What's Eric Eating - TopPodcast.com

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Episode 520 - Doc's Houston Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

The Swanky Maven Felice Sloan returns for this edition of the podcast. Eric and Felice touch on some of the latest happenings from the Houston food scene including chef Jean-François Feuillette opening the first US location of Café Feuillette here in Houston, Local Table's 6th location set to open in Missouri City, and ChòpnBlọk getting more national recognition with the latest accolade coming from the New York Times. In the Restaurants of the Week section, Doc's Houston 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 519 - Nelson Monteith and Andrew Wiseheart of Honest Mary's Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

Today on the show Eric is joined by Nelson Monteith and Andrew Wiseheart of Honest Mary's. Nelson and Andrew share with Eric their culinary journey's leading up to Honest Mary's, how they first started working together, why River Oaks was the right area of Houston to expand to, how they set themselves apart from other concepts in the healthy fast casual space, creating the perfect bowl, 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 518 - Hypsi at the Hotel Daphne Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson of Heights Grocer and Montrose Grocer. The pair dive into some of the latest news from the Houston food scene including Home Slice Pizza expanding in the Houston area with a new location set to open in The Heights, the closure of Killen's BBQ in The Woodlands, the surprising announcement of Brett's BBQ Shop shuttering at the end of December, and ChòpnBlọk's receiving more national critical acclaim. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Hypsi at the Hotel Daphne 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 517 - The Ultimate Houston Vietnamese Food Draft Winner Reveal with Christine Ha and John Suh Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

On this special episode, Eric is joined by MasterChef Season 3 winner Christine Ha, and her husband John Suh, who co-own the great Houston restaurant "The Blind Goat," to reveal the winner from the Ultimate Houston Vietnamese Food Draft on the previous episode!
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 516 - The Ultimate Houston Vietnamese Food Draft Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

On today's podcast episode, it's The Ultimate Houston Vietnamese Food Draft! Listen as Eric, alongside Local Foods Group's Chelsea Thomas, Heights Grocer's Mary Clarkson, Stevie Vu from the Chow-down in Chinatown Facebook group, Isabel Protomartir from the 'Have A Nice Day' AAPI pop-up markets, and Michael Fulmer, who co-founded the Houston BBQ Festival, attempt to craft the best lineup!
The drafters will be selecting a lineup of the following 6 categories: salad/appetizer, entrée, sandwich, soup, Viet-Cajun, and a wildcard item.
The Draft Rules
Rule 1: No drafter may select the same restaurant in more than one category.
Rule 2: Once a restaurant has been selected for a specific category, no other drafter may select it in that same category.
Rule 3: Snake draft format. The draft order will go one through six in round 1, then go backwards six through one in round 2.
Rule 4: 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 515 - Lazy Lane Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by a returning Monica "The Mayor of Garden Oaks" Danna to go through some of the latest news from the Houston culinary scene. Eric and Monica discuss Ninja Ramen shuttering at the end of December, the new sushi concept from Grace and Leo Xia coming to Chinatown, and Lankford's opening a new location in The Woodlands. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Lazy Lane 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 514 - Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega, and Sofia Ortega of H-Town Restaurant Group Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega, and Sofia Ortega of H-Town Restaurant Group. H-Town Restaurant Group is the company behind Backstreet, Hugo's, Xochi, Caracol, Urbe, and Zaranda. The family speak with Eric about their new concept Zaranda, why now was the right time for the concept, the inspiration behind Zaranda, integrating different flavors from other cuisines into Zaranda's dishes, Sofia's role, menu development, the signature dessert, how things have been since opening, and more. Plus, Tracy and Hugo share how they first met, their memories of opening Hugo's, their reaction when Hugo's first took off, what Sunday brunch at Hugo's represents, revamping Backstreet, their thoughts on not being included in the Michelin Guide, and Sofia's put to the Lightning Round test.
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 513 - Reacting to the Chronicle's top 100 restaurants & a visit to Maison Chinoise Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson of Heights Grocer and Montrose Grocer and the duo react to the Houston Chronicle's Top 100 Restaurant's list, did the Chronicle get it right? Is Aga's the best in Houston? Is Milton's Top 25? Kata Robata isn't on the list?! The pair explore those questions and more regarding this year's list. Plus, Eric and Mary discuss Bari Ristorante claiming the former Tris space in The Woodlands, Brian Doke's new concept called Lazy Lane, and then how things are going at Heights/Montrose Grocers. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Maison Chinoise 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 512 - Michael Sambrooks of Candente and The Pit Room Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

On today's edition of the podcast, Eric is joined by Michael Sambrooks of Sambrooks Hospitality which is behind Candente and The Pit Room. Michael speaks with Eric about the big news that Candente's opening 2nd location will open in Bellaire, how the location popped up on their radar, why Bellaire was the right choice, what they need to do to change the former Mandito's space into Candente, bringing the same Candente experience to the new location, the expected opening date for the new location, what it's been like for both Candente and The Pit Room since they were included in the Michelin Guide, the expansion of The Pit Room's menu options at the 2nd location, the possibility of expanding both concepts, 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 511 - Murray's Pizza & Wine and 93' Til Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

Local Houston celebrity Felice Sloan, aka the Swanky Maven, takes time from her busy autograph schedule to join Eric on today's show. The pair discuss some of the latest news including the upcoming opening of Doc's Houston and how things went at the first ever Bites & Beyond Festival this past weekend. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Murray's Pizza & Wine and 93' Til 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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