The party began in an auto parts store and gravitated toward the back, where Mavis G. Rodgers was dishing up shrimp and grits and good advice on Creole cooking.

“Everybody used to cook and get together as a family,” said Rodgers, of  Simply Delicious Creole Kitchen, Main Ave., Groves.

She grew up grinding and prepping food for her grandmother’s table, then joined the U.S. Navy.

“I just happened to go in the kitchen and I was sold,” she said.

From Navy to restaurant runner, Rodgers offers a menu including fried catfish Maurice, jambalaya and red beans. She’s got a big smile and open personality that draws you into her stories.

Rodgers catered a Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce morning business connection at NAPA Auto Parts-Mid County Auto Supply on Nederland Avenue. Those who hadn’t already tried her dishes said they were headed there soon. Look for photos of her family influencers on the wall, she said.

Touch Coffee, taste coffee. Fast

Makers are calling the Touch® T526S coffee system “ground-breaking,” no pun intended. My favorite part is that in addition to brewing up your favorite K-Cup, you can use the mesh cup included to make a cup, or larger carafe, or travel mug, of your own loose grind. That’s good for the environment and your smooth, tasty morning.

You’ll be making your own coffee memes for Facebook about how much you love it.

It’s a handsome machine, compatible with “any cup at all—from existing Keurig K-Cups® to generic cups, in addition

to Touch’s ground-breaking  XBold Cups™, XLarge Cups™ and reusable Refill Jumbo Cup.”

Got 20 seconds? Here’s what the makers say:

“According to the National Coffee Association USA, the brewing water temperature for a good cup of coffee is “between 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal extraction.” The Touch® T526S brewer reaches  this ideal temperature by using its Flash Heating system and starts brewing in under 20 seconds after being off all night. Plus, Touch heats just enough water for the selected  cup size as opposed to the entire tank of water, and the machine turns itself off after use, making it more energy efficient than its competitors.”

I’m trying this with Touch L.A. Coffee, in Sunset Strip roast. These cups allow up to 30 percent more coffee from each capsule. All this coffee talk has its own language. I’m just speaking the delicious-convenient-efficient dialect.

Look it all up at www.TouchBeverages.com.

darraghcastillo@icloud.com