Traditions, I realize, usually bring people together. But I don't think it means that I'm socially averse just because I have couple of traditions that I observe myself, regardless of whether or not anyone else joins me.

Today, the first day of the NCAA Tournament brings around one of those traditions. I like to commemorate the beginning of March Madness by setting out about 11 a.m. to find myself a nice juicy sandwich that I can enjoy by reveling in the beginning of the best sporting event on the planet.

[ UPDATE (12:52 p.m., Thursday): About noon today, Freebirds posted the same information on its own Facebook wall that it posted on the Bring Freebirds to Waco wall on Wednesday evening. That's just another layer of official-ness. ]

Apparently, Freebirds chose to announce its new restaurant in Waco by commenting it on the Facebook page of a group called "Bring Freebirds to Waco."

The post claimed "It's official, Waco — we love you and are coming for you fall of 2012! N. New Road just north of Franklin Ave in the Academy parking lot. It will be a beautiful, very rare freestanding unit … just for Waco!"

As mentioned earlier this week, we are just about to enter my favorite time of the year — the three weeks of agony, ecstasy and glory called March Madness, which is a nickname for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.

Last year my roommate and I traveled to Las Vegas to bet on games and watch them in the MGM Grand sports book. It was fun even though I felt like the only guy in the massive crowd who didn't own the entire series of "Entourage" on DVD.

As of Monday evening, I had a significant hankering for some crab nachos.

Having planned to eat dinner at the new Mexican seafood restaurant Sergio's on Austin Avenue, and knowing that Sergio's is a rebirth of Siete Mares, formerly located on Dutton, I planned for crab nachos. My brain made a promise to whatever part of me produces cravings that crab nachos were in my near future.

It's one of those weeks that just feels different.

While there could be some newsworthy restaurant stuff happening this week — I'm going to be checking on Sergio's on Austin Avenue and, of course, BJ's Brewhouse continues to take shape near the Richland Mall — I feel like many of us are consumed either with spring break or March Madness or SXSW in Austin or possibly a combination of all of them.

My favorite sports event of the year, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, is upon us. And so I can't resist challenging all of you out there who dare to take on my college hoops-game-picking prowess.

Hmm, whether or not to reference The Beatles "Birthday" in this blog? Is it overused? Is it cheesy? Will I end up owing money to Paul McCartney?

Heck with it. I'm throwing caution to the wind (and tweaking the lyrics as needed).

The new sushi/Korean food restaurant called Wako Roll opened for business today at Central Texas Marketplace.

So naturally, a WacoFork crew descended upon it. There were five of us and I like to think we gave the menu a pretty good test, ordering items ranging from your basic sushi to bulgogi and the hot pot dish called bibimbap.

For those who haven't noticed or experienced it first hand, Cafe Homestead's farm-to-table dinners have taken a place right at the top of our town's culinary treats.

Those who are in the know are, well, in the know. They will be excited to see that I have obtained a copy of the menu for the Cafe Homestead farm to table to be held March 17 at 6:30 p.m. The cost of the dinner will be $48 per person.

Last Thursday, Priti Patel taught the weekly cooking class at Gourmet Gallery, preparing chole masala, vegetable biryani and puri. It was a 2-hour class, so we're bringing you the highlights.

If you're intrigued, Patel will be teaching at Gourmet Gallery again on April 26. Click here for a complete list of Gourmet Gallery classes.

I really wish smell-a-vision was a real technology and not just something I saw on Futurama, because these Indian dishes were fantastic aromatic.

This is an early afternoon news brief as I have a few items to share before getting into production of a video blog highlighting last Thursday's Indian cooking class at Gourmet Gallery during which chef Priti Patel made chole masala, puri, vegetable biryani and mango lassi. Look for it later this afternoon.

Until then ...