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Episode 390 - The Ultimate Houston Steakhouse Draft Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

If you're thinking "I could really go for a good steak right now, but I don't know where to go" then this is the podcast for you because we're about to highlight a bunch of steakhouses. It's The Ultimate Steakhouse Draft on the podcast today! Listen as Eric, alongside Rafael Nasr, Mary Clarkson, Chelsea Thomas, Aaron Bludorn, and Michael Fulmer make their selections to create the ultimate steakhouse experience.
Here's what the teams will be drafting: appetizer, salad, steak, non-steak entree, potato, dessert, and a wild card which is any specific dish that's served at a steakhouse. All of which must come from a Houston-area bar/restaurant.
The Draft Rules
Rule 1: All draft selections must be from different restaurants. For example, drafters may not take a potato and a dessert from the same restaurant.
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 will get to select Vic & Anthony's — and its crab cake — for their appetizer, but someone else could select Vic & Anthony's for potato or dessert (etc.).
Rule 3: Drafters may only select dishes from steakhouses in the Greater Houston area. That means it has a menu of entrees that are primarily different cuts and portions of steak. It may have a meat-centric name that includes words like "steak," "butcher," or "chophouse," or tout its beef sourcing (dry-aged USDA prime, Australian wagyu, etc). Restaurants with only one or two steaks on the menu are not steakhouses and are not eligible.
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 389 - Aaron Lyons and Brandi Key of Dish Society & Daily Gather Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

On today's podcast Eric is joined by Aaron Lyons and Brandi Key of Dish Society and Daily Gather. The pair speak with Eric about how things have been going at Daily Gather since it opened, how Daily Gather's menu evolved over time, how they're able to stand out in CITYCENTRE, the current rush of restaurants opening in the area, the menu at Dish Society, why they decided to close the Dish Society location on San Felipe, the possibility of more Dish Society locations in the greater Houston area, how things are going at Dish Society's first location in Austin, the chances of expanding their brands in the Austin area, how the Austin market compares to the Houston market, their breakfast options, possible expansions of Daily Gather, 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 388 - Blue Tuba and Toca Madera Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

Michael Fulmer returns to the podcast to jump into some of the latest headlines making waves in the Houston restaurant and bar scene. Eric and Michael discuss the new piano bar/restaurant concept called The Kennedy taking over the former Muse/Emmaline space, Portillo's announcement that it's bringing 2 more locations to the Houston area, and David Skinner's new concept Ishtia. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Michael and Eric speak about their trip to Blue Tuba. In a bonus section of the Restaurants of the Week, Eric is joined by Lawton Driscoll to talk about their experience at Toca Madera.
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 387 - Austin Waiter, Felipe Riccio, & June Rodil of The Marigold Club Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Austin Waiter, Felipe Riccio, and June Rodil of The Marigold Club. The team behind The Marigold Club speaks with Eric about the influences behind The Marigold Club, how things have evolved with the concept over the past 6 months, why this was the right next move for Austin after Tony's, the road they've gone down to go from the initial inspiration of Mayfair, London to what it is now, their trip to Maine, Austin's approach to putting his own spin on certain dishes, having more reasonable pricing, the beverage program, their food offerings, what people were saying after opening night, putting their team together, 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 386 - Jonathan's the Rub Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

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 the closure of historic Italian restaurant Damian’s Cucina Italiana, both Buffalo Grille locations being acquired by Adair Concepts, and Underbelly Hospitality closing Comalito at the Houston Farmers Market. In the Restaurants of the Week section, the newest location of Jonathan’s The Rub 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 385 - Dawn Burrell of the Sound & Color Dinner Series Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

Eric is joined today by Dawn Burrell of the Sound & Color Dinner Series. In her fourth appearance on the podcast she speaks with Eric about what she's been up to as of late, her upcoming Sound & Color dinner series, working with Marcus Samuelsson on a freelance project in Ethiopia, how Marcus helped her following her exit from Late August/Lucille's Hospitality Group, what she took away from her time overseas, coming up short on Season 20 of Top Chef, collaborating with chef Dominick Lee, her Social Sundays brunches at Sawyer Ice House, her love for hash, bringing back her Juneteenth Jubilee, working towards opening her own restaurant, what the timeline looks like right now for her own restaurant, 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 384 - Haywire Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by the Swanky Maven Felice Sloan to discuss the latest happenings from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The pair discuss Houston's only James Beard Finalist Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemó not winning at this year's awards, the announcement of a 3rd location of The Taco Stand coming this time to Montrose, and Katami being named to the Robb Report's 10 Best New Restaurants in America list. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Haywire is featured and it was an interesting experience to say the least.
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 383 - Kevin Lee of Phat Eatery Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Kevin Lee of Phat Eatery. The pair discuss how things at Phat Eatery have been since Alex Au-Yeung's passing, maintaining a community focus, honoring Alex's legacy, Kevin's career, what brought him to Phat Eatery, when he knew they had something with Phat Eatery, how the restaurant has evolved over the years, how the Woodlands location is coming along, what the menu will look like at the new location, who's leading the culinary side of things now, how they want to grow Phat Eatery, 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 382 - Bar Bludorn Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

This week on What's Eric Eating, Eric and this week's co-host Mary Clarkson, owner of Avondale Food & Wine, talk about all the big news, and goings on with the Houston restaurant scene!
Including...

The modern Vietnamese restaurant Xin Chao closing months after celebrity chef Christine Ha ("MasterChef" winner) left the restaurant.
Veteran restaurateur Benjy Levit, the restaurateur behind Local Foods, will close his French restaurant Eau Tour and convert it to a new Italian restaurant named Milton’s.
Comma Hospitality, the restaurant group known for its luxurious sushi restaurant Neo, will open Kira in Upper Kirby’s Shops at Arrive River Oaks development this July, a new sister concept with a more affordable price point.
And their restaurant of the week is Bar Bludorn!

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 381 - Chris Williams of Lucille's Hospitality Group May 30, 2024

Show notes

Chris Williams of Lucille's Hospitality Group returns to the podcast for the first in quite some time. Chris and Eric catch up on the latest happenings with the group. The pair speak about the development of Late August, how things are going with Late August so far, how Chris started working with chef Sergio Hidalgo, the signature elements on the Late August menu, the brilliance (and beauty) of Danny Davis, working with Gin Design Group, how things are going at The Rado MKT, the inspiration behind Rado MKT, the importance of the El Dorado Ballroom, Chris' involvement in farming, the continued success of Lucille's, and much 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:

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