Tony Scott learned how to cook when he was a kid, growing up in Jamaica. Cooking became a passion for Scott, one he carried through his 2003 move to Austin, where he would open his first restaurant less than a decade later.

The context: Scott opened Tony’s Jamaican Food on East 11th Street in downtown Austin in 2012, serving staples like curry goat and jerk chicken. He became one of the first Jamaican restaurants in the city and expanded to Pflugerville in 2018, after customers asked him to venture into North Austin. 

Craving oxtail? Tony’s Jamaican Food serves a selection of meats, including curry chicken, jerk pork, shrimp, and a fan favorite—oxtail. All of the meats are served with rice, peas, steamed vegetables and fried plantains. 

Quote of note: “I appreciate the customers who have been supporting [me] for years,” Scott said. “The [ones] who haven't been here yet, [I] hope they can come in one day and just give it a try.”

A new tool adopted by four Central Texas fire departments could improve how officials prepare for and respond to wildfire threats. 

Diving in deeper: Known as the Mitigate platform, the new tool has been adopted by Lake Travis Fire Rescue, Pflugerville Fire Department, Westlake Fire Rescue and Travis County Fire Rescue. 

Developed by fire science company FiSci, Mitigate combines data on vegetation, weather and topography to simulate how wildfire could spread, according to a news release. Mitigate uses proprietary AI and predictive analytics to produce maps highlighting risk areas, how fast fires could spread and more.

“Central Texas is a patchwork of grasslands, wooded corridors, and dense neighborhoods. Each of those environments reacts differently to fire,” said Ken Bailey, Travis County Fire Rescue fire chief, in the news release. “This modeling helps us see those differences clearly and plan around them, well before smoke is in the air.”

The platform allows agencies to test fire mitigation in a virtual environment, and has been used in evacuation planning for communities with narrow roads or limited exits.

Over 1,000 cocktail lovers, hospitality professionals and community members will join together in April to celebrate the eighth Bloody Mary Festival in Austin.

What you need to know: Throughout the course of the one-day festival, guests can sample 15 bloody marys and vote for their favorite. The event will also feature curated tastings, interactive programming and live music from Austin-based band Pendulum Hearts.

All bloody marys will be crafted with local Goodnight Loving Vodka.

The local vendors and craft mix producers featured at the festival include:

• Vinaigrette
• Snooze A.M. Eatery
• Laurel Restaurant
• Texas Card House

• April 4, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; 3-6 p.m.
• Ticket prices vary
• 1100 E Fifth St., Austin