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PODCAST

What"s Eric Eating

What"s Eric Eating

Every week, CultureMap Editor Eric Sandler examines the Houston culinary landscape, giving you the latest news, restaurant reviews, and interviews with some of the most interesting people in the scene. New episodes of the What"s Eric Eating? podcast drop every Tuesday and Thursday.

society & culture food

All Episodes

60:27

Episode 522 - 2025 Year in Review

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/12/30

It's the end of 2025 which means it's time to look back and some our favorites from the year in the Houston food scene. Today on the 2025 Year in Review, Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson of Heights Grocer & Montrose Grocer, and Raffi Nasr of Craft Pita to highlight some of their favorite new restaurants that opened this year, some of their favorite dishes, old favorites they revisited this year, the closures they were most sad about, what they'd like to draft in a future draft episode, and much

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39:24

Episode 521 - Judith Piotrowski of Hotel ZaZa

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/12/25

On today's edition of the podcast, Eric is joined by Judith Piotrowski of Hotel ZaZa. Judith speaks with Eric about what inspired her to get into bartending/hospitality, her time at Weights + Measures, working at One Fifth during the pandemic, what she learned from working with Chris Shepherd and his team, becoming the director of bars at The Post Oak hotel, finding huge success with the Navi's pop up, making her way to the Hotel ZaZa, what makes a good hotel great, whether a speakeasy is in the

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31:15

Episode 520 - Doc's Houston

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/12/23

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

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42:49

Episode 519 - Nelson Monteith and Andrew Wiseheart of...

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/12/18

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

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30:15

Episode 518 - Hypsi at the Hotel Daphne

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/12/16

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

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22:08

Episode 517 - The Ultimate Houston Vietnamese Food...

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/12/11

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: Third location of Bun B's smash hit smash burger joint sets opening

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59:38

Episode 516 - The Ultimate Houston Vietnamese Food Draft

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/12/09

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,

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35:06

Episode 515 - Lazy Lane

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/12/02

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

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58:48

Episode 514 - Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega, and Sofia...

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/11/20

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

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33:53

Episode 513 - Reacting to the Chronicle's top 100...

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/11/18

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

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30:00

Episode 512 - Michael Sambrooks of Candente and The...

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/11/13

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,

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30:45

Episode 511 - Murray's Pizza & Wine and 93' Til

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/11/11

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

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42:36

Episode 510 - Deets Hoffman of Murray's Pizza & Wine...

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/11/06

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Deets Hoffman of Murray's Pizza & Wine and Leaf & Grain. Deets speaks with Eric about why pizza was the route he wanted to go following the success of Leaf & Grain, why they wanted to go more adult date night forward with Murray's, the wine offerings, his wife's reaction to picking her name for the concept, why they went with sourdough as their choice for pizza crust, their topping options, the small plates they offer, how things have gone in the

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39:09

Episode 509 - Charm Taphouse & BBQ and Truluck's

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/11/04

On the show today, Eric is joined by Houston BBQ Festival co-founder Michael Fulmer. Eric and Michael go through some of the latest news from the Houston culinary scene including the surprising closure of Paulie's and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo's fine dining change coming in 2026. Plus, the guys discuss a bit more about the Michelin Guide's announcement from last week focusing on the Houston restaurants that were added this year. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Charm Taphouse

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48:45

Episode 508 - Otto Othman and Adrian Sanchez of PINCHO

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/10/30

Today on the show, Eric is joined by Otto Othman and Adrian Sanchez of PINCHO. The duo speak with Eric about their culinary careers, what got them interested in the culinary scene, where the idea for PINCHO came from, what the name means, developing a family recipe for pincho into a commercial success, the evolution of the burger menu, entering food competitions, having fun with flavors, what people can expect from PINCHO’s burger options, the weirdest combination of burger flavors they tried that

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50:33

Episode 507 - Michelin Guide Reactions

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/10/29

It's year 2 of the Michelin Guide being in Texas and during a special ceremony in Houston on Tuesday night the guide announced the newest recipients of stars, recommendations, and more in Texas. So for this edition of the podcast Eric, alongside June Rodil of Goodnight Hospitality, CultureMap contributor Brianna McClane, and Misha Govshteyn a.k.a. the Michelin Inspector Inspector, react to this years selections. In a roundtable discussion, the group cover what we've learned so far in regards to

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35:20

Episode 506 - Peter Skountzos and Manuel E....

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/10/23

On today's show Eric is joined by Peter Skountzos and Manuel E. Guzmán-López of Doc's Houston. The duo speak with Eric about their careers leading up to Doc's, the story behind the name, why Houston was the right fit for the expansion of Jazz, TX, what was appealing about the Tower Theater space, the entertainment that patrons can expect, the food offerings at Doc's, the most important aspect of a restaurant, when Houstonians can expect for Doc's to open, and much more! Follow Eric on

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32:11

Episode 505 - Late August

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/10/21

On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson of Heights Grocer. The pair speak about some of the latest restaurant/bar news from the Houston scene including Mary's own news that Heights Grocer is expanding into Montrose. Mary shares what they'll be able to do with the larger space in Montrose, what she's learned in her first year with Heights Grocer, and the wide selection of products they offer. Mary and Eric also discuss Clare Smith taking over the Menil Collection's campus

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33:40

Episode 504 - Ryan Lachaine and Bobby Matos of State...

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/10/16

On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by Ryan Lachaine and Bobby Matos of State of Grace. The pair speak with Eric about why Ryan was a fit for State of Grace, why they want to push to be more like the old State of Grace, doing their chefs table dinners, the food forward regulars at State of Grace, what they've added to the menu (mmmm butter burgers), why State of Grace's french fries are the best in Houston (as picked by Eric), the prices of oysters, and much more! Plus, Ryan shares why

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43:00

Episode 503 - Vida Mariscos and Connie's Frozen Custard

What"s Eric Eating ·

2025/10/14

On episode 503 of What's Eric Eating, Eric Sandler was joined by former food critic, and current Director of Events & Catering at Local Foods Group, Chelsea Thomas!They discussed... The unfortunate closing down of Kim Son, and the continued stress put on all businesses around the I-45 expansion The opening of Maison Chinoise A San Antonio based coffee chain opening up a couple locations in Houston Restaurant of the Week - Vida Mariscos A trip out to Connie's Frozen Custard in Cypress for

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528 results

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