What's Eric Eating - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Episode 450 - Haii Keii Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Lawton Driscoll to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The pair speak about the recent string of Steakhouse closures (Andiron, Karne Korean Steakhouse, Patton's, & more), Shawn Virene's new wine focused concept Succulent Fine Dining, and the 3 Houston concepts that made Texas Monthly's Best New Restaurants list. In the Restaurants of the Week section Haii Keii 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:

Episode 449 - Sean Carroll of Melange Creperie Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

Eric returns for a new edition of the podcast! Sorry about Tuesday (insert oops emoji face here). On today's podcast Eric is joined by Sean Carroll of Melange Creperie which is celebrating it's 15th anniversary! Sean speaks with Eric about this awesome milestone, how he first started selling crepes, being ahead of the curve on the food truck boom, why crepes, building a following via the stand in the early days, some of his favorite types of crepes he's done over the years, the evolution of The Heights, building the brand, dealing with ongoing egg problem, whether he'd ever expand, 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:

Episode 448 - Wade Schindler of Cotton Culinary Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Wade Schindler of Cotton Culinary. Wade gives Eric the rundown on what Cotton is, what Cotton Culinary does, how Cotton Culinary got started, and more Plus, he speaks with Eric about how he first got into the culinary industry, the challenges of responding to an area that's just experienced a natural disaster, the process of feeding 50,000 people (yes you read that number right), working the cookoff at the Rodeo, winning the best bites competition, most exciting part of the rodeo, 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:

Episode 447 - Barbacana Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Mary Clark, the owner of Heights Grocer!
They discussed...

The Houston Chronicle announcing that Bao Ong will be their new restaurant critic, replacing Alison Cook, who retired in November after 22 years in the position
Ronnie Killen's decision to close down his steakhouse in The Woodlands
Ramen Tatsu-ya announcing it will open its second Houston-area location in Town & Country Village
And the featured restaurant of the week, Barbacana

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:

Episode 446 - Larry McGuire of MML Hospitality Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Larry McGuire of MML Hospitality. Larry speaks with Eric about his journey into becoming a restaurateur, starting Lamberts barbecue, going from barbecue to seafood with Perla's oyster bar, the array of concepts he's overseen, the atmosphere they go for with their concepts, why they decided to come to Houston, why Clark's Oyster Bar was the right concept for the city, how things have been going at Clark's, whether other concepts of theirs could come to Houston, 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:

Episode 445 - Mexican Sugar and Killen's Steakhouse Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

The Swanky Maven returns! Felice Sloan joins Eric to discuss the latest happenings from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including the closure of Money Cat and chef Tristen Epps' ongoing pop-up series at Jūn as part of the opening of BuBoy. In the Restaurants of the Week section, Mexican Sugar and Killen's Steakhouse are featured. Plus, Felice gives what would have been her date night draft selections since she was unable to be part of this year's date night draft.
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:

Episode 444 - The Ultimate Houston Date Night Draft 2.0 Winner Reveal with Justin Yu Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

Time to find out who won The Ultimate Date Night Draft 2.0 with special guest, and winner of last year's Ultimate Date Night Draft, Justin Yu of Thorough Fare Hospitality (Theodore Rex, Squable, Better Luck Tomorrow, & more). Justin explains why [redacted] was the winner of the draft, his thoughts on the selections all around, the picks that stoodout to him, what he would have selected, what he thought of the occasion format for this year's draft, and more! Plus, Justin updates Eric on what's going on for him currently, including working with the Alley Theater.
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:

Episode 443 - The Ultimate Houston Date Night Draft 2.0 Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

Planning out where to go for a first date can be hard, I mean there's so many places where could you take that special someone what do you even choose? If only there was an episode of a podcast that not only picked some of the best first date spots but also third date spots, casual weeknight date spots, and even breakup spots. Oh, well it turns out this episode of What's Eric Eating is all about that.
After the success of last year's Ultimate Date Night Draft, Eric's bringing it back with new drafters and a twist. This year Eric, alongside Chelsea Thomas, Lawton Driscoll, Michael Fulmer, Monica Danna, and Army Sadeghi of Clarkwood are drafting based off an occasion format. Here's the categories: first date spot, third date spot, girls/guys/friend's night spot, casual weeknight date spot, breakup spot, and a wildcard which is any place the drafter thinks would be fun to go to on a date (does not have to be a bar or restaurant).
The Draft Rules
Rule 1: All selections must be located in Greater Houston.
Rule 2: Once a restaurant has been selected for a certain category, no other drafter may select it for the same category. For example, only one drafter can select 13 Celsius for a first date but someone else could select 13 Celsius for a third date.
Rule 3: Drafters cannot pick the same bar/restaurant/business twice. All 6 selections must be from different places.
Rule 4: Snake draft format. The draft order will go one through six in round 1 then go backwards six through one in round 2.
Rule 5: Categories may be selected in any order.
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:

Episode 442 - Christian Hernandez and Priscilla Treviño of Barbacana Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

On today's podcast Eric is joined by Christian Hernandez and Priscilla Treviño of Barbacana. The pair speak with Eric about how their respective culinary careers began, where their careers have taken them, Christian's experience opening/working at March, the vision for Barbacana, what was it about Barbacana that attracted Priscilla to joining the team, developing their menu, sustainability/conservation being core pillars of the menu, how things are going so far at Barbacana, goals for the concept, 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:

Episode 441 - bōl and Pok Pok Po Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

After a week off, Eric is back with a brand new episode of the podcast. Today he's joined by Houston BBQ Festival co-founder Michael Fulmer to dive into some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The guys discuss the Houston chefs/restaurants that were named James Beard Award Semifinalists, Leaf & Grain getting set to open 2 new concepts in Memorial, and Koffeteria getting set to open a new location in Spring Branch. In the Restaurants of the Week section, bōl and Pok Pok Po 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:

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