What's Eric Eating

Today on the podcast Eric is joined frequent co-host by Matt Harris to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including the latest restaurants closing due to Covid-19, the changes happening with Clark Cooper Concepts... concepts, and the new delivery app hitting the Houston area. In the Restaurants of the Week section 1751 Sea and Bar is featured. In the Guest of the Week portion, Eric is joined by Ziggy Gruber of Kenny & Ziggy's. Ziggy speaks with Eric about how he went from the deli business to working with the Roux brothers, elements of his French training within the menu at Kenny & Ziggy's, what brought him to Houston, how he's evolved in 20 years, getting into baking, most underrated item on the menu, supporting charities, and much more!

Today on the podcast there's no guest of the week section so it's just Eric and Mary Clarkson of Avondale Food & Wine discussing the latest news from the Houston scene including the newest nightclub opening in Houston that comes with a retractable roof, Prestige Oyster bringing a new oyster restaurant to the gulf coast, a 2nd location for BlendIn Coffee Club on the way, Dawn Burrell leaving Kulture, and predictions for the 2020 Tastemaker Awards best new restaurant. In the Restaurants of the Week section Turner's is featured.

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by first time podcast co-host Lennie Ambrose of Saint Arnold Brewing Company to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Lennie's own establishment being blindsided by a TABC ruling forcing them to close, the reveal of the list of restaurants participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks, the newest concept hitting the Heights, and the upcoming Tastemaker awards. In the Restaurants of the Week section Eric and Lennie share some of their recent restaurant experiences and where they've been going as of late. In the Guest of the Week portion Eric is joined by Alex Brennan-Martin and Marcus Gausepohl of Brennan's of Houston. Alex and Marcus speak with Eric about their early days in the restaurant industry, the amount of talent that has come through Brennan's over the years, why Brennan's was the right place for Marcus, how they're handling the Covid-19 health crisis, adapting their food for to-go, and much more!

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Michael Fulmer to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including some new restaurant openings, the closure of a Midtown favorite supermarket, and we learn what it's like working during this Covid-19 time with Michael. In the Restaurants of the Week Eric learns about some of the places Michael has recently visited. In the Guest of the Week section, Eric is joined by Itai Ben Eli and Sash Kurgan of Doris Metropolitan. Ita and Sash speak to Eric about how they get started working together, working in Israel, coming to Houston, what changes they've had to make to accommodate customers to-go orders, doing non-traditional steakhouse things, their new restaurant Hamsa, whether Houston is ready for Hamsa, and much more!

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Linda Salinas to discuss the latest happenings in the Houston restaurant and bar scene... however it's been a bit slow on the news front so it's more a discussion about Texas bars and how critical a moment they're in currently due to being closed yet again with Covid-19 being on the rise in the state, whether they feel comfortable dining inside or on patio, and much more! In the Restaurants of the Week section Linda and Eric pick their favorite bites they've had from their recent restaurant visits. In the Guest of the Week section, Eric is joined by Christine Ha of The Blind Goat and Xin Chao. Christine speaks with Eric about her decision to pursue a career in the restaurant industry, deciding to try out for Master Chef, opening the Blind Goat, why Bravery Chef Hall was the best spot for it, how the first year has gone, finding out about her James Beard nomination, coming up with the concept for Xin Chao, developing the menu, and much more!

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Felice Sloan of SwankyMaven.com to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Governor Greg Abbott closing bars/halting the reopening process, bars/restaurants now being allowed to sell pre-mixed cocktails to go, and Common Bond Bakery's expansion. In the Restaurants of the Week section Chick Houz and Proper Rose Garden are featured. In the Guest of the Week section Eric is joined by Mallory Buford and Sharon Haynes of Fajitas A Go Go. Mallory and Sharon speak with Eric about how they both got into the restaurant industry, why the decided to create Fajitas A Go Go, developing the fajita recipe, what they do differently compared to others, how things have been going for them since the arrival of Covid-19, what they do to keep their food warm for delivery, growing the Fajitas A Go Go concept, and much more!

It's the 150th edition of the podcast! To all the listeners who download and listen each and every week, thank you. We appreciate you taking time out of your week to listen. Thank you to all the co-hosts (Felice Sloan, Matt Harris, Rebecca Masson, Linda Salinas, and Mary Clarkson), the guests, and so many more who've been part of this journey. Now today on the podcast Eric is joined by Matt Harris to discuss some of the latest happenings from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Jonny Rhodes closing Indigo in 2021, restaurants closing due to employees testing positive for Covid-19, and more. In the Restaurants of the Week section Be More Pacific and Tenfold Coffee are featured. In the Guest of the Week portion Eric is joined by Aaron Bludorn of Bludorn. Aaron speaks with Eric about why he wanted to be a chef, why he came to Houston, opening Bludorn, picking its location, the progress so far on the menu, the Houston culinary scene being so welcoming, and much more!

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Avondale Food and Wine owner Mary Clarkson to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston bar and restaurant scene including the latest restaurants temporarily closing due to employees testing positive for Covid-19, the latest restaurants that have permanently closed due to Covid-19, and an update on Houston Restaurant Weeks. In the Restaurants of the Week section Daddy's Burgers and UB Preserv are featured. In the Guest of the Week portion Eric is joined by Ronnie Killen of Killen's Restaurants. It's been a long 3 years since Ronnie visited the podcast so Eric's got a lot of catching up to do since Ronnie first appeared on episode 2. Ronnie speaks with Eric on what he's been up to, opening his new restaurant Killen's, how his grandmother was a huge part of his inspiration for his new restaurant, taking over the old Hickory Hollow space, opening a BBQ joint in the Woodlands, how Covid has changed dining forever, and much more.

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by beverage consultant Linda Salinas to discuss some of the latest happenings in the Houston restaurant and food scene including 2 restaurants having to close temporarily following employees testing positive for Covid-19, one of the owners of Cuchara getting in some hot water after recent comments, and Mongoose vs Cobra being sold and re-branded. In the Restaurants of the week section Squable is featured. In the Guest of the Week portion, Eric is joined by Felipe Riccio and June Rodil of Goodnight Hospitality. Felipe and June speak with Eric about how Rosie Cannonball has been doing, assembling a great team, creative ways they've been working in a Covid world, the difficulty of doing hospitality amidst a pandemic, how they're giving back to the community in the wake of George Floyd's death, how it's been working with each other, and much more!

Today on the podcast Eric's joined by Matt Harris to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and food scene including the passing of Cleverley Stone, the latest restaurant closures due to Covid-19, and more. In the Restaurants of the Week section Eric and Matt highlight Black-owned restaurants and their recent visit to Musaafer.

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Avondale Food and Wine owner Mary Clarkson to discuss some of the latest news happenings in the Houston restaurant and bar scene including phase 2 of the reopening of restaurants/bars beginning in Houston and the return of Bar Victor. In the Restaurants of the Week section 6s & 7s is featured. In the Guest of the Week portion, Eric is joined by Vanarin Kuch of Koffeteria. Vanarin speaks with Eric about how he got into pastry cooking, why he picked pastry cooking over savory cooking, his early career as a pastry chef, where his career has taken him, creating the menu at Koffeteria, what statement he wanted to make once Koffeteria entered into the pastry landscape in Houston, how the business was going before Covid-19 and how it's going now, keeping customers safe, plans to showcase more savory dishes, shining a light on Cambodian cuisine, and more!

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Felice Sloan of Swanky Maven to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Acme Oyster House coming to Houston, the latest group of spots to shutter, Treebeards new project, and Weights + Measures getting a refresh. In the Restaurants of the Week section Eric and Felice speak about the latest places they've been to during the reopening phase. In the Guest of the Week portion, Eric is joined by John Holler of Holler Brewing Company. John speaks with Eric about he got into brewing beer, his gateway craft beer, why Holler Brewing Company has a more neighborhood focus to it compared to other breweries, the process in deciding to dump a batch of beer, operating without a taproom amidst the Covid-19 health crisis, changes their making during the reopening phases, what they've done to stay open, the future of Holler Brewing Company, and much more!

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Fluff Bake Bar owner Rebecca Masson to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including the recent announcement of James Beard finalists which includes some familiar faces from the Houston area, Chris Shepherd bringing back One-Fifth Mediterranean, and the launch of the Foxtail Supper Club. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Eric and Rebecca discuss where they've been getting take out from as of late. In the Guest of the week segment, Eric is joined by Levi Goode of Goode Company Restaurants. Levi speaks with Eric about how he got involved with the family business, why he didn't pursue something else, growing the business to what it is, pivoting during the pandemic, measures they've taken to keep employees/customers safe, offering Covid-19 testing for his employees, starting to reopen more of the Goode Company Restaurants, the possibility of expanding the business in the future, and much more!

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by frequent cohost Linda Salinas to discuss some of the latest news in the Houston restaurant and bar scene including the restaurants that have reopened for dine-in service in the Houston, the measures being taken for safety, and alcohol to go! In the Restaurants of the Week portion Eric and Linda discuss the latest restaurants they've been ordering from and if they visited restaurants amid the reopening. In the Guest of the Week segment, Eric is joined by Philipp Sitter of King's Group. Eric speaks with Philipp about the current state of King's Group, managing the restaurants during the mandatory dine-in shutdown period, the adjustments they've made, how their loyalty program started, licensing the program for other restaurants to use, the effects Covid-19 will have on fine dining, getting back to normal amid the phase 1 reopening process in Texas, and more!

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by frequent co-host Matt Harris to discuss some of the latest happenings in the Houston restaurant and food scene including the controversial decision by Federal American Grill to reopen, the phased plan for reopening restaurants in Texas, what it would take to feel comfortable dining at a restaurant, new restaurants opening up, and more. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Eric and Matt highlight some of the places that they're ordering takeout from. In the Guest of the Week section, Eric is joined by Sasha Grumman of Rosalie Italian Soul. Eric speaks with Sasha about how she got into cooking, where her journey in the restaurant industry has taken her, meeting Chris Cosentino, moving to Houston, how Rosalie was doing before Covid-19, living through a pandemic, working with the Southern Smoke Foundation, and much more!