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The Ultimate Houston Burger Draft (Reair) Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

Houston Burger Restaurant - A Houston-based restaurant that serves at least 3 different burgers or has build your own options that allow for lots of variety. Greater Houston-area suburbs (Katy, Woodlands, Sugar Land, Clear Lake, etc.) are considered "Houston".
Smash Burger - A style of cheeseburger made with patties that are flattened on a griddle and typically served as a double. Does not need to come from a Houston Burger Restaurant.
Fancy Burger - The only burger served at a fine/fine-ish dining restaurant with full service. Likely costs more than $20.
Fries/Tots - A potato side from a Houston Burger Restaurant
Milkshake - A milkshake from a Houston Burger Restaurant.
Wildcard - Any burger from any Houston restaurant, including chains, or any dish served at a Houston Burger Restaurant such as a hot dog, chicken sandwich, an additional side, etc.

The rules: once an individual dish from one restaurant is selected participants may not select any other dishes from that restaurant to fulfill the other categories. Participants six selections will be from six different restaurants.
Then Abbas Dhanani of Burger Bodega joins the show to pick the Ultimate Houston Burger Draft winner. Abbas explains to Eric why [redacted]'s line up won, what he thought of the selections all around, what he would have selected had he participated, the vast amount of burger options in Houston, and more! Abbas also talks a bit about how things are going over at Burger Bodega.
Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and on Twitter @esandler, you can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com:

A Conversation with Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemó (Reair) Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

We're doing things a little differently. The podcast is taking time off until January 9th, but that doesn't mean no episodes until then. Eric is bringing back some of his favorite episodes to your feeds while the podcast is away. Today's episode is a reairing of Episode 266, originally released January 12th, 2023. In this episode, Eric is joined by Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemó. Emmanuel spoke with Eric about how he first got interested in becoming a chef, getting an ultimatum from his family after collage, his early stops in his career, his time in Seattle, developing his style/techniques that served as the foundation for Tatemó, coming back to Houston, developing the concept that became Tatemó, how things are going so far at Tatemó, creating the menu, getting inspiration from what Jonny Rhodes is doing, aspirations to becoming one of the best restaurants in people's minds, and much more!
Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and on Twitter @esandler, you can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com:

The Ultimate Houston Tex-Mex Draft (Reair) Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

We're doing things a little differently. The podcast is taking time off until January 9th, but that doesn't mean no episodes until then. Eric is bringing back some of his favorite episodes to your feeds while the podcast is away. Today's episode is a reairing of Episode 271, originally released February 16th, 2023. In this episode, Eric assembled a panel of Tex-Mex aficionados for the Ultimate Tex-Mex Draft. Eric alongside David Cordúa, Bryan Caswell, Mary Clarkson, Matt Harris, and Michael Fulmer select their favorite Tex-Mex dishes from different restaurants in the greater Houston area to create their ultimate Tex-Mex meal. The panel are picking dishes in the following categories: fajitas, enchiladas, tacos, chips & salsa, chips & queso, and a wildcard selection. Plus, find out which participant picks the ultimate Tex-Mex meal, as selected by special guest judge Russell Ybarra of Gringos!
Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and on Twitter @esandler, you can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com:

The Ultimate Houston BBQ Draft (Reair) Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

We're doing things a little differently. The podcast is taking time off until January 9th, but that doesn't mean no episodes until then. Eric is bringing back some of his favorite episodes to your feeds while the podcast is away. Today's episode is a reairing of Episode 240, originally released May 12th, 2022. In this episode, Eric assembled a panel of barbecue lovers to pick the ultimate barbecue plate. Plus, Dozier's Barbeque pitmaster Jim Buchanan looks over the selections to decide who assembled the ultimate BBQ plate. What goes number 1? Whose draft strategy will prove best? Who reached with their selection? Which items got snubbed? Find out all of that and more on this special edition of the podcast!
Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and on Twitter @esandler, you can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com:

Talking The Bear Season 2 with Justin Yu (Reair) Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

We're doing things a little different. The podcast is taking time off until January 9th, but that doesn't mean no podcast episodes at all. Eric is bringing back some of your favorite episodes to your feeds while the podcast is away. Today's episode is a reairing of Episode 294 with Justin Yu, originally released July 11th, 2023. Eric and Justin dove into full spoilers about The Bear season 2 including how it compared to the real life culinary world, how Justin's own culinary journey compared, stodging in Copenhagen, the anxiety inducing moments of opening a restaurant, and much more.
Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and on Twitter @esandler, you can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com:

Episode 340 - 2023 Year in Review Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

It's that time of year again! It's time to look back at the year that was in Houston food, it's the What's Eric Eating Year in Review - 2023 Edition. For this go around Eric is joined by Felice Sloan, Mary Clarkson, and Michael Fulmer to look back at some of the biggest stories, best dishes, saddest closures, best new restaurants, old favorites, and more! Plus, the group discuss ideas for food draft episodes in 2024. Pizza draft?! Seafood Boil?! Tacos!? Listen to find out!
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 339 - Aaron Bludorn and Alexandra Peña of Bar Bludorn Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

Today on the show, Eric is joined by Aaron Bludorn and Alexandra Peña of Bar Bludorn. The trio discuss how the new Bar Bludorn concept came to be, coming up with the name, what type of food customers can expect, the design, the reactions they're getting from deciding to open in the Memorial area, and more. The group also discuss Alexandra's story of discovering Bludorn, Alexandra's experience opening Navy Blue, how things have gone in Navy Blue's first year, how the Navy Blue menu has evolved, yacht rock brunch, what they're excited about for the future, collaborating with other chefs, and which burger is better - the Bludorn Burger or the Navy Blue Burger? Plus, Alexandra goes through her first ever lightning round... Aaron was excited about that.
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 338 - Cocody Restaurant & Bar and La Griglia Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Eric is joined on today's edition of the podcast by Mary Clarkson to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The pair react to the recent closings of Acme Oyster House and Common Bond's brasserie location. Plus, Eric and Mary discuss Ben Berg's announcement of the opening date of his new concept Tavola and Matt Pak and Shawn Bermudez announcing their new pizza concept. In the Restaurants of the Week section, Cocody Restaurant & Bar and La Griglia 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:

Episode 337 - Tony Nguyen of Xin Chao and Saigon House Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Tony Nguyen of Xin Chao and Saigon House. The guys speak about how Tony got into the restaurant business, starting Wokker, why Tony got a cease and desist letter from Chuck Norris... yes that Chuck Norris, how he started Saigon House, where Tony first got his name on the map, moving Saigon House to the northside of Houston, what they're doing at Saigon House now, how Tony came to know Christina Ha, how the idea for Xin Chao came about, collaborating with Christine on the menu, being nominated for a James Beard award, future plans for Xin Chao, future aspirations, crawfish season coming soon, a new project in the works, 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 336 - Mi Cocina Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

On today's podcast Eric is joined by Monica Danna to discuss some of the latest happenings from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The pair speak about Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern being named Pizza Joint of the Year as part of Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America list, Michael O'Connor being named the new executive chef at Andiron, and the opening of 1891 American Eatery & Bar in The Heights. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Mi Cocina 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:

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