Vegan Taco Diet, Barley Swine’s Anniversary, and More A.M. Intel

— Texas Monthly’s assistant editor Abby Johnston attempted to go on a vegan taco diet with The Taco Cleanse as her guide book for a month. There was one queso lapse, from Taco Cabana no less.

— Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock is very happy with his copy of Tacos of Texas.

— Now that Barley Swine, version 2.0 has been open for a year, the expanded restaurant is honoring its anniversary with all-night happy hour on Tuesday, January 17, from 5 to 10 p.m. with discounted prices and half-off all beer and wine, by the glass and bottle. Proceeds from the evening will go towards paying farmers’ vendor fees at the Sustainable Food Centers' markets during the colder months.

— A Saveur photographer sang the praises of Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ's barbecue tacos, calling it "some of the best tacos I've ever had!"

— There’s another pastry chef shuffle: Kendall Melton, who was pegged to run Austin jam-makers Confituras’ new bakery, is now back as the executive chef of Contigo and Chicon. She previously worked at Odd Duck, Al Fico, and Sugar Mama's Bakeshop.

— Buc-cee's is putting up a new big sign along Highway 71 in Bastrop.

— Bon Appetit presented its favorite Austin restaurants in a video: Odd Duck, Emmer & Rye (calling it a tapas-style place), Thai Kun (both trailer and brick and mortar), Olamaie, and Franklin Barbecue, highlighting a couple dishes from each spot.

— Chef Bryce Gilmore, of Barley Swine and Odd Duck, thinks “gas station food,” and cuisine from southern Indian and Eastern Europe as being 2017's big trends.

— The Downtown Austin Alliance is still looking for an all-day counter-service food vendor for the renovated Republic Square Park. It should serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Proposals are due by Friday, February 10.