Episode 491 - Thomas Bille of Belly of the Beast

Thomas Bille of Belly of the Beast returns to the podcast after 5 long years and a James Beard Award win. Thomas shares with Eric why he decided to put a pause on the initial version of Belly of the Beast, what he took away from his experience of Chivos, why Spring was the right place for the new version of Belly of the Beast, looking at spaces in Houston initially, the vision for the new iteration, how it all came together, the menu this time around, taking time to get into a rhythm, what being included in the Michelin Guide did for the restaurant, being part of the new modern version of Mexican food movement in the city, what it was like hearing his name for the James Beard award, the amount of flowers he's gotten since winning (it's a lot), how serious a Belly of the Beast 3.0 with a live fire grill is, details of his upcoming pop-up, what life has been like since the James Beard awards, and much more!     

Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at [e-mail]. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com:

• 16 Houston Restaurants Compete in CultureMap's Top Taco Tournament
• Houston Restaurant Known for American Fare Finds New Location in River Oaks
• First Look at Modern Houston Ice House's New Location Near the Heights
• Ex-Tris Chef and Aaron Bludorn Opening New Eateries in The Woodlands
• Michelin-Starred Houston Restaurant Opens Location in New York City