What's Eric Eating What's Eric Eating

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 at Culturemap.com:


Landmark Rice Village Restaurant Cancels Relocation Plans - Will Shutter Instead
Houston's Smash Hit Detroit Pizzeria Shines with New Bellaire Location
Saint Arnold Toasts 30 Years with Festival Featuring 4 Houston Music Stars
New Orleans-Based Brewery Suddenly Shutters Sawyer Yards Taproom
Vegas-Inspired Cocktail Lounge Takes Flight in Shady Acres Office Building
Top 10 Houston Restaurants Crafting Modern and Traditional Caviar Creations

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

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 Traditions
Houston Restaurant Known for Gluten-Free Eats Adds New Location in Memorial Park
Local Foods' Bigger, Better Galleria Location Opens with Covered Patio and More Wine
Houston's Cheeky New Mini Golf Course and Restaurant Tees off This Week
Houston Billionaire Tilman Fertitta Buys More Than 5 Acres of Galleria-Area Properties

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 Covered Patio and More Wine
Local Foods Owner Maximizes Tacos at Newly-Opened Modern Mexican Restaurant in West U.

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 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 Group
Memorial City's New Texas-Inspired Restaurant Goes Haywire Beginning Next Month

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 Group
Memorial City's New Texas-Inspired Restaurant Goes Haywire Beginning Next Month