Food-o-File

Barbecue Expansion: The third generation of Lockhart's Schmidt family continues the expansion of their barbecue empire. Keith Schmidt opened a new Kreuz Market in Bryan in February, while his cousin Susie Schmidt Franks and husband Chad Franks have just signed a lease on the space that will become the second Schmidt Family Barbecue (2125 Lohmans Crossing) sometime this summer. The former Buster's BBQ space includes an attractive, tree-shaded deck where the Franks are adding a playscape in response to customer requests. Susie Franks tells us all the briskets will still be smoked at their Galleria location and trucked over, and that the second outlet will feature some new menu items such as smoked turkey salads, sandwiches, and beef ribs. In another effort to better serve the neighborhood clientele, they're also developing plans for family take-home packs and curbside pickup.

Smoke Will Tell: LeAnne Mueller, Ali Clem, and the la Barbecue team moved their pits to a new spot at the GoodLife Food Court (900 E. Cesar Chavez) Monday morning. Only time and smoke will tell whether or not the move solves the problems experienced by some of their nearby neighbors. Mueller also said she'd been trying to keep the specifics about their new 1722 S. Congress brick-and-mortar location to herself until all the details were finalized and everything was signed on the dotted line, but that brisket's off the smoker now, so to speak. They're hoping for a late summer or early fall return to South Austin, where the smokers will be located on the roof.

Cutie Pies maven Jaynie Buckingham spent this past weekend at the annual American Pie Council National Pie Championships in Orlando, Fla., and came home a winner again. Her Just Peachy Key Lime Habanero Pie took first place in the citrus category in the professional division. While Buckingham's signature pink and green pie trailer is currently on hiatus, she's selling pies at the Cedar Park Farmers' Market on Saturdays and the Mueller Farmers' Market on Sundays.

Lemonade entrepreneur Mikaila Ulmer is in the news again. Not long after attracting investor and mentor Daymond John to her BeeSweet Lemonade brand during an appearance on ABC's Shark Tank, the 10-year-old powerhouse received a local producer loan from Whole Foods Markets. The loan will make it possible for Ulmer to develop a new flavor for her product line and increase her distribution within the Whole Foods region.

Jack Allen's Kitchen 360 (3600 Capital of TX Hwy. N.) opened quietly last week, but hungry crowds from the surrounding neighborhood are already embracing the new spot and keeping the bar busy. Proprietor Jack Gilmore tells us chef Chris TenEyck is overseeing the kitchen and pastry chef Dee-Dee Sanchez is making desserts. This new outlet also has a wood-burning oven they'll use for roasting entrée specials as well as baking some artisan breads. Gilmore also said his family is eagerly awaiting the birth of the first grandchild from chef Bryce Gilmore and wife, Dr. Molly Brown Gilmore.