Mi Pueblo serves food with a following
From dishwasher to restaurant owner, Victor Gonzalez is living out the quintessential rags-to-riches American Dream. "He and his brother came over from Mexico in 1965 with $20 in cash, and he started in the restaurant business washing dishes at Monterrey House for 50 cents an hour and worked his way up," said Ashley Stone, general manager at Mi Pueblo Mexican Restaurant in Lumberton. With hard… → Read More
SE Texas chefs turn up the heat with peppers, spices
For Ally McCowan and DeCarlos Hawthorne, it's a must to stop by Kajun Seafood and Wings to fix their spicy cravings when they visit Beaumont from The Woodlands. "Every time we come, this is where we eat," McCowan said. "Other restaurants have nothing on this place." Hawthorne, who is originally from Beaumont, said his go-to dishes are the boiled shrimp and the sausage. "They're both really… → Read More
Food truck serves flavorful dishes crafted from family recipes
Rico Jimenez came up with the idea of starting a food truck after a meal with his family. "My grandma always cooks on Sunday, and it's the highlight of my week," he said. "After we eat, we all sit around in the yard, and I was like 'Man, we need a food truck.' We love food over here in my family. "We know what we like, and we know what's good. Restaurants are too expensive these days to get… → Read More
Artist Lanee Tesch keeps learning her craft
Lanee Tesch's interest in art started when she was a child. "I've been drawing ever since I was little," said the 20-year-old Mid-County native. "I was always doodling on everything, so my mom thought maybe we should get a little more serious with it and got me some art supplies. "I started drawing and I noticed myself, and my parents noticed, that my drawings were more advanced than most kids… → Read More
Maria's Mexican Kitchen's menu is packed with flavor
If you're not looking carefully, you might pass up one of Beaumont's hidden gems - Maria's Mexican Kitchen & Seafood on Calder. Attached to a convenient store down the street from Luke's Icehouse, the cheerful yellow restaurant is known for its authentic Mexican cuisine. After an injury, Maria Lavador found herself jobless and looking for a way to occupy herself, when her husband came up with a… → Read More