Podcast appearances and mentions of eric eating

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Drake Leonards of Eunice. Drake speaks with Eric about the evolution of Eunice since he was last on the podcast back in 2018, why it's important that they're open 7 days a week, fixing their patio situation, being part of the Houston chef community, the team at Eunice, the flexibility they provide customers, having one of the best burgers in town, the possibility of expansion in Houston with some of their other concepts, and much more!  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Canadian Comfort Food Restaurant Puts Down Roots in Prime Houston Spot Astros Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. Serves Up a New Pickleball Bar in Midtown Bun B Opens New Spring Location of His Smash Hit Smash Burger Joint Beloved Houston Hot Dog Shop Announces Abrupt Closure After 15 Years

Planning out where to go for a first date can be hard, I mean there's so many places where could you take that special someone what do you even choose? If only there was an episode of a podcast that not only picked some of the best first date spots but also third date spots, casual weeknight date spots, and even breakup spots. Oh, well it turns out this episode of What's Eric Eating is all about that. After the success of last year's Ultimate Date Night Draft, Eric's bringing it back with new drafters and a twist. This year Eric, alongside Chelsea Thomas, Lawton Driscoll, Michael Fulmer, Monica Danna, and Army Sadeghi of Clarkwood are drafting based off an occasion format. Here's the categories: first date spot, third date spot, girls/guys/friend's night spot, casual weeknight date spot, breakup spot, and a wildcard which is any place the drafter thinks would be fun to go to on a date (does not have to be a bar or restaurant).  The Draft Rules Rule 1: All selections must be located in Greater Houston. Rule 2: Once a restaurant has been selected for a certain category, no one else may pick it for the same category. i.e., only one person can select 13 Celsius for a first date but someone else could select 13 Celsius for a third date. Rule 3: Drafters cannot pick the same bar/restaurant/business twice. All 6 selections must be from different places. Rule 4: Snake draft format. The draft order will go one through six in round 1 then go backwards six through one in round 2. Rule 5: Categories may be selected in any order. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: All The Nominees Vying for Glory in the 2025 Houston Tastemaker Awards Dallas-Based, Wine-Obsessed Private Club Unveils New Houston Facility Innovative Houston Japanese Restaurant Closes After Only 2 Years Rent Dispute Prompts Closure of Downtown Houston Tequila and Taco Bar

On episode 427 of What's Eric Eating, host Eric Sandler was joined by Brad Moore of 'Big Star Bar' and 'Grand Prize' fame, and Lindsay Rae Burleson of 'Two Headed Dog' to have them judge, and declare a winner from the 'Ultimate Bar Draft' from the day before. His two guests also gave their own picks as to which categories, and bars were wrongly left undrafted. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston steakhouse reboots as a more affordable neighborhood restaurant Houston chef with Michelin-star cred opening new Heights restaurant New York-style pizzeria slices into Sugar Land with lots of craft beer More than 20 Houston restaurants serving Thanksgiving Day feasts Michelin Guide Removes Shuttered Houston Vietnamese Restaurant

On a special episode of What's Eric Eating, host Eric Sandler is joined by 6 industry experts for an Ultimate Bar Draft, picking from topics... Best neighborhood bar, like a dive or casual bar Best cocktail bar Favorite martini, and favorite margarita Best bar food And a wildcard pick that can be anything, from any bar! His guests are Lawton Driscoll, Sean Fitzmaurice, Lainey Collum, Mary Clarkson, Chelsea Thomas, and Bobby Heugel.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston steakhouse reboots as a more affordable neighborhood restaurant Houston chef with Michelin-star cred opening new Heights restaurant New York-style pizzeria slices into Sugar Land with lots of craft beer More than 20 Houston restaurants serving Thanksgiving Day feasts Michelin Guide Removes Shuttered Houston Vietnamese Restaurant

Fluff Bake Bar's Rebecca Masson makes her triumphant return to What's Eric Eating! Eric catches up with Rebecca, then the pair dive into some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Levi Goode's confirmation on last week's podcast that a new location of Goode Company's Kitchen & Cantina is coming to River Oaks, The Rice Box getting set to open it's 5th location, and Dallas based concept Mexican Sugar coming to Houston. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Maven Coffee + Cocktails is featured. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Levi Goode Dishes on his Memorial Hot Spot and Tex-Mex for River Oaks Houston's 'Chinese Takeout Bar from the Future' Unboxes Memorial Outpost New Mexican Eatery Sweetens Houston with 150 Spirits and Bold Flavors Aggie Favorite Chicken Tenders Spot Hatches 3 New Houston-Area Stores Running List of Houston Restaurants Offering Voters Food and Drink Deals

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Thy and Matthew Mitchell of Traveler's Table and Traveler's Cart stop by. The pair speak with Eric about how they got into the culinary world, why Matthew decided to leave his lucrative pharmaceutical job to go to culinary school, Thy's family restaurant background, the influences behind Traveler's Table, the motivations behind opening Traveler's Cart, the advice they got from Guy Fieri that helped them create the Traveler's Cart concept, their experience on Diners, Drive-In's, & Dives,  developing the menu at Traveler's cart, when diners can expect Traveler's Cart to open, the possibilities of expansion, and much more!  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: 16 Houston Restaurants Compete in CultureMap's Ultimate Wing Showdown Globally-Inspired Street Food Restaurant Rolls into Montrose this Week Chicago-Based Portillo's Sets Opening Date for First Houston Location Houston Chefs React to Coveted Michelin Guide Ceremony Invitations Austin Burger Favorite Reveals Opening Date for First Houston-Area Store

May 4th, 2017, episode 2 of What's Eric Eating released with special guest Ronnie Killen of Killen's restaurants. A lot has changed in the 7 years since his last appearance, so after years of being Ronnie returns to the show to catch Eric, and the listeners, up on what's been going on with him and his restaurants. Ronnie speaks with Eric about his health issues the past 3 years, his near death experiences, getting back to cooking, how he's kept engaged with the restaurants through his health problems, giving up alcohol, whether he wants to strive for a Michelin star, what he's taken from his recent travels, how the barbecue scene has changed since Killen's BBQ first debuted, how the newer Killen's BBQ locations are doing, why he decided to remove Killen's BBQ from NRG Stadium/Minute Maid Park, the problems with stadium restaurants, his vision for Killen's in the Heights, why he closed Killen's TMX, would he ever open another TMX, what he's bringing to the Hobby Airport, his car collection, what he's been working on, and much much more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Meow Wolf Rides into Houston with Cowboy-Inspired Dive Bar and Restaurant 2 New Memorial Restaurants Open with Fire-Roasted Fare and Classic Cocktails Top Houston Chefs Drop the Needle on Their New Sushi Restaurant High Profile Med Center Sushi Restaurant Shutters After Only 3 Months Austin's Smash-Hit Wagyu Smash Burgers Debut at Lively EaDo Bar 

This week on What's Eric Eating, Eric and this week's co-host Mary Clarkson, owner of Avondale Food & Wine, talk about all the big news, and goings on with the Houston restaurant scene! Including... The modern Vietnamese restaurant Xin Chao closing months after celebrity chef Christine Ha ("MasterChef" winner) left the restaurant. Veteran restaurateur Benjy Levit, the restaurateur behind Local Foods, will close his French restaurant Eau Tour and convert it to a new Italian restaurant named Milton's. Comma Hospitality, the restaurant group known for its luxurious sushi restaurant Neo, will open Kira in Upper Kirby's Shops at Arrive River Oaks development this July, a new sister concept with a more affordable price point. And their restaurant of the week is Bar Bludorn! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Beloved Houston bagel shop adds new location at Holocaust Museum Innovative inner loop Vietnamese restaurant will shutter after 4 years French-inspired cocktail bar raises the roof at Montrose development Veteran Houston pastry chef bakes up new biscuit-based ghost kitchen Award-winning Houston chefs roll into Upper Kirby with new Japanese restaurant

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Monica Danna to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. Monica and Eric discuss Doris Metropolitan owners' revealing new plans to open a new Mediterranean restaurant called Októ. Plus, The Clé Group opening an upscale cocktail lounge called Fancy's, that also serves a small food menu including shareables and sushi. Finally, their restaurant of the week is The Fancy in Galveston! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Doris Metropolitan masterminds serve up new Montrose Mediterranean eatery Bill Gates shares summer reading recs from acclaimed Houston barbecue joint These Houston restaurants have yet to reopen after losing power Montrose Pizzeria Known for '90's Vibes and Late Night Hours Suddenly Shutters

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by food writer and TV host Ali Khan. You might recognize Ali from his show Cheap Eats, which ran for 5 seasons on the Cooking Channel, or on shows like Ali vs The Dome, Food Network's Spring Baking Championship, Chopped, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and more. Ali joins Eric to discuss how his career first started, his time writing about burgers in Houston for Texas Highways, the changing cost of eating out, why he's made home cooking a greater focus in his content offerings, how he's been humbled by Neapolitan pizza and a salad that took a weekend to make, getting judging opportunities, streaming series options now with Food Network being in the Warner Bros./Discovery umbrella, the changing of the food TV landscape, the Houston dining scene, and more!  ICYMI: On episode 375, Michael Posey of Wild Sol stopped by the podcast and surprised listeners with a treat. Any What's Eric Eating podcast listener can get a 20% discount on Wild Sol's website at checkout. All listeners have to do is head over to Wild Sol's website, wildsol.co, and then click on shop now. Once you've selected your salsas, go to checkout, and use promo code ERICSANDLER for a 20% discount. It's seriously that easy, so visit Wild Sol's website today and use promo code ERICSANDLER at checkout for a 20% discount. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston Dynamo Star Brian Ching Scores Katy Outpost of his Smash Hit Soccer Bar Montrose Pizzeria Known for '90's Vibes and Late Night Hours Suddenly Shutters Street-Style Taco Shop's Baybrook-Area Location Sets Opening Date Proprietor of Smash Hit Seafood Spot Revives Cult Favorite Galveston Taco Shop Social Club Devoted to Activities Relocates to Spring with Drinks and BBQ Bun B and Alex Bregman Team Up for Limited Time Only Smash Tacos

On today's podcast Eric is joined by frequent cohost Mary Clarkson. The pair dive into some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including chef Christian Hernandez bringing his new restaurant Barbacana to downtown Houston and country music star Koe Wetzel bringing a new location of his Koe Wetzel's Riot Room to Houston. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Birdie's and Nickel City are featured.    ICYMI: On episode 375, Michael Posey of Wild Sol stopped by the podcast and surprised listeners with a treat. Any What's Eric Eating podcast listener can get a 20% discount on Wild Sol's website at checkout. All listeners have to do is head over to Wild Sol's website, wildsol.co, and then click on shop now. Once you've selected your salsas, go to checkout, and use promo code ERICSANDLER for a 20% discount. It's seriously that easy, so visit Wild Sol's website today and use promo code ERICSANDLER at checkout for a 20% discount.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston Chef with Michelin-Starred Resumé Plans Ambitious New Downtown Restaurant Montrose Pizzeria Known for '90's Vibes and Late Night Hours Suddenly Shutters Street-Style Taco Shop's Baybrook-Area Location Sets Opening Date Proprietor of Smash Hit Seafood Spot Revives Cult Favorite Galveston Taco Shop Social Club Devoted to Activities Relocates to Spring with Drinks and BBQ Bun B and Alex Bregman Team Up for Limited Time Only Smash Tacos

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Monica Danna to discuss some of the latest new from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. Monica and Eric discuss Vibrant's new location in Memorial Park, the soon to be open restaurant called Blue Tuba that's not quite like anything Houston has seen before, and the new cocktail lounge called Plume that's opening soon in Shady Acres. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Little Rey and Maximo are featured.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston Restaurant Known for Gluten-Free Eats Adds New Location in Memorial Park Inventive New Heights Restaurant Blends European Flavors with Texas Traditions Vegas-Inspired Cocktail Lounge Takes Flight in Shady Acres Office Building Saint Arnold Toasts 30 Years with Festival Featuring 4 Houston Music Stars Houston's Smash Hit Detroit Pizzeria Shines with New Bellaire Location New Orleans-Based Brewery Suddenly Shutters Sawyer Yards Taproom

You know what your special someone deserves from you for Valentine's Day this year? You to listen to this episode of What's Eric Eating because then you'll be fully prepared to plan the best possible date night. That's right, it's the Ultimate Houston Date Night Draft on today's edition of the podcast. Join Eric Sandler, Felice Sloan, Rafael Nasr, Justin Yu, Mary Clarkson, and Evelyn Garcia as they select their ultimate date night. Here's what the teams will be drafting: a cold appetizer, a hot appetizer, an entree, a dessert, after dinner drinks, and a wild card. All of which must come from a Houston-area bar/restaurant. The wildcard can be anything in Houston that would be a fun stop on a date. For example, the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony, Turrell Exhibit, Menil Lawn, or a sixth bar/restaurant. The Draft Rules Rule 1: All six selections must be from different restaurants and bars. For instance, if a participant selects Bludorn for cold appetizers, the participant may not select Bludorn for desserts. Rule 2: Once a restaurant has been selected for a specific category/course, no other participant may select it for that category, but it is still eligible for other categories. For instance, if someone takes Bludorn for cold appetizers, Bludorn is still eligible for entrees, desserts, etc.  Rule 3: Snake draft format. The draft order will go one through six in round 1 then go backwards six through one in round 2.  Rule 4: Categories may be selected in any order.   Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Celebrate Houston's Culinary All-Stars at the 2024 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Sizzling Tex-Mex Staple Opening Expansive Patio Bar-Restaurant in River Oaks Facebook's Favorite Houston Bagel Pop-Up Opens Cafe and Coffee Shop in the Heights New Modern Creole Restaurant in Third Ward Channels Prodigal Chef's Italian Culinary Quest Houston Restaurant Weeks Serves Up Nearly $2M in 2023 for Local Food Charity Heights Vietnamese Restaurant Lauded for Inventive Fare Set to Shutter

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Tony Nguyen of Xin Chao and Saigon House. The guys speak about how Tony got into the restaurant business, starting Wokker, why Tony got a cease and desist letter from Chuck Norris... yes that Chuck Norris, how he started Saigon House, where Tony first got his name on the map, moving Saigon House to the northside of Houston, what they're doing at Saigon House now, how Tony came to know Christina Ha, how the idea for Xin Chao came about, collaborating with Christine on the menu, being nominated for a James Beard award, future plans for Xin Chao, future aspirations, crawfish season coming soon, a new project in the works, and much more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Common Bond's French-Inspired, Full-Service Restaurant Quietly Closes Downtown Spring Branch Sows Wild Oats with Opening of Underbelly's Texas Tribute Restaurant Drew Brees-Backed Sports Bar Kicks Off in Bay Area with Cajun Classics, 60 TVs, and More Bun B's Next Trill Food Favorite Pops Up at Sunday's Texans Tailgate Très Chic River Oaks Restaurant Opens with French Chef Cred, Stunning Space, and Must-See Mona Lisa Houston's Best New Steakhouse Fires Up Kitchen with V&A Vet as Head Chef

It's Wednesday... wait it's Wednesday and there's a What's Eric Eating podcast?! Yep, Eric is joined by the Swanky Maven herself Felice Sloan to discuss why the Wednesday podcast. Plus the two discuss the latest news from the Houston Restaurant and bar scene beginning with the New York Times naming 2 Houston restaurants to it's list of "The 50 Places in the United States We're Most Excited About Right Now", then a couple of surprising closures, and finally Baba Yega suffering a setback to their reopening plans. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Balboa Surf Club is featured. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: New York Times Names 2 Must-Try Houston Eateries to Coveted 50 Most Exciting Restaurants List Dim Sum Destination Kim Son - Stafford and Houston Pho Favorite Announce Surprising Shutters Favorite Montrose Brunch Restaurant's High Anticipated Return Hits Setback Houston's Oldest Craft Brewery Wins Top Spot at Great American Beer Festival Houston Sushi Stars Open New Hand Roll Restaurant with Speakeasy-Style Bar in West U Houston Pizza Maestro Retools His Wildly Successful New Heights Restaurant After Overwhelming Response

Eric Sandler is the Houston metro food editor for CultureMap, a digital media company that covers food, wine, entertainment, fashion, and sports. As part of his job, Eric stays current on trends and consumer preferences. “I have always been passionate about food, interested in dining and curious about food service," says Eric. "My job allows me to experience all areas of the restaurant industry and see things from the guest's point of view.”   In this episode, Eric explains how he covers the myriad faces of the restaurant community and what he finds interesting and newsworthy. Eric feels that COVID changed our relationship with restaurants and underscored the importance and necessity of providing meals via delivery and takeaway service. He views current industry challenges as balancing convenience with offering quality full-service experiences that guests seek after two years of social distancing.   "We are social people, and we seek communal experiences," says Eric. Despite increasing cost, labor and supply-chain challenges, Eric believes the industry will continue to expand. Diners are increasingly adventurous, creating demand for ethnic and other concepts that break the mold of typical fare. Learn more about Eric on his podcast "What's Eric Eating".

Bobby Heugel of Thorough Fare Hospitality makes his return to What's Eric Eating. Bobby speaks with Eric about the acquisition of Catbirds, keeping Catbirds as an affordable neighborhood bar, when Catbirds will reopen, the story behind the creation of Refuge, the atmosphere at they wanted to create at Refuge, thoughts on the Montrose area, how Montrose has changed, the latest happenings with Better Luck Tomorrow, whether another location of BLT is in the cards, the burger at BLT that Eric has yet to try, the current price of cocktails in the city, places around Houston that standout, and much much more!  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Chic New Vibe Dining Seafood Restaurant Elegantly Reboots Familiar Montrose Space Austin Hot Chicken Restaurant Opens Near Downtown with 'Stupid' Spices, Full Bar, and More Upscale New Heights Lounge Opens with 'Alluring Cocktails' and Global Nightlife Vibe Talented Trill Burgers Chef and Co-Owner Wins 'Impossible' Chopped Episode Chris Shepherd Takes Stage with Local and National Food Stars in Must-Catch New Chat Series Shaquille O'Neal Announces Big New Chicken Restaurant Location Near The Heights

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Pak Tsui of Fat Bao, Ka Sushi, and I Know The Owner. The pair discuss how Pak Tsui got into professional cooking, where he learned to make sushi (spoiler: it wasn't at a restaurant initially), coming up with the concept of Fat Bao, introducing what a bao was to consumers, how Fat Bao caught on, bringing sushi to the Heights with Ka Sushi, how Ka Sushi has evolved, why they decided to go with the name I Know The Owner, how the bar concept came to be, how it's going so far, his other projects, his future plans, and much more!  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Permission Whiskey Owner Promises Cool New Tune at Jazzy Heights Cocktail Bar Diverse Pan-Asian Casual Restaurant Drums Up Long-Awaited First Houston Opening on Washington Ave 4 Smokin' Houston Spots Heat Up Texas Monthly's Top New and Improved BBQ Joints List Stylish New Montrose Wine Bar Blending Sips and Sandwiches Pops Open in Hood's Hottest Hub Global Favorite South African Peri-Peri Chicken Restaurant Fires Up Opening Date for First Houston Locale Joe Rogan Devours 'One of the Best Meals I've Ever Had in My Life' at Steak-Obsessed Woodlands Restaurant

Travis McShane of Ostia makes his What's Eric Eating podcast debut this week. Travis speaks Eric about his journey that took him from Kingwood all the way to working in New York for Jonathan Waxman. Plus Travis talks about the decision to come back to Houston, why go with an Italian concept when he came back, how Ostia has evolved over the past 3 years, being part of Houston Restaurant Weeks for the first time, why he probably won't do another location of Ostia, and much more! Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler, and on Twitter X @esandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Bobby Heugel Swoops in to Rescue Suddenly Shuttered Montrose Dive Bar 6 Cool New Asian Restaurants Wow Diners at West Houston's Hottest Shopping Destination Eclectic Museum District Wine Bar and Restaurant Set to Shutter and Relocate to New Home Houston's 10 Crunchiest, Gooiest, and Creamiest Potato Dishes Transcend Simple Sides Game-Changing Market and Restaurant Opens in Historic Eldorado Ballroom Serving Farm-to-Table Fare and Goods Promising Heights-Area Brewery Announces Last Call After 10-Month Run

ICYMI: The What's Eric Eating podcast is now two episodes per week, with the news and restaurants of the week section dropping on Tuesdays and the guest of the week section on Thursdays. Have feedback on the change? Message Eric on his socials linked below, or email him at eric@culturemap.com. After a few years since being on the podcast, Eric checks in with Alex Au-Yeung, chef-owner of Phat Eatery. The two discuss the opening and closing of Yelo, his Vietnamese sandwich concept, and Phat Eatery's upcoming Woodlands location. Au-Yeung also reflects on his 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist nomination, the state of Katy's growing Asian town, future plans for Phat, and more.  Follow Eric on Instagram and on Twitter, plus check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Celebrated Houston Top Chef Finalist and Olympian Suddenly Departs Anticipated New Midtown Restaurant Blockbuster Beer Paradise Raises Katy's Scene to Bavarian Brew Garden Levels, with a Texas Twist New York Times Showcases 5 Smokin' Houston Spots in Hot New 'Best Texas Barbecue Restaurants' List Splendid Ice Cream Shop Sweetens Big Montrose Grand Opening with Free Scoops and Plenty of Swag Favorite Local Kolache and Pastry Shoppe Abruptly Shutters North Houston Location

ICYMI: The What's Eric Eating podcast is now two episodes per week, with the news and restaurants of the week section dropping on Tuesdays and the guest of the week section on Thursdays. Have feedback on the change? Message Eric on his socials linked below, or email him at eric@culturemap.com. Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson to discuss the latest happenings in the world of Houston bars and restaurants. The pair discuss Chris Shepherd's new show on KRPC, Dandelion Cafe nearly winning Good Morning America's United States of Breakfast competition, and Scott Sulma's new hospitality consulting company. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Elro Pizza + Crudo is featured.  Follow Eric on Instagram and Twitter and check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Chris Shepherd Hosts New TV Show Spotlighting Local Hot Spots, Hidden Gems, and Personalities Blooming Bellaire Cafe Gets Edged Out by Philly Eatery on Good Morning America's Big Breakfast Battle Finale Distinguished Houston Hospitality Veteran Elegantly Guides Local Restaurants with Exciting New Company Pass & Provisions Co-Founder Officially Opens His Highly Anticipated New Pizza and Crudo Restaurant Have a Blast at Houston Restaurants and Bars Serving 4th of July Deals, from 50 Cent Oysters to $2 Hot Dogs New York Times Showcases 5 Smokin' Houston Spots in Hot New 'Best Texas Barbecue Restaurants' List

ICYMI: The What's Eric Eating podcast is now two episodes per week, with the news and restaurants of the week section dropping on Tuesdays and the guest of the week section on Thursdays. Have feedback on the change? Message Eric on his socials linked below, or email him at eric@culturemap.com. This week, Eric invites James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd onto the podcast to talk about life since stepping away from Underbelly Hospitality last year and behind-the-scenes scoop on his TV show, “Eat Like a Local,” premiering this September. They also discuss the Southern Smoke Foundation and festival, his bi-monthly “Wine Guy” column for CultureMap, consulting for other restaurants, whether he plans to return to the restaurant business, and much more.  Follow Chris on Instagram and check out his CultureMap Wine Guy Wednesday columns here.  Read more about "Eat Like a Local" here.    Follow Eric on Instagram and Twitter and check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Distinguished Houston Hospitality Veteran Elegantly Guides Local Restaurants with Exciting New Company Pass & Provisions Co-Founder Officially Opens His Highly Anticipated New Pizza and Crudo Restaurant Midas-Touch Restaurateur Ben Berg Serves Up Opening Date for New NYC-Inspired Chinese Restaurant on Washington Avenue California-based ramen restaurant chain spices up Katy with third Houston-area location Sizzling new Shake Shack Sugar Land location revs up with first drive-thru in Texas Longtime Montrose Tex-Mex breakfast favorite cooks up exciting sister concept in Garden Oaks/Oak Forest

ICYMI: Beginning this week, the What's Eric Eating podcast is releasing two shorter episodes per week, with the news and restaurants of the week section dropping on Tuesdays and the guest of the week section on Thursdays. Have feedback on the change? Message Eric on his socials linked below, or email him at eric@culturemap.com. In this week's guest episode, Eric catches up with Chef Jane Wild on what she's been up to since leaving the Dunlavy. Wild does it all, from markets to private chef work to cooking for special events like her open-fire dinner at the regenerative Synergos Farms this weekend. She and Eric discuss pivoting her business model post-COVID, growing her personal brand, the positive aspects of serving her sweet and savory baked goods at farmer's markets across town, details about her event at Synergos Farms this weekend and more!  Buy tickets to Regeneration Weekend at Synergos Farms here and follow Chef Jane Wild on Instagram @janeandthelion and her market account @janewildmrkt.  Follow Eric on Instagram and Twitter and check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: California-based ramen restaurant chain spices up Katy with third Houston-area location Sizzling new Shake Shack Sugar Land location revs up with first drive-thru in Texas Longtime Montrose Tex-Mex breakfast favorite cooks up exciting sister concept in Garden Oaks/Oak Forest Houston Tex-Mex favorite and margarita hot spot claims familiar space in River Oaks for seventh locale Houston's Top Chef stars and award-wining culinary kings team up for special Supper Club and entertainment event

Wait, it's Tuesday and there's a What's Eric Eating Podcast available? Yep that's right, beginning this week What's Eric Eating is releasing episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays now! Moving forward, the news and restaurants of the week section will be their own episode that's released on Tuesdays. Then the guest of the week portion will be its own episode that's released on Thursdays. So instead of one-hour long podcast released on Thursdays, you're now getting 2 shorter episodes released on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Let us know what you think of the change, just message Eric on social. Find his social media linked below. You can also email him at eric@culturemap.com.  Now on to today's episode, Eric is joined by Michael Fulmer to discuss the latest happenings in the news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The pair discuss 2 of Houston's top restaurants being named to the Robb Report's best new restaurants in America list, the new fast casual concept that will make its debut in the old Cherry Block Smokehouse space this September, and Cyclone Anaya's announcement of where the Houston Tex-Mex staple's seventh location will be. In the Restaurants of the Week section Andiron and The Blind Goat are featured.  Follow Eric on Instagram and Twitter, plus check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: 2 Top Houston Eateries Reserve Spots on Robb Report's Prestigious Best New Restaurants List Longtime Montrose Tex-Mex Breakfast Favorite Cooks Up Exciting Sister Concept in Garden Oaks/Oak Forest Houston Tex-Mex Favorite and Margarita Hot Spot Claims Familiar Space in River Oaks for Seventh Locale Houston's Masterchef Champ Christine Ha Opens New Spring Branch Restaurant Devoted to Her Favorite Sandwiches Houston's Top Chef Stars and Award-Winning Culinary Kings Team Up for Special Supper Club and Entertainment Event California-Based Ramen Restaurant Chain Spices Up Katy with Third Houston-Area Location

Eric returns with another edition of What's Eric Eating, this week alongside frequent podcast co-host Matt Harris to talk about the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Bun B finding a permanent home for Trill Burgers, Tatemo being named one of America's best new restaurants, and Houston Restaurant Weeks bringing in a large haul for the Houston Food Bank this year. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Louie's Italian American and Burger Bodega are featured. In the Guest of the Week section Eric is joined by John Reed of Ten Sushi and Bosscat Kitchen & Libations. John speaks with Eric about how much Bosscat Kitchen & Libations has grown in it's five years of operation, why now was the right time to bring Ten Sushi to Houston, the strengths of the menu at Ten Sushi, whether customers are mixing and matching with their items at Ten Sushi, the design of the new concept, how the restaurant has gone so far in it's early days of opening, why the Woodlands was the right choice for the next location of Bosscat, whether Ten Sushi could make it's way up to the Woodlands, what the future holds for their hospitality company, and much more! Follow Eric on Instagram and Twitter, plus check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston Rap Legend Bun B Claims Montrose Mainstay for First Trill Burgers Restaurant Houston's Corn-Obsessed Mexican Eatery Lands on Esquire's Prestigious Best New Restaurants List Houston Restaurant Weeks Serves Up Big 2022 Total for Local Charity These Are Our Favorite New Houston Restaurants of 2022 Houston's Nationally Acclaimed Viet-Cajun Restaurant Opens New Location in Farmers Market Houston's Legendary Frenchy's Chicken Opens Sizzling New Flagship Locale in Third Ward

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Linda Salinas to discuss some of the latest happenings from the Houston bar and restaurant scene including recapping the winners from this year's Tastemaker Awards, Austin bar Nickel City coming to Houston, and Robert Del Grande announcing that he's taking a step back. In the Restaurants of the Week section Height's & Co. is featured. Then in the Guest of the Week portion Eric is joined by Nicole Morris of Lucy Pearl's. Nicole speaks with Eric about how she first got interested in baking, getting started in the farmers market, how she got connected with Post Houston, learning from the family, figuring out the family recipes, why the counter/open kitchen are key parts of the design for Lucy Pearl's, what customer's are asking, meeting Eric, what Lucy Pearl's menu has to offer, the non cake options, the wild cake sales numbers, developing the different options for customers, making connections with other vendors at The Post, future plans, and much more!  Follow Eric on Instagram and Twitter, plus check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com, such as: Houston's Best Restaurant, Chef, and More Star in 2022 Tastemaker Awards  Beard Award-Winning Chef Behind Houston's Legendary Cafe Annie Announces Retirement North Downtown Brewpub's New Owners Craft New Menu and Fun Events Top Chef Recap: Houston's Cheftestant Heads to Finals as Another Frontrunner Heads Home Award-Winning Celebrity Chef and Author Heads to Houston for Two Special Events Star Houston Pitmaster Reveals New Fried Chicken, Seafood, and Comfort Food Restaurant

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Felice Sloan to discuss the latest from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Bobby Heugel and Justin Yu opening a new concept in Galveston, the "world's biggest pizza slice" coming to Houston, and Zach Harris' newest concept coming to the Shady Acres area. In the Restaurants of the Week Uchiko is featured. In the Guest of the Week portion Eric is joined by Brian Doke of Savoir, Pattons, and Heights & Co. Brian speaks with Eric about how Brian got into the hospitality industry, how he grew at Tiny Boxwoods, deciding to go out on his own, the vision behind Savoir when starting it out, working his chef Eric Johnson, why he decided to with a steakhouse as his second concept, how Patton's has been going so far, what feedback he's gotten from customers, developing the idea behind his newest concept Heights & Co., what they do at Heights & Co. to separate themselves from the competition, how he'd like to see Heights & Co. evolve, developing the food offerings for Heights & Co., what's next on the concept front, and much more! Follow Eric on Instagram and Twitter, plus check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com, such as: Bobby Heugel and Justin Yu Fancy Up New Galveston Boutique Hotel with 'Fine-ish Dining' Fare 'World's Biggest Pizza Slice' Restaurant Headed to Houston Area from Louisiana Houston Restaurant Weeks Serves Up 2022 Dates and New Prices Beard Award-Winning Chef Behind Houston's Legendary Cafe Annie Announces Retirement These are Houston's 9 Best Restaurants for 2022 Top Chef Recap: Bludorn Shines in Season's Farewell to Houston

It's a celebration! Not just because it's a new episode of the podcast but because today marks the 5 year anniversary of What's Eric Eating! A huge thank you to everyone that listens, shares, subscribes, reviews, or however you engage with the podcast. We wouldn't be able to do this for the 5 years and running without you all. A huge thank you as well to all of the great cohosts and guests over the years. It's been an amazing ride and we look forward to providing more great podcast content to you all! Now for today's podcast Eric is joined by Linda Salinas to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston bar and restaurant scene including Uchi announcing a new dedicated omakase space, Chris Shepherd's shake up at the tavern formerly known as Georgia James, and a new nightclub popping up in the Heights area. In the Restaurants of the Week section Reikina and The Warwick are featured. In the Guest of the Week portion Eric is joined by Tasos Katsaounis and Drew Gimma of Bread Man Baking Company. Tasos and Drew catch Eric up on what's been happening with Bread Man, the big moves the company has been making, why Bread Man Baking Co. made sense as the next step for Drew, moving into a space that's ten times bigger, the production load they manage now, how they're preserving the artisan quality with the larger production volume, putting Drew's stamp on the products, how consumers will notice the difference, the possibility of introducing other products, the future goals for Bread Man Baking Company, and much much more! Follow Eric on Instagram and Twitter, plus check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com, such as: Montrose's Hottest Sushi Restaurant Unrolls Intimate New Omakase Space Chris Shepherd Shakes Up His Downtown Restaurant with New Name and Chef Posh, Dallas-Based Nightclub Shakes Up Washington Ave. with Rooftop Views and Pricey Bottles

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson of Avondale Food & Wine to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston bar and restaurant scene including the Governor's mask mandate being lifted, a new concept from the owners of Doris Metropolitan, and two new locations for La Calle Tacos. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Messina Hof's Harvest Green Winery and Kitchen is featured. In the Guest of the Week section Eric is joined by Adan Medrano, executive producer and writer of Truly Texas Mexican, The Movie. Eric and Adan discuss how he got started writing, why he decided to turn his book into and movie, some of his favorite dishes from his research for the movie, and much more!

This week's episode of What's Eric Eating is the year-end wrap up, covering everything from classic spots that have weathered the 2020 storm to restaurants and bars not so fortunate to make it through this year. Eric, Felice, Linda, and Matt all review their personal best new restaurants, their most memorable bites, what they are all looking forward to in 2021, and much more!

I met Shanna when I began freelancing for her Houston food blog, Urban Swank. After 7 years of blogging with her co-owner Felice Sloan, Urban Swank is thriving with an app, regular appearances on What’s Eric Eating podcast, TV appearances and various awards. I thought this would be the perfect first episode for Mom Boss Hustle because Shanna is like most of us. She has experienced her share of ups and downs as her life has evolved from single woman, to newlywed, to mom while climbing the career ladder in corporate America and turning her love of restaurants into a rewarding side business. In this episode she explains how the blog started, how she manages a very involved calendar with color coding and prioritization, and the tipping point that made her have to decide - family or blog - and make a difficult choice. Additionally, she gives her top tips on maintaining a positive and supportive partnership with the co-owner of Urban Swank and a new partnership with her husband, the blogger behind Dude That Cookz.   Once you’ve listened to the episode, make sure to subscribe to get notifications when the next episode airs! Shanna's Bio: Shanna Jones is a Houston native with a background that spans over 15 years in Information Technology. In her current role as a Principal Enterprise Business Architect, Shanna is responsible for aligning business and IT strategic goals and objectives. In addition to her full-time career, Shanna is also the co-owner and editor of Houston lifestyle blog, Urban Swank, that has received numerous local and national accolades including "Best Food Blog" by the Houston Press. Her blog has also opened doors to television features on the Cooking Channel and Bravo TV. Shanna believes that one should live a life of passion and purpose and promotes the importance of work-life balance as she juggles being a wife, mother, professional, writer, wanderlust, food lover, and avid movie watcher.   www.urbanswank.com

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by restaurant consultant and frequent guest co-host Nathan Ketcham. Eric and Nathan go through some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Bravery Chef Hall coming summer 2018 and Mastros Steakhouse, Emmaline, and Cavo Coffee opening in Houston. In the Restaurants of the Week portion the guys discuss Nancy's Hustle, Le Colonial, and La Peep. In the Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric and Nathan are joined by Austin Simmons of Hubbell & Hudson. Eric and Nathan discuss Austin's path into cooking, his perseverance to get his cooking career started at The Mansion on Turtle Creek, his relationship with John Tesar, what he learned from his time in Europe, what brought him to Hubbell & Hudson, how the opportunity to bring more creativity came via Cureight, his interest in bbq, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more!

This week on What's Eric Eating CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by first time co-host Tyler Horne of Urban Harvest. Eric and Tyler discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Lowbrow closing its doors, Peska Seafood also closing its doors, the East Hampton Sandwich Company coming to Houston, and The Classic - All Day replacing Benjy's on Washington. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Eric and Tyler discuss Spicy Girl and Nancy's Hustle. In this week's Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric and Tyler are joined by Kevin Naderi of Roost Restaurant. Eric and Tyler speak with Kevin about how he got started in cooking, opening Roost when he was 25 years old, was he ready taking on the challenge of running a restaurant, how Roost has been able to stick around, what Kevin has done to develop ideas for the menu, his love of reality TV, beating Bobby Flay, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more!

This week on What's Eric Eating CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by L'Olivier owner Mary Clarkson to go through some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Liberty Kitchen closing their Golden Oaks location, Velvet Taco opens their 2nd location, and more. In the Restaurants of the Week section Eric and Mary discuss Maison Pucha Bistro. In the Guest of the Week portion, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric is joined by Erin Smith Feges and Lori Choi of I'll Have What She's Having. Eric speaks with Erin and Lori about how they both got involved with I'll Have What She's Having, why the organization decided on women's health, how the organization has grown, the goals for I'll Have What She's Having, and more! Learn more about I'll Have What She's Having at illhavewhatsheshaving.org. What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more!

On this week's Thanksgiving edition of What's Eric Eating host Eric Sandler is feeling thankful as he has Felice Sloan and Shanna Jones of Urban Swank co-hosting with him this week. They go through some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including, Cleburne Cafeteria reopening after a year-and-a-half, Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company heading to Sawyer Yards, Grant Pinkerton named to Forbes 30 for 30 list, and much more! In the Restaurants of the Week section Eric, Felice, and Shanna discuss Theodore Rex and Louie Mueller BBQ. In the Guest of the Week portion, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric is joined by Aaron Lyons, the founder and CEO of Dish Society. Eric and Aaron discuss how the original vision of Dish Society has evolved since opening, the new Dish Society location in Memorial, how Dish Society balances affordable food with locally-sourced ingredients, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more!

On this week's What's Eric Eating Podcast CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler is joined by Houston Life producer/reporter Stephanie Gerry. Stephanie and Eric discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Michael Mina and Ayesha Curry's International Smoke concept is opening a location in Houston in 2018, Pappy's Cafe moving to a new location, new plans for Brasserie 19, and Uber Eats adds a new restaurant. In the Restaurants of the Week section Eric and Stephanie discuss Town Hearth, Zoli's Pizzeria, and Pete's Burger Place. In this week's Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric and Stephanie are joined by Graham Laborde of Killen's Restaurants. Eric and Stephanie discuss with Graham how it is working at Killen's Restaurants, working with Ronnie Killen, how he got into the restaurant industry, how he tried to establish himself coming in to an already established concept, and more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more!

This week on What's Eric Eating CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler is joined by returning cohost restaurant consultant Nathan Ketcham. Eric and Nathan go through some of the latest news from the Houston (and Austin this week) restaurant and bar scene including Cafe Annie evolving into Cafe Annie: Wood Grilled Steaks and Oyster Bar, Austin pitmaster Aaron Franklin joining Uchi/Uchiko chef Tyson Cole’s new restaurant, Patrick Feges and Erin Smith announcing where Feges BBQ will be located, and more! In the Restaurants of the Week section the guys discuss Pokeworks and Kukuri. In the Guest of the Week portion of the podcast, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric is joined by Potente and Osso & Kristalla executive chef Danny Trace. Eric, Nathan, and Danny discuss being in the middle of the Houston Astros World Series run, working for Jim Crane, the approach at both Potente and Osso & Kristalla, what made Danny make the jump over to the restaurants, and more! Plus Danny is put through the vaunted What's Eric Eating Lightning Round! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more!

This week on the What's Eric Eating podcast, CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by Mary Clarkson of L'Olivier. Eric and Mary go through some of the latest news and notes from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Saltair Seafood Kitchen closing, 8th Wonder Brewery expanding with a distillery, the Southern Smoke charity event, and much more! In the Restaurants of the Week portion Eric and Mary discuss Theodore Rex, Night Market Thai, and Laki Fish. In the Guest of the Week segment, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric is joined by Jody Stevens of Jodycakes. Eric speaks with Jody about how she made the transition from corporate world to the restaurant world, what got her started in vegan/gluten free baking, the growth of Jodycakes, what the Depressed Cake Shop is, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more!

On this week's edition of the What's Eric Eating podcast CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by co-host Stephanie Gerry of KPRC's Houston Life. Plus a What's Eric Eating podcast first, the guest of the week, Morgan Weber of Agricole Hospitality , joins Eric and Stephanie for the entire episode. In the News of the Week portion of the podcast Eric, Stephanie, and Morgan discuss news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including upcoming new restaurant openings, Hugo Ortega awarded the Craig Claiborne Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Foodways Alliance, and upcoming benefits. In the Restaurants of the Week section the group take a look at Killen's STQ, One Fifth Romance Languages, & Riel Restaurant. In the Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric goes in depth with Morgan on his latest endeavor Indianola Distilling. From how the venture came about to what goes into making their selections, get the breakdown on everything about Indianola Distilling from Agricole Hospitality's own Morgan Weber! Plus Eric and Stephanie get a taste of one Indianola's selections. What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more!

On this week's podcast CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by restaurant consultant Nathan Ketcham. The guys go over some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including 2 recent restaurant closings, Christopher Huang opening a new restaurant, popular Austin restaurant Foreign & Domestic heading to the Houston area, and more! In the Restaurants of the Week section Eric and Nathan profile only one restaurant but it's a big one, the new concept from Bryan Caswell Oxbow 7. The Guest of the Week portion, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, features executive chef Bobby Matos of State of Grace. Eric and Nathan discuss with Bobby how he ended up in Houston, where he got started in Houston, what brought him to State of Grace, Ford Fry, development of the menu at State of Grace, how the restaurant has evolved, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more!

On the latest edition of What's Eric Eating, CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by Shanna Jones of the popular Houston food, beauty, and lifestyle blog Urban Swank. Eric and Shanna go through some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Prelude Coffee and Tea opens a new location in downtown, Anvil Bar and Refuge being voted one of the top bars in the world, and much more! In the Restaurants of the Week section, Eric and Shanna discuss Cape Cod Cafe Express and Tiger Noodle House. In the Guest of the Week portion, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric is joined by Sam Governale and Dimitri Voutsinas of Emmaline to discuss the opening of Emmaline, creating the menu, how they started working together, how Emmaline will stand out, the goal for the outdoor area of Emmaline, and more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and much more!

This week L'Olivier owner Mary Clarkson joins CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler to go through the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. Eric and Mary discuss Houston Chronicle Restaurant Critic Allison Cook's release of her annual top 100 restaurants in Houston and announcements of a few restaurant closings across the Houston area. In the Restaurants of the Week section Eric and Mary discuss One Fifth Romance Languages and Patrick Feges and Erin Smith's pop up at Camerata previewing Feges BBQ. In this week's Guest of the Week portion, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric is joined by Terry Williams and Alex Negranza of Better Luck Tomorrow. Eric, Terry, and Alex discuss how Terry and Alex first ended up getting involved at Anvil Bar, what brought Alex to Houston from Seattle, how they got involved in Better Luck Tomorrow, how much freedom does Bobby Heugel and Justin Yu give them, how to categorize Better Luck Tomorrow, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, merch, taproom info, and much more!

On this edition of What's Eric Eating, CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by Nathan Ketcham to discuss the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. Eric and Nathan discuss more effects from Hurricane Harvey, the impact on the local restaurant scene, and the different fundraisers and charities that are helping out the Houston area. This week Goode Company Kitchen and Catina and One Fifth Romance Languages are featured in the What's Eric Eating, Restaurants of the Week. In this week's Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric and Nathan are joined by Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar. Rebecca talks about how she got started in Houston, creating Fluff Bake Bar, having an expansive selection Fluff Bake Bar, the Fluff Bake Bar Bake Sales, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and much more! #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #CultureMap #NathanKetcham #HurricaneHarvey #GoodeCompanyKitchenandCatina #OneFifthRomanceLanguages #8thWonderBrewery #RebeccaMasson #FluffBakeBar #Beer #Food #Bakery #Houston

The What's Eric Eating Podcast is back following a week off due to Hurricane Harvey. In his return, CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by Felice Sloan and Shanna Jones of the popular Houston food, beauty, and lifestyle blog Urban Swank. Eric, Felice, and Shanna discuss the devastation that Hurricane Harvey left in it's wake, the impact that Harvey had on the Houston restaurant and bar scene, and how the community has come together to help fellow Houstonians during this very difficult time. Then in the Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric is joined by Leonard Botello IV of Truth BBQ. Eric and Leonard discuss how Harvey impacted him and Truth BBQ, how Leonard got started in the restaurant industry, why expand Truth BBQ to Houston, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and much more! #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #FeliceSloan #ShannaJones #UrbanSwank #HurricaneHarvey #LeonardBotelloIV #TruthBBQ #CultureMap #Houston #8thWonderBrewery #Beer #Restaurant #Food

This week on What’s Eric Eating CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by guest co-host Mary Clarkson of L’Olivier. Eric and Mary go through some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including 2 new concepts opening in the Heights, Tila’s Restaurante closing it’s doors, more details coming in regarding Oxbow 7, and much more! In the Restaurants of the Week portion Eric and Mary discuss Aqui in Montrose. In the Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric brings in Alex Boquiren, Vuthy “Tee” Srey, and Tai Nguyen of SeaSide Poke. They discuss how they got into the restaurant industry, when did they notice Poke, how Poke has become more popular as of late, what defines Poke, the quality of fish SeaSide gets, how they stand out from other Poke restaurants, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and much more! #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #MaryClarkson #LOlivier #SeaSidePoke #AlexBoquiren #VuthySrey #TaiNguyen #Poke #BosscatKitchen #TheEdison #TilaRestaurante #Aqui #CultureMap #Houston #8thWonderBrewery #Beer #Restaurant #Food

On the latest edition of What’s Eric Eating CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by returning co-host Nathan Ketcham. They breakdown the latest news from the restaurant and bar scene in Houston and in the Restaurants of the Week section Eric and Nathan discuss restaurants such as Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana, Fielding’s Rooster, and more. In the Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric catches up with Chris Shepherd and Nick Fine of One Fifth. Eric, Chris, and Nick discuss how Nick’s first months as the Chef De Cuisine have gone, how the 2nd version of One Fifth became Romance Languages, developing the menu for Romance Languages, what to expect from the new version of One Fifth, and more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and much more! #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #NathanKetcham #ChrisShepherd #NickFine #OneFifth #CultureMap #PizarosPizzaNapoletana #FieldingsRooster #RomanceLanguages #Houston #8thWonderBrewery #Beer #Restaurant #Food

This week on What’s Eric Eating CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by guest co-host Mary Clarkson of L’Olivier. Eric and Mary go through some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including a new French restaurant is heading to the Heights, Hugo Ortega collaborating with Michael Mina, Mala Sichuan expanding in other areas of Houston, and and more! In the Restaurants of the Week section there is only one place featured this week and it’s the only place anyone is talking about... A’Bouzy in River Oaks. In the Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric is joined by Thomas Nguyen of Peli Peli. Eric and Thomas discuss how Thomas went from going to law school at UT to jumping into the restaurant industry, how they grew the Peli Peli concept, why service is a big part of Peli Peli’s philosophy, expanding Peli Peli not only in Houston but in other cities, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and much more! #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #MaryClarkson #LOlivier #ThomasNguyen #PeliPeli #HugoOrtega #MichaelMina #MalaSichuan #ABouzy #8thWonderBrewery #Restaurant #Food #Beer

On this week’s edition of What’s Eric Eating, CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by Felice Sloan of the popular Houston food, beauty, and lifestyle blog Urban Swank. Eric and Felice go through some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Truth BBQ’s announcement of where their new restaurant will be located, Krisp Bird and Batter heading to the Heights, Hugo Ortega’s restaurant Xochi being named one of the 12 best new restaurants in the country, and new restaurant openings this week! In the Restaurants of the Week section, Eric and Felice look at South Bank Seafood Bar and some quick looks at some of the restaurants participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks 2017. In our Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric is joined by Ian Tucker of Balls Out Burger. Eric and Ian discuss how Ian made his way to Houston from Ireland, opening restaurants in Ireland, the philosophy behind Balls Out Burger and the no frills burgers they serve, responding to feedback from customers, opening his new concept Poitin, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and much more! #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #FeliceSloan #UrbanSwank #IanTucker #BallsOutBurger #Poitin #TruthBBQ #KrispBirdandBatter #HugoOrtega #Xochi #SouthBankSeafoodBar #HoustonRestaurantWeeks #8thWonderBrewery #Beer #Food #Restaurant

This week CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by restaurant consultant Nathan Ketcham. The guys go over some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Houston’s Farmers Market on Airline going through a major transformation, In-N-Out Burger coming to Houston, Hopdoddy Burger opening their 4th location in Houston, and Long Sing Supermarket closing their doors. In the Restaurants of the Week section Eric and Nathan discuss Ellis Brothers BBQ and Feges BBQ. In our Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric and Nathan are joined by Cary Attar and Edel Goncalves of Fielding’s Restaurant Group. They discuss their newest restaurant Fielding’s Rooster, how they both got into the restaurant industry, their other concepts Fielding’s Wood Grill and Fielding’s Local Kitchen + Bar, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and much more! #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #NathanKetcham #CaryAttar #EdelGoncalves #FieldingsRestaurantGroup #FieldingsRooster #FieldingsWoodGrill #FieldingsLocalKitchen #InNOutBurger #HoustonsFarmersMarket #HopdoddyBurgerBar #LongSingSupermarket #EllisBrothersBBQ #FegesBBQ #Food #Restaurant #Beer #8thWonderBrewery

This week CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined by returning cohost Michael Fulmer, cofounder of the Houston Barbecue Festival. Eric and Michael kick things off this week previewing Houston Restaurant Weeks 2017. Plus the guys discuss Nao Ramen closing in Rice Village, the Original Beaver’s closing for the summer, and MidiCi: The Neapolitan Pizza Company opening a new location inside the loop. This week’s Restaurants of the Week section features 2 places in the Montrose area, Lowbrow and Nobie’s Restaurant. In our Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric and Michael talk all things whiskey with Mike Raymond the owner of Reserve 101. The guys discuss with Mike how he became interested in whiskey, when it became a drive to share that love for whiskey with others, what he does to keep Reserve 101 different from other whiskey bars, and much more! What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more! #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #MikeRaymond #Reserve101 #MichaelFulmer #HoustonBarbecueFestival #HoustonRestaurantWeeks #NaoRamen #RiceVillage #OriginalBeavers #MidCi #NeapolitanPizza #Nobies #Lowbrow #Montrose #8thWonderBrewery #Houston #Restaurant #food #Beer #Whiskey

CultureMap Food Editor Eric Sandler is joined this week by co-host Mary Clarkson, owner of L’Olivier. They discuss the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including, the announcement of a new bagel shop called Golden Bagels & Coffee opening in the Heights, acclaimed Austin restaurant Foreign & Domestic teasing a possible opening in Houston, Jimmy Chew Asian Kitchen undergoing changes, and more. No new restaurants in our Restaurants of the Week portion of the podcast so Eric and Mary give you their best new restaurants of 2017, so far. In our Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Eric chats (and drinks) with Morgan Weber of Agricole Hospitality. Eric and Morgan dive deep into Agricole Hospitality’s recent announcement of their expansion into east downtown with not one but three all new concepts, all under one roof. Listen to find out all the details that went into this major expansion and when we can expect to see these new concepts. Plus Eric puts Morgan through the vaunted What’s Eric Eating Lightning Round. What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and much more! #EricSandler #MorganWeber #AgricoleHospitality #MaryClarkson #LOlivier #GoldenBagelsandCoffee #ForeignandDomestic #JimmyChewAsianKitchen #Indianola #Vinnys #MissCarousel #8thWonderBrewery #Houston #Food #Restaurant #Bar #Beer

After a week off, Eric Sandler is back in the studio for another episode of What’s Eric Eating and in his return he’s joined by Felice Sloan and Shanna Jones of the popular Houston food, beauty, and lifestyle blog Urban Swank. Eric, Felice, and Shanna discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including, Truth BBQ coming to Houston, Blood Bros. BBQ opening a brick-and-mortar location in Bellaire, Ray’s Real Pit BBQ Shack's announcement of a new location, The Rustic coming to Houston in 2018, Agricole Hospitality’s announcement of plans to open 3 new restaurants and bars in EaDo, and more. This week’s Restaurants of the Week portion Eric, Felice, and Shanna discuss Roka Akor and 85c Bakery Cafe. This week’s Guest of the Week, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, features restaurant designer Gin Braverman of gin design group. Gin is the designer behind Oxheart, Axelrad Beer Garden, Raven Tower, Ruggles Green, Beckrew Wine House, and many more. Eric and Gin discuss how Gin got into design, what customers look for when they come to her, the process of blending her ideas with clients ideas, whether social media influences design elements to an establishment, common mistakes restaurants make when it comes to design, and more. What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more! #EricSandler #WhatEricEating #FeliceSloan #ShannaJones #UrbanSwank #GinBraverman #gindesigngroup #TruthBBQ #BloodBrosBBQ #RaysRealPitBBQShack #TheRustic #AgricoleHospitality #RokaAkor #85cBakeryCafe #Oxheart #AxelradBeerGarden #RavenTower #RugglesGreen #BeckrewWineHouse #Restaurant #Food #Bar #Houston #8thWonderBrewery #Beer #CraftBeer #WineBar

This week on What’s Eric Eating, restaurant consultant Nathan Ketcham returns to co-host the podcast with CultureMap Food Editor and host Eric Sandler. Eric and Nathan first discuss arguably the biggest news from the food world, Amazon’s agreement to buy Whole Foods for $14 billion and what that means moving forward. The guys then take a look at the local news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including, Dallas based Ascension Coffee’s announcement that they’re coming to Houston, Tilman Fertitta's purchase of 50% of New York based restaurant group EMM Group, and Ronnie Killen’s response to his restaurant Killen’s BBQ being left out of the top 10 of Texas Monthly’s Top 50 barbecue joints in Texas. Spoiler Alert: Ronnie was not happy. Then in the Restaurants of the Week section Eric and Nathan discuss their trips to Alice Blue in the Heights and Dot Coffee Shop’s new location off of I-10 East. One trip went well and the other… not so much, listen to find out more. In this week’s Guest of the Week section, brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery, Mike Sammons of 13 Celsius, Mongoose Versus Cobra, and Weights + Measures joins the show. Eric and Mike discuss how Mike got into the restaurant industry, what it took to build 13 Celsius, where did the passion for wine come from, how Houston’s bar scene has grown, the direction Mongoose Versus Cobra has taken, why Mike scaled back the initial concept of Weights + Measures, how the east side of Houston is similar to Midtown 10 years ago, and much more! Plus Eric puts Mike through the What's Eric Eating lightening round and Mike brings a gift to the podcast. What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week segment is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more! #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #NathanKetcham #MikeSammons #13Celsius #MongooseVersusCobra #WeightsandMeasures #WholeFoods #Amazon #AscensionCoffee #TilmanFertitta #EMMGroup #KillensBBQ #RonnieKillen #TexasMonthly #AliceBlue #DotCoffeeShop #Restaurant #Food #Bar #Houston #8thWonderBrewery #Beer #CraftBeer #WineBar

CultureMap Food Editor and host Eric Sandler is joined this week by guest co-host Mary Clarkson, owner of L’Olivier. Eric and Mary take a look at some of the news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including, veteran chef John Sheely’s return to the kitchen with Lowbrow, the Impossible Burger food trend making its way to Houston, and some of the best stops for ice cream. Plus Eric and Mary discuss some of the new restaurants and bars that are opening in Houston this summer such as, Oxbow 7, Theodore Rex, A’Bouzy, and more. Then in the Restaurants of the Week section Eric and Mary discuss Balls Out Burger and Better Luck Tomorrow. This week our guest of the week is Ryan Soroka, co-founder of 8th Wonder Brewery. Eric and Ryan discuss how 8th Wonder Brewery got started, how important it is for the brewery to be a hangout for people, what 8th Wonder does to stand out from the rest of the local beer market crowd, opening a location in San Antonio, what the future holds for 8th Wonder Brewery, their approach to beer trends, the future for the local beer market, whether they would be open to being acquired by another company, and much more! Plus Eric puts Ryan through the vaunted What’s Eric Eating lightning round. What’s Eric Eating’s Guest of the Week section is brought to you by 8th Wonder Brewery. Visit 8thwonderbrew.com for brews, events, taproom info, and more! #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #RyanSoroka #8thWonderBrewery #MaryClarkson #LOlivier #JohnSheely #Lowbrow #ImpossibleBurger #Oxbow7 #TheodoreRex #ABouzy #BallsOutBurger #BetterLuckTomorrow #Restaurant #Food #Bar #Beer #CraftBeer #IPA

This week on What’s Eric Eating, Felice Sloan of Urban Swank co-hosts alongside CultureMap Food Editor and host Eric Sandler. In news of the week, Eric and Felice react to Jerry Built Homegrown Burgers closing its remaining 2 locations in the Houston area, Jonathan’s the Rub opening a second location, Tony’s bringing on Austin Waiter as their new chef de cuisine following the departure of chef Kate McLean, and the Jones on Main adding a food hall for about 12 different concepts. In the Restaurants of the Week section, Eric and Felice discuss Ohn Korean Eatery. Then in the guest of the week section, Eric is joined by chef Travis Lenig and Chico Ramirez of Field & Tides. The guys discuss how the concept of Field & Tides came about, how the restaurant has been doing since it opened earlier this year, what items they’ve added to the menu, how Travis got started in the industry, the feedback they’ve gotten from both patrons and critics, the secret to success in opening a restaurant in the Heights, the possibility of opening more concepts, the challenges of opening a restaurant on the westside of Houston, and much more. Plus a What’s Eric Eating podcast first with Travis and Chico… a lightening round. #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #TravisLenig #ChicoRamirez #FieldandTides #FeliceSloan #UrbanSwank #JerryBuiltHomegrownBurgers #JonathansTheRub #KateMcLean #AustinWaiter #JonesonMain #OhnKoreanEatery #Food #Restaurant #Bar

It’s a special BBQ edition of What’s Eric Eating this week as Texas Monthly released their list for the Top 50 Barbecue joints in Texas. To help breakdown the list CultureMap Food Editor and host Eric Sandler is joined by the cofounder of the Houston Barbecue Festival Michael Fulmer. The guys give their takes on the list, why the list is important, who finished where, what it takes to make the list, and look at the list from both the Houston and statewide perspectives. Eric and Michael are then joined by Will and Nichole Buckman of CorkScrew BBQ to discuss their restaurant finishing 7th on the list, the reaction they’ve gotten since the news broke, how they’ve gotten better since the last time they were on Texas Monthly's top 50 list, their commitment to their restaurant, whether they would ever expand, the trends in the bbq scene, and much more! #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #CultureMap #MichaelFulmer #HoustonBarbecueFestival #WillBuckman #NicholeBuckman #CorkScrewBBQ #Barbecue #TexasMonthly #Food #Restaurant

The ladies of the popular Houston food, beauty, and lifestyle blog Urban Swank stop by to co-host this week’s edition of What’s Eric Eating. Shanna Jones and Felice Sloan join CultureMap Food Editor and host Eric Sandler in breaking down the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Danny Trace being named executive chef of Potente and Osso and Kristalla, Graham Laborde’s announcement that he’s taking on an operational role with Ronnie Killen’s restaurant group, and more. Then this week’s restaurant’s of the week section features One Fifth Houston and FM Kitchen and Bar. Jonathan Horowitz then joins the show to discuss how he keeps brands like Ninfa’s and Antone’s still relevant in the growing Houston restaurant scene, the expansion of both brands, the state of the restaurant industry in Houston, where do the upscale national brands fit in the Houston scene, where do new restaurants have opportunities to expand, his tips for restaurants to maintain their existing customer base and more. Plus Jonathan shares his thoughts and impressions on a restaurant that he’s had the opportunity to dine at recently. #EricSandler #WhatsEricEating #JonathanHorowitz #LegacyRestaurants #HoustonRestaurantAssociation #Ninfas #AntonesFamousPoBoys #UrbanSwank #ShannaJames #FeliceSloan #CultureMap #DannyTrace #OssoandKristalla #Potente #GrahamLaborde #RonnieKillen #KillensRestaurants #OneFifthHouston #FMKitchenandBar #Houston #Food #Bar #Restaurant