Hello A-J readers!

We have officially completed the third month of 2023. Unlike prior months, there were fewer openings and closings in March. I imagine that could be due to a myriad of factors, including spring break, tax season, etc. For a look into what we did have for business in March, check out the monthly wrap-up article.

For upcoming articles, I am hoping to schedule interviews with Red Feather Golf Course and Social Club, a beef jerky shop opening in Plainview, and have a follow-up meeting to check on Toot'n Totum's progress in Lubbock.

Also, a project in late April will showcase locally-owned bookstores.

Moving on to the first Best Bite of 2023, there was quite the competition for the best bite.

Friday evening, Alex Driggars (Government & Education reporter), Mateo Rosiles (Breaking and Trending reporter), and myself enjoyed Good Line Beer Co., 2611 Boston Ave. The drinks were good, but the food from Taste Buds Food Co. was even better. I had the Bacon, Roasted Garlic, Mushroom and Swiss Burger, and it is the best burger from a food truck that I have had in Lubbock. It was a fair price for the size and was absolutely delicious. When I think of a food truck burger, this exceeded my expectations.

Saturday, I visited Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, with Mateo Rosiles. The newly opened restaurant at 413 University Ave. invited us to try them out, and I now get the hype. For anyone planning to go, the Pineapple Upside Down pancake is an absolute must try. Each bite brought a bright pop of fresh pineapple. It was so good, I didn't even use syrup. Also, the Banana Bliss Pancake, which is vegan, had bananas and brown sugar mixed into the batter and, again, it was delicious. The Black Pepper and Maple Bacon is a great add on as well, and has the best balance of crispiness and flavor.

Then Sunday came around, and I had to check out the Food Trucks for a Cause event at Aldersgate Church, where more than 20 trucks had items for $5. My partner and I tried out Carlitos Way, Llano Cubano, Rico Empanadas, Texas Mac Shack and several others. Out of all the ones we tried, Rico Empanadas' Carne Guisada empanada was my favorite.

This was a rare weekend when I could not choose just one best bite. So instead, I will offer my perfect weekend meal. Start off with the pancake flight at Snooze (get the pineapple upside down, Banana Bliss, and another of your choosing), then hunt down Taste Buds for lunch, and get several empanadas from Rico Empanadas for dinner. That is a recipe for foodie heaven.

As always, thank you for reading and supporting the A-J.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock's business news includes openings, best bites