TOGS Store Cafe

TOGS Store and Cafe is approximately an hour's scenic drive from both Bakersfield, CA and Lake Isabella, CA. It's located in the historic Twin Oaks grade school. The Twin Oaks grade school was built in 1935 and served as the one room schoolhouse for the communities of Twin Oaks and Paris-Lorraine until 1962.

In 1979 TOGS formerly known as Twin Oaks General Store was founded in the Twin Oaks school building. It has been in nearly continuous operation since

The current proprietors, Rose and Rita Paris, have operated TOGS since 2006. In addition to a full breakfast menu and full grill menu the Cafe serves daily breakfast and lunch specials. And on weekends, it also serves dinner specials. The store is a full service mini market. There's a bakery section stocked with homemade cookies, cakes, and candies. Catering services are also available.

Periodically, Rose and Rita host special event dinners. These "featured in" dinners draw customers, not just from the Caliente/Walker Basin area of Kern County, but also from Bakersfield, Lake Isabella, and even from LA and Orange Counties. They've become well known for their Sweetheart Valentines dinner, Oktoberfest dinner, and Presidential dinners where they adapt a dinner actually served in the White House and serve it to their customers. In November 2010, they put on their first murder mystery dinner. The one act play was written by Rita; stage settings were handled by Rose and the acting was done by TOGS employees. Another murder mystery dinner is planned for this Spring.

Rose and Rita are assisted by a staff of 8 part time employees, who serve as weekday cooks, waitresses, bartenders, and store cashiers. Weekend meals are all cooked by Chef Rose who is noted for the quality of food she prepares and presents.

TOGS Store and Cafe is the hub of the Caliente/Walker Basin area. It's the meeting place for the local craft club, a bible study group, and the bunko ladies that get together the third Thursday of every month to socialize with their friends. Because of the scenic drive, the quaint country schoolhouse ambiance TOGS is also a favorite stop for both motorcycle and car clubs from all over Southern California.