Lost crops and livestock, burst water mains, power outages for days: Central Texas farmers were hit especially hard by the recent snow-and-freeze that smacked ERCOT upside the head and devastated much of our unregulated state.

This day is the tenth anniversary of Jack Allen’s Kitchen, that local and several-venued incarnation of delicious food, great service, and well-designed setting, all brought to Austin and its neighbors (hello up there, Round Rock) by chef Jack Gilmore and business savant Tom Kamm and their ever-expanding cohort of culinary professionals.

Rapidly expanding local taco giant, Torchy's Tacos, signed a lease on the prime corner property at 1822 S. Congress when the Junk family declined to renew the Fran's Hamburgers lease in 2013. Tomorrow, Fran Junk and some members of her family will be on hand as the building where they sold burgers for 40 years comes down.

Those aspiring to spend their South by Southwests sampling new hamburgers coming to town will now have the opportunity, thanks to one extremely auspicious food truck.

Though the weather will present an uncharacteristically chilly welcome to the shivering palm trees, it's likely Austinites themselves will bundle up and line up in droves for a taste of the famous burgers when the first Austin In-N-Out Burger (4508 N. I-35) location opens this week.

One less reason to go west: California-based burger chain In-N-Out Burger is coming to Central Texas. Better yet: Central Austin.

After a recent book meeting, Art Meyer and I decided to hit up Mi Ranchito II, at the end of Manchaca Road, where it runs into FM 1626; he had a hankering for a good bowl of soup and I was hungry for a burger. Disparate demands, for sure, but perfectly met by Ranchito Dos.

Last Saturday we had to run to Spec's(4970 Hwy 290 West at Brodie Lane)to grab a bottle of well tequila for some cocktails to be prepared at an upcoming dinner in Houston, and couldn't pass up one of the deli's superlative burgers while we were there.

Big, juicy patty topped with a heap of blue cheese and slathered in a spicy and flavorful buffalo wing sauce. Yes!