What's Eric Eating

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

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Michael Posey of Wild Sol. Michael speaks with Eric about how he began working with Alex Bregman, why they decided to transition off the Breggy Bomb branding, what Wild Sol is, how Wild Sol is different from other salsas out there on the shelves, how involved Alex and Reagan Bregman's involvement, the flavor depth of Wild Sol's salsas, the collaboration with Trill Burgers, whether future collaborations are in the plans, what's next for Wild Sol, the future if/when Alex Bregman leaves the team, working to become a national brand, and much more! For listeners wanting to try some Wild Sol salsa visit their website wildsol.co today. When you do, click on shop now, and then once you're done go to checkout and use code ERICSANDLER for a 20% discount on your order! It's that easy!    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: Growing Houston Beer Brand

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Michael Fulmer to go through some of the latest happenings from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The guys discuss Gulf Coast Distillers' announcement that they're taking over the former Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company facility for their Tejas Beer brand, Noble 33 saying their luxury steakhouse Toca Madera will be opening in Houston in June, and Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr.'s new coffee shop and bar opening in the Thompson Hotel. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Late August and The Pit Room 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: Growing Houston Beer Brand Claims Prime Sawyer Yards Brewery and Taproom Posh Mexican Steakhouse Arrives in Houston with Wagyu Beef and Parkside Views Astros Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. Opens Coffee Shop & Bar at Stylish New Houston Hotel Houston Chef with Michelin-Starred Resumé Plan

Today on the show Eric is joined by Brock Wagner of Saint Arnold Brewing Company. It's Saint Arnold Brewing's 30th anniversary this year so Brock takes Eric back down memory lane to discuss the early days of Saint Arnold Brewing. The guys talk about how hard it was starting up a craft beer company 30 years ago, doing tastings at grocery stores, when Brock knew he had something with the company, making the move to downtown, getting the law changed to be able to sell directly to customers, opening the restaurant, building the Saint Arnold army, getting involved with the Art Car Parade, the planning of live events, the current state of the brewery, their brief time with seltzers, the craft beer landscape currently, what's next for Saint Arnold Brewing, 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: Saint Arnold Toasts 30 Years with Festival Featuring 4 Houston Music Stars L

On today's episode Eric is joined by the Swanky Maven herself Felice Sloan to discuss some of the latest happenings in the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The duo speak about the new concept coming from Aaron Bludorn and his team, Gold Tooth Tony's heading to Bellaire for it's second location, Prego's surprising announcement that they will now close instead of relocating, and Craft Burger in Katy being taken over by a blue hedgehog... yes that blue hedgehog... gotta go fast! In the Restaurants of the Week section, MF Lobster & Ceviche 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: Aaron Bludorn's New Restaurant Checks in to Upcoming Montrose Boutique Hotel Houston's Smash Hit Detroit Pizzeria Shines with New Bellaire Location Landmark Rice Village Restaurant Cancels Relocation Plans - Will Shutter Instead Viral Sonic the Hedgehog Pop-Up Cafe Takes Over Katy Burger Join

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee of Duckstache Hospitality. The guys speak with Eric about how they got into their respective culinary careers, what brought them together, how they came up with the idea for Kokoro, why Kokoro has proven to be a staple of Bravery Chef Hall while other concepts in the food hall have come and gone, developing Handies Douzo, what they do different with their menu at Handies Douzo compared to other handroll concepts, the secret design to Handies Douzo, how Aiko differs from their other concepts, Aiko being an affordable date spot, how the concept for Himari came together from one of their own long time chefs Tye Nguyễn, the neighborhood's response to Himari so far, what took them to Dubai to open another Kokoro, their experience bringing Doku and Bar Doku to Autry Park, their future plans, and 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

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 Locatio

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Nina Quincy and Sarah Dowling of Underbelly Hospitality. Nina and Sarah speak with Eric about how their respective career paths that led them to Underbelly Hospitality, what the transition period was like at Underbelly following the departure of Chris Shepherd, the current state of Underbelly Hospitality, how things have changed at Georgia James with their new chef making the restaurant more approachable, Sarah's amazing ability to pick the right wine every time, why Underbelly decided to close Pastore Italian Kitchen, what's happening at Wild Oats, the latest with Comalito, what's next for Underbelly, the goals for the beverage programs, 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: Top 10 Houston Restaurants Crafting Modern and Traditional Caviar Creations Inventive New Heights Restaurant Blends European Flavors with Texas Tradi

On today's podcast Eric is joined by Chelsea Thomas of The Infatuation Houston to dive into some of the latest happenings from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. Eric and Chelsea discuss Magnol French Baking's announcement of their new location in the Heights, Arizona based breakfast concept Hash Kitchen bringing multiple locations to Houston, and Bazaar Food and Wine, Houston's newest food festival, debuting with more than 30 Houston area chefs. In the Restaurants of the Week section, EMA 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: Bakery Known for Houston's Best Croissants Rolls into The Heights New Sugar Land Food Festival Features More than 30 Houston-Area Chefs Tilman Fertitta's Master Chef Receives Prestigious French Agriculture Award Houston Developer Plans Major Changes for Historic Westheimer Properties Local Foods' Bigger, Better Galleria Location Opens with

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu of JŪN. Evelyn and Henry speak with Eric about why the spot on 20th street was the right location for JŪN, what convinced Henry to come to Texas for this concept, the development of the menu, their time working pop-ups together, the moment things got real for them, what Henry has learned so far about the Houston culinary scene as well as what rodeo season means for businesses, how they've appealed to the neighborhood, Evelyn's post Top Chef season 19 life, the creation of their blood sausage dish, what the recognition means to them, the potentials for expansion, and more! Plus Henry's first time going through the lightning round!   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: Only 1 Houston Chef Named a Finalist in the James Beard Awards Favorite Houston BBQ Joint Picks Prime Inner Loop Diner for New Location Ben Berg Bri

On the podcast today Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson to go through some of the latest news hitting the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The pair discuss Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemó being the only chef of the 11 Houston semifinalists to be named a James Beard award finalist this year, the announced 2nd location of Pinkerton's Barbecue, and Ben Berg's big push into downtown with 3 new restaurants. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Bar Bludorn and Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria 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: Only 1 Houston Chef Named a Finalist in the James Beard Awards Favorite Houston BBQ Joint Picks Prime Inner Loop Diner for New Location Ben Berg Bringing 3 New Restaurants to 2 Downtown Office Buildings Healthy-Eating Houston Restaurant Sets Opening Date for New Tanglewood Location Former Ninfa's Chef Finds New Home at Prolific Houston Restaurant

Last week the Houston culinary scene lost one of it's most prominent chef's, Alex Au-Yeung. Alex, the owner of Phat Eatery, passed away due to cancer on March 21st at the age of 52. Today's episode is dedicated to him and celebrating his memory. Eric alongside Terry Wong, Stevie Vu, Isabel Protomartir, Felice Sloan, Thomas Nguyen, and Abbas Dhanani, share stories and memories of Alex. Plus they discuss his focus on community, uplifting others, his lasting impact on the Houston food scene, and the legacy he leaves behind. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Alex’s honor to the Southern Smoke Foundation to support hospitality workers in need.

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Michael Fulmer from the Houston BBQ Festival! Eric and Michael discussed... The results of the 2024 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards The opening of Houston restaurant Late August What they expect from Bar Bludorn Plus reviews of Houston restaurants including Prime 131, and Pizzana! 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: Superica owner fires up new eatery devoted to chicken and tacos near River Oaks Restaurant openings and closings lead week's 5 most popular stories Passionate chef behind acclaimed Katy restaurant has unexpectedly died Favorite Austin-based taqueria cooks up statewide salsa partnership with H-E-B Houston's best restaurant, chef, and more winners crowned at 2024 Tastemaker Awards Aaron Bludorn's New Memorial Tavern Opens with Fried Chicken, Napa Cabs, and Lots of Style

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Travis Tober and Karole Hardwick of Nickel City. The pair speak with Eric about their respective careers in the bar industry, how Travis' travels with Aviation Gin influenced his idea for Nickel City, why they decided to bring Nickel City to Houston, opening the first Nickel City in Austin, Karole's biggest adjustment coming from a fine dining steakhouse to Nickel City, developing the beverage program, keeping up in these agave times, the cheese curds, the programming they offer, the goals for Nickel City, the possibility of bringing other concepts to Houston, and so 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: Aaron Bludorn's New Memorial Tavern Opens with Fried Chicken, Napa Cabs, and Lots of Style Lucille's Chef Opens Nostalgic New Restaurant in Midtown Development Houston-Based Dine-In Movie Theater Chain Now Starring at CityCentre R

It's a swanky feeling kinda day as Eric is joined by the Swanky Maven herself Felice Sloan to discuss the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. Felice and Eric discuss Dozier's BBQ & Meat Market closing at the end of March, the closure of Pastore Italian Kitchen, and L.A. based Pizzana opening it's first location in Houston. In the Restaurants of the Week section Duchess 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: Iconic Fulshear Barbecue Favorite Will Soon Shutter After 67 Years Promising Montrose Italian Restaurant Closing After Less Than a Year Celeb-Backed, LA-Based Pizzeria Sets Opening Date for River Oaks Location Retro-Styled Mini Golf Course Swings into Greenway Plaza with Drinks and Karaoke Houston's 9 Best Restaurants for 2024 Offer Quality and Consistency Houston's 10 Best Bartenders Offer Top-Shelf Service & Delicious Drinks

On today's podcast Eric is joined by Jacques Varon and Max Lappe of Baso. The pair speak with Eric about how they both got into professional cooking, how they first began working with each other, their time in California working at Angler, coming to Houston to open their own restaurant, why they decided to go with a basque style of cooking at Baso, what basque cooking means, the philosophy behind basque style cooking, why limitations work better for Max's style, what Max has learned so far in his 4 months being in Texas, the challenges of sourcing, the feedback they've gotten from other culinary professionals, the ideas behind some of their dishes, goals for Baso, 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: Houston's 10 Best Bartenders Offer Top-Shelf Service & Delicious Drinks Iconic Fulshear Barbecue Favorite Will Soon Shutter After 67 Years 'Hidden' Galleria-Area

Eric is back on a regular podcast schedule this week and today he's joined by the returning Monica Danna to discuss the latest happenings from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The pair discuss Alex Padilla leaving The Original Ninfa's after 18 years, Portillo's opening soon in Houston with 2 locations, and a new cocktail bar called High Five Mini Bar heading to the Stomping Grounds in Garden Oaks. In the Restaurants of the Week portion PostScript and Le Jardinier 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: Talented Chef Leaving After 18 Years at Iconic Houston Tex-Mex Restaurant Favorite Chicago Hot Dog Shop Portillo's Reveals 2 Houston Locations Mini Cocktail Bar with Mid Century Vibes Stomps into Garden Oaks Houston's 14-Seat Agave Bar Reopens with New Drinks and French Fusion Menu Houston's New Pickleball-Themed Sports Bar Swings into Action this Week Ben Berg's

On today's podcast Eric is joined by Ricardo Molina of Molina's Cantina. Ricardo speaks with Eric about his family's history in the restaurant business, starting the business back in 1941, the changing of locations over the years, keeping a balance between staying current but also paying homage to the restaurant's roots, the evolution of the drink program, not being able to say "ice cold" on their marquee (oh TABC), opening their Fulshear location during the height of Covid, the possibility of opening other locations, yelp reviews, and 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: Houston's 9 Best Pastry Chefs Create Sweet and Savory Masterpieces Veteran Houston Restaurateur Upgrades Sealy Eatery with an Assist from Chris Shepherd Mini Cocktail Bar with Mid Century Vibes Stomps into Garden Oaks Presenting Houston's 10 Best Patios for Outdoor Drinking and Dining Favorite Chicago Ho

Today on the podcast, Eric is joined by Cinda and Armando Palacios of of Palacios Murphy Hospitality. Cinda and Armando speak with Eric about how they first met, where the idea of combining Tex-Mex with fine dining came from, the story behind Armando getting fired from Ninfa's for giving out sopapillas, starting Armando's Restaurant, developing the "you gotta be at Armando's" environment early on, Thursday nights at Armando's, the story behind the Billy Gibbons and Lionel Ritchie photo, why they expanded into Round Top, creating Hotel Lulu, diversifying their restaurant portfolio as they expanded in Round Top, bringing Mandito's to Houston, what's next for them, 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 of Houston's Best New Restaurants Compete for Coveted Tastemakers Title New 17-Story Luxury High-Rise Stands Tall in Tanglewood with Posh Amenities and a Rooftop P

On today's edition of the podcast CultureMap Editor Eric Sandler is joined by Mary Clarkson to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The pair speak about Tilman Fertitta's recent multimillion dollar development purchase, Harold's in the Heights shuttering after 10 years, and Tacos Doña Lena opening it's 2nd location in the former Dak & Bop space on W. 18th street. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Sorrento Ristorante 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: Houston Billionaire Tilman Fertitta Buys River Oaks Development for a Reported $450 Million Staple Heights Restaurant Closing This Weekend After 10 Years on 19th Street Yelp's Favorite Houston Birria Tacos Coming to Shuttered Korean Restaurant Houston's 9 Best Food Pop-Ups Showcase Culinary Innovation and Hustle Where to Eat Right Now: A Tasting of Houston's 7 Best Bag