— MasterChef is looking for non-professional cooks for the next season of the show. Open auditions in Austin will be held on Saturday, August 29.
— Aaron Franklin and his cookbook will make an appearance at the Texas Book Fair this fall on October 17 and 18. Maybe he’ll bring samples?
— The taco journalists announced the members of the Texas Taco Council. With the new ride, the team will help research the duo’s next book, The Tacos of Texas.
— The Houston Astros’ minor league baseball team in California will be temporarily renamed the Fresno Tacos for what’s called "throwback taco night" on Thursday, August 6, complete with taco uniforms.
— Ireland is getting into the Texas-style barbecue game. In true Austin fashion, smoked-meats focused My Meat Wagon (real name) started out as a food truck in Dublin, and transitioned into a brick and mortar last year. Co-pitmaster Donal Cahill visited Franklin, "which he says is absolutely worth the hype and the long lines."
— There’s a new Topo Chico challenger: Rambler. The Austin-based company boasts of using "Texas limestone filtered sparkling water."