What's Eric Eating

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Drake Leonards of Eunice [https://www.eunicerestaurant.com/]. Drake speaks with Eric about the evolution of Eunice since he was last on the podcast back in 2018, why it's important that they're open 7 days a week, fixing their patio situation, being part of the Houston chef community, the team at Eunice, the flexibility they provide customers, having one of the best burgers in town, the possibility of expansion in Houston with some of their other concepts, and much more!  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler [https://www.instagram.com/ericsandler/]. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com [eric@culturemap.com]. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com [https://houston.culturemap.com/]: * Canadian Comfort Food Restaurant Puts Down Roots in Prime Houston Spot [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/cactus-club-cafe-blvd-place/] * Astros Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. Serves Up a New Pickleball Bar in Midtown [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/solarium-pickleball-restaurant-bar-opening/] * Bun B Opens New Spring Location of His Smash Hit Smash Burger Joint [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/trill-burgers-spring-location-opening/] * Beloved Houston Hot Dog Shop Announces Abrupt Closure After 15 Years [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/good-dog-houston-restaurant-closure/]

Today on the podcast, Eric is joined by Garden Oaks expert Monica Danna to dive into some of the latest happenings in the Houston restaurant/bar scene. The pair discuss Good Dog Houston [https://gooddoghouston.com/] closing after 12 years in the Heights, chef Arnaldo Richards new fajita delivery aptly titled FajitaDelivery.com [https://fajitadelivery.com/], and CultureMap's list of 9 new bars making an impact [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/9-new-bars-houston/] in Houston. In the Restaurants of the Week section, BeauSoleil [https://www.beausoleilhtx.com/] is featured. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler [https://www.instagram.com/ericsandler/]. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com [eric@culturemap.com]. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com [https://houston.culturemap.com/]: * Beloved Houston Hot Dog Shop Announces Abrupt Closure After 15 Years [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/good-dog-houston-restaurant-closure/] * Houston Chef Fires Up Tex-Mex Delivery with Fajitas, Margs, and More [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/arnaldo-richards-picos-fajitas-delivery/] * Astros Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. Serves Up a New Pickleball Bar in Midtown [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/solarium-pickleball-restaurant-bar-opening/] * Bun B Opens New Spring Location of His Smash Hit Smash Burger Joint [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/trill-burgers-spring-location-opening/]

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Nick Adair and Katie Adair Barnhart of Adair Concepts [https://www.adairconcepts.com/]. The siblings discuss with Eric growing up in the restaurant business, why they wanted to continue on with the family business rather than do something different, working together, how they made Adair Kitchen [https://www.adairkitchen.com/] different from Skeeters [https://www.skeetersgrill.com/], how things are going with their Adair Kitchen and larger Los Tios [https://www.lostiosrestaurant.com/] location in West U., balancing Los Tios to be approachable for both new/returning customers, expanding the Los Tios brand to Fredericksburg, bringing Buffalo Grille [https://www.thebuffalogrille.com/] into the fold of Adair Concepts, keeping the changes to a minimum with Buffalo Grille, why they brought on Diego Fernandez as culinary director, their plans for Eloise Nichols [https://eloisenichols.com/], why Betsy's [https://www.betsysbellaire.com/] is challenging in some ways, and much more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler [https://www.instagram.com/ericsandler/]. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com [eric@culturemap.com]. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com [https://houston.culturemap.com/]: * Cult Favorite Houston Burger Joint Adds New Co-Owner to Power Future Growth [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/burger-chan-ownership-partnership-change/] * Cowboy-Inspired, Family-Friendly Restaurant Rides into Prime Inner Loop Space [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/long-weekend-restaurant-houston-announcement/] * Successful Pop-Up Chef Opens a New All-Day Cafe and Bakery in the Heights [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/jane-wild-bakehouse-heights-opening/] * Creative New Heights Restaurant Spices Up Diner Fare with Asian Flavors [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/agnes-sherman-restaurant-heights-opening/]

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by a returning Chelsea Thomas. The pair first discuss Chelsea making her return to the culinary scene with her new gig and then they dive into the latest Houston restaurant news. They cover Burger Chan's [https://burgerchanhtx.com/] owners adding a new co-owner, the new cowboy inspired concept coming to the inner loop, and chef Jane Wild's new cafe/bakery concept opening in The Heights. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Perseid [https://www.bunkhousehotels.com/hotel-saint-augustine/eat-drink/perseid] is featured.    Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler [https://www.instagram.com/ericsandler/]. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com [eric@culturemap.com]. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com [https://houston.culturemap.com/]: * Cult Favorite Houston Burger Joint Adds New Co-Owner to Power Future Growth [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/burger-chan-ownership-partnership-change/] * Cowboy-Inspired, Family-Friendly Restaurant Rides into Prime Inner Loop Space [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/long-weekend-restaurant-houston-announcement/] * Successful Pop-Up Chef Opens a New All-Day Cafe and Bakery in the Heights [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/jane-wild-bakehouse-heights-opening/] * Creative New Heights Restaurant Spices Up Diner Fare with Asian Flavors [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/agnes-sherman-restaurant-heights-opening/]

On today's edition of the podcast things are little different because Eric is live on-site! Yep, Eric had the chance to catch up with both Fernando Rios and Mike Sammons live at MIMO [https://www.mimohtx.com/]. The guys speak with Eric about how they first started working together, the fun but hard challenge of Da Marco, why the East End needed an Italian restaurant, what made the space the choice for the concept, how they're a little different from traditional Italian fare, the difficulty of getting MIMO off the proverbial ground at first, how the menu has evolved, their wine list, how things have been going in their first 2 years since opening, the respect they have for Marco Wiles, their plans for the future, and more! Plus, Fernando takes us through his career and where it's taken him, what Mike learned from opening How to Survive, and Fernando experiences his first lightning round.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler [https://www.instagram.com/ericsandler/]. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com [eric@culturemap.com]. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com [https://houston.culturemap.com/]: * Houston Speakeasy Ranks No. 59 on 100 Best Bars List for North America [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/bandista-north-america-50best-bars/] * Cowboy-Inspired, Family-Friendly Restaurant Rides into Prime Inner Loop Space [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/long-weekend-restaurant-houston-announcement/] * Heights Restaurant Adds Daytime Coffee Service with Guest Chef Pop-Ups [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/jun-restaurant-third-place-heights/] * Aaron Bludorn's Rising Star Protégé Moving from Memorial to Montrose [https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/chef-alexandra-pena-bludorn-restaurant/]