What's Eric Eating
Every week, CultureMap Editor Eric Sandler examines the Houston culinary landscape, giving you the latest news, restaurant reviews, and interviews with some of the most interesting people in the scene. New episodes of the What's Eric Eating? podcast drop every Tuesday and Thursday.
Episodes
June 5, 2025 • 47 mins
Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Daniel Vaughn, the BBQ editor for Texas Monthly and who's also fresh off the release of Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ Joints for 2025. Daniel speaks with Eric about how the Houston BBQ scene has changed in the last decade, the turnover for Houston BBQ joints on the list this year, why certain joints in Houston became honorable mentions or fell off the list entirely, why neither Franklin's BB...
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June 3, 2025 • 32 mins
Michael Fulmer is back joining Eric on the podcast today! The guys dive straight into the News of the Week with more reactions to Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ spots and Cecil's Pub getting a new home. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Silk Road and Doko 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 ...
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 ...
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On a special episode of What's Eric Eating, Eric Sandler was joined by three people very much in the know about the Texas BBQ scene, to discuss the Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ restaurants in Texas list!
- Renowned photographer and entrepreneur Robert Lerma
- The pitmaster and owner of Truth BBQ in Houston and Brenham, Leonard Botello IV, who ranked inside the top 10 of this list!
- And Ernest Servantes, the chef/...
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May 27, 2025 • 30 mins
Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson to dive into some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The pair discuss the recent closings of PostScript and B.B. Lemon and the recent openings of Succulent Fine Dining and King Steak. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Hachi and Burnt Bean Co. Barbecue are featured.
Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eri...
Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eri...
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May 15, 2025 • 35 mins
Chef Allie Peña and chef-owner Aaron Bludorn of Bludorn join Eric on the show today. The pair speak with Eric about Allie taking over as executive chef at Bludorn, why Allie pursued the job, why Aaron felt Allie was the right choice, new ideas Allie has for Bludorn, staples that she plans to keep, her time running the Bar Bludorn kitchen, how Bludorn has exceeded Aaron's expectations in terms of the city's response to it, the ...
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May 13, 2025 • 28 mins
On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by Lawton Driscoll to go through some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant/bar scene. The pair discuss new restaurant Kirkwood coming this fall from the Mac Haik Restaurant Group, John Avila's new concept Pinballz Pizzeria, and Nancy's Hustle opening daily now for dinner. In the Restaurants of the Week section Agnes and Sherman is featured.
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May 8, 2025 • 36 mins
Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Jamie Allen of Juliet. Jamie speaks with Eric about his career before his journey into the culinary world, why he decided to switch careers, creating Candy Shack Daiquiris, the inspiration for Juliet, why the movie theater theme for the concept, developing the menu, his influences in the creation of Juliet, what has made Juliet a hit from day one, his team behind the restaurant, the celeb...
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May 6, 2025 • 28 mins
Today on the podcast Eric is joined by a returning Felice "Swanky Maven" Sloan to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant/bar scene. The pair speak about Jason Goldstein's new non-kosher steakhouse concept, Cactus Club Cafe opening it's 3rd US location in Houston, and Greg Gatlin of Gatlin's BBQ making his BBQ Brawl debut in June on Food Network. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Tavola is featured. ...
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May 1, 2025 • 28 mins
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 e...
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April 29, 2025 • 36 mins
Today on the podcast, Eric is joined by Garden Oaks expert Monica Danna to dive into some of the latest happenings in the Houston restaurant/bar scene. The pair discuss Good Dog Houston closing after 12 years in the Heights, chef Arnaldo Richards new fajita delivery aptly titled FajitaDelivery.com, and CultureMap's list of 9 new bars making an impact in Houston. In the Restaurants of the Week section, BeauSoleil is featured. <...
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April 24, 2025 • 39 mins
Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Nick Adair and Katie Adair Barnhart of Adair Concepts. The siblings discuss with Eric growing up in the restaurant business, why they wanted to continue on with the family business rather than do something different, working together, how they made Adair Kitchen different from Skeeters, how things are going with their Adair Kitchen and larger Los Tios location in West U., balancing Los Ti...
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April 22, 2025 • 39 mins
Today on the podcast Eric is joined by a returning Chelsea Thomas. The pair first discuss Chelsea making her return to the culinary scene with her new gig and then they dive into the latest Houston restaurant news. They cover Burger Chan's owners adding a new co-owner, the new cowboy inspired concept coming to the inner loop, and chef Jane Wild's new cafe/bakery concept opening in The Heights. In the Restaurants of the Week po...
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April 17, 2025 • 43 mins
On today's edition of the podcast things are little different because Eric is live on-site! Yep, Eric had the chance to catch up with both Fernando Rios and Mike Sammons live at MIMO. The guys speak with Eric about how they first started working together, the fun but hard challenge of Da Marco, why the East End needed an Italian restaurant, what made the space the choice for the concept, how they're a little different from tra...
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April 15, 2025 • 32 mins
Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson to go through some of the latest Houston bar and restaurant news. The pair speak about the 4 Houston chefs/restaurants named finalists for James Beard awards, Jūn becoming the home of a daytime coffee service called Third Place, and Alexandra "Allie" Peña becoming Bludorn's new executive chef. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Camaraderie is featured.
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April 10, 2025 • 21 mins
On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by Shawn Virene and David Buckley of Succulent Fine Dining. The guys speak with Eric about the inspiration for this new concept, why now was the right time for it, the desire for a patio, why David was the right fit to be the executive chef, their vision for the food, how the concept differs from a'Bouzy, the decor, growing succulents in preparation, the wine list, when they exp...
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April 3, 2025 • 40 mins
Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Shawn Gawle of Camaraderie. Shawn speaks with Eric about what got him first interested in becoming a chef, his journey beginning with his Dad's deli to eventually working in Michelin star restaurants, working at his 2nd grade teacher's restaurant, what brought him to Houston, why he decided to join Goodnight Hospitality, creating the program at Rosie Cannonball, why he decided to pursue s...
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April 1, 2025 • 34 mins
On today's episode Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson to discuss some of the latest happenings from the Houston restaurant/bar scene. Eric and Mary speak about the recent closings of both Auden and Mi Cocina, whether there's been an actual of rash of closings as of late, Dallas restaurants making their way to Houston, and the Kahani Social Group's latest concept Kitchen Rumors. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Chardon and Y...
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March 27, 2025 • 46 mins
Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Suu Khin of Burmalicious. Suu speaks with Eric about how Burmese cuisine is different from other southeast Asian food, starting her food blog, how she got on Master Chef, her experience being on the show, doing the show in the midst of the pandemic, meeting each other for the first time, sharing her Burmese heritage through her food, working with Cucharita for the Burmalicious pop-ups, be...
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March 25, 2025 • 34 mins
On today's podcast Eric is joined by Michael Fulmer to go through some of the latest news happening across the Houston restaurant/bar scene. Eric and Michael discuss Shawn Gawle's new restaurant Camaraderie, the space that once held Flying Fish transforming into a new cocktail bar called The Kid, and Eric's road trip to Redbird BBQ. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Annam is featured.
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Follow Eric on Instagram/T...
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March 20, 2025 • 39 mins
Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Casey McNeil of Case Chocolates. Casey speaks with Eric about how he got started down the chocolate career path, the early days of his career, learning how to make chocolates with liquid centers, why he decided to open a speakeasy, wanting to tell a story with cacao, returning customers, plans for the future, and much more!
Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can...
Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can...
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