Today on the show Eric is joined by Christopher Huang of Narwhal Jousting Club. Christopher speaks with Eric about how computers pushed him towards the restaurant industry, learning on the job, opening Ninja Ramen, why ramen at first, how Ninja Ramen evolved over time, why he decided to close Ninja Ramen last year, Starcraft, opening Narwhal Jousting Club, why they abandoned the initial sandwich first concept Narwhal had, why Houston is considered not a great sandwich city, going the burger route, their burger style, Houston food theories, making things simple, keeping pricing low, goals for Narwhal, food courts, and much more! Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Houston Bar Owner Speaks Out About Surprise Arrest for Health Code Violations Growing Houston Vietnamese Restaurant Hustles into Hot Katy Neighborhood Houston Hospitality 'Dream Team' Saddles Up for World Cup Pop-Up Restaurant Chef of Michelin-Starred Texas BBQ Joint Pops Up at Houston Crawfish Favorite Eclectic Houston Neighborhood Restaurant will Shutter Bellaire Store

Today on the podcast, Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson of Heights Grocer and Montrose Grocer. Eric and Mary discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Joe & the Juice picking Houston for it's first Texas location and the team behind Mimo debut their new sandwich restaurant concept La Rosa to great success. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Exilio Latin Flair is featured. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: 2 Houston Restaurants Break their Silence on Owners' Tragic Deaths Couple Behind 2 Houston Restaurants Found Dead in their Home International Coffee Shop Chain Picks Houston for First Texas Store Mimo Duo Open Tiny Italian Sandwich and Gelato Shop in Houston's East End Prolific Houston Pizza Chef Fires Up a New Italian Restaurant in River Oaks

On today's edition of the podcast, Eric is joined by Jason Kerr and Benjy Mason of Shredders Pizza. The duo discuss with Eric how the idea for Shredders Pizza came about, finding their audience, pizza delivery being the coolest job for a time, going down a pizza style rabbit hole, developing the dough recipe, the topping options, pushing each other in the right ways, managing the demand, their goals, and much more.  Plus, Jason speaks about his career leading up to Shredders Pizza, Benjy shares why or more so how he expanded into pizza, that time when Jason gave a piece of cake away that went horribly wrong, the food truck boom, and the wine wolf... yes the wine wolf... so it's a werewolf and... you know what just listen to the episode. It'll make sense.  Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Couple Behind 2 Houston Restaurants Found Dead in their Home Tomball Barbecue Trio Spins Up New Tavern Devoted to Pizza and Burgers Webpage Leak Offers Sneak Peek at Heights Hotel's New Neighborhood Bar Beard Award-Winning Houston Chef Blasts Off with New Tasting Menu Concept Houston Charcuterie Sensation Opens New Storefront in the Heights

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Felice Sloan, a.k.a. The Swanky Maven. Eric and Felice cover some of the latest happenings from the Houston food scene including Burger Chan opening it's 2nd location, the upcoming closure of Picos, and Bandista rising up the Best Bars in North America rankings for 2026. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Jantra is featured.Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Beard Award-Winning Houston Chef Blasts Off with New Tasting Menu Concept Houston's Most Customizable Burger Joint is Coming to the Heights in May Mole-Obsessed Mexican Restaurant Sets Closing Date for Kirby Location Hidden Houston Cocktail Den Ranks No. 47 on North America Best Bars List Tomball Barbecue Trio Spins Up New Tavern Devoted to Pizza and Burgers

On today's edition of the podcast, Eric is joined by Julian Haynes of Cosmic Ice Cream Co. to discuss his career, Cosmic, and more. Julian speaks with Eric about why he got into the ice cream business, how he left the oil & gas field, the first iteration of Cosmic, learning to make ice cream, getting the initial ice cream bug from a Portland concept, why Webster was the right location for their first shop, being selective about their locations, building the brand, the decision to take a more old school neighborhood ice cream shop approach with the concept, what they took away from opening their first location, how Christine Ha helped them decide on Spring Branch, getting the call about Pearland/Bellaire, building up the team, plans for the future, and more!Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Houston Chefs Cook Up Goodwill at Feed the Soul Gala These Houston Restaurants and Bars are Going All Out for Derby Day 2026 Mimo Duo Open Tiny Italian Sandwich and Gelato Shop in Houston's East End Houston's New, All-You-Can-Eat Wagyu Beef Restaurant Opens This Week International Coffee Shop Chain Picks Houston for First Texas Store

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Alba Huerta and Vanessa Alba of Julep as well as Robin Wong of Blood Bros. BBQ. Alba shares her insights on the creation of The Parlor at Julep, why the multi-use space at Julep was the perfect vehicle for The Parlor, trying different things with The Parlor that they wouldn't do at Julep, the modern cocktail movement, the new techniques they're using, creating gastro-cocktails, finding a unique way to work with/see others in the industry with Chef's Cut, Houston's place as a bar city, and more. All 3 share their perspectives on the idea of Chef's Cut, how it came about, the chef's that have done it so far, and Robin's DJ skills. Plus, Vanessa speaks on how she first got involved with Julep and Robin talks about the latest happenings over at Blood Bros. BBQ. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Houston's Best Chef, Restaurant, and More Revealed at 2026 Tastemaker Awards Lively Crowd Celebrates Houston's Culinary Stars at 2026 Tastemaker Awards Mole-Obsessed Mexican Restaurant Sets Closing Date for Kirby Location The Quest for a Topo Chico Replacement, We Rate 9 Sparkling Waters Austin-Based Taco Chain Celebrates Katy Debut with Free Breakfast Tacos

On today's edition of the podcast, Eric is joined by Houston BBQ Festival co-founder Michael Fulmer. Eric and Michael cover some of the latest news from the Houston culinary scene including giving a recap of the 2026 Tastemaker Awards, Captain Fred's upcoming affordable seafood concept opening near Third Ward, and the great quest for a Topo Chico replacement. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Johnny Ritas Cocina y Cantina and the new combination of Pho Prime and Crawfish Cafe are featured.  Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Houston's Best Chef, Restaurant, and More Revealed at 2026 Tastemaker Awards Chef-Loved Houston Fisherman Opens Affordable Seafood Restaurant Near Third Ward The Quest for a Topo Chico Replacement, We Rate 9 Sparkling Waters Austin-Based Taco Chain Celebrates Katy Debut with Free Breakfast Tacos Hot Houston Hand Roll Spot is First Restaurant at New EaDo Development

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Paige and Andrew Alvis and German Mosquera of Long Weekend. The trio speak Eric about the creation of Long Weekend, where the idea came about, balancing being family friendly with higher end adult offerings, the former King's Bierhaus space being the right location for the concept, the renovations they made, how they utilize the space for the best experience, developing the menu, the baking program, the idea for the playground, the discourse regarding the kids/playground, the relationship with their neighbors, goals for the concept, and more! Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Chef-Loved Houston Fisherman Opens Affordable Seafood Restaurant Near Third Ward Hot Houston Hand Roll Spot is First Restaurant at New EaDo Development Houston's 11 Best Chefs of 2026 are Leading the City's Rise to Prominence The 11 Best Restaurants of 2026 Showcase Houston's World-Class Status Burger Joint Duo's Frozen Treat Shop Returns with Soft Serve Margaritas Growing Houston Coffee Shop Hits the Road with Battery-Powered Electric Van

On today's edition of the show Eric is joined by Raffi Nasr of Craft Pita. First Raffi catches Eric up on his own personal news, the birth of the pita prince! Then the guys dive into the latest news from the Houston culinary scene including the 2 planned concepts that may arrive to a Houston area golf course from Michelin starred chef/owner Michael Fojtasek and Houston's ranking in Food & Wine Magazine's top 10 food cities of America list. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Loves Dumpling House and Shredders Pizza are featured. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Michelin-Recognized Chef Plans 2 New Restaurants at Proposed Houston Golf Club The 11 Best Restaurants of 2026 Showcase Houston's World-Class Status Burger Joint Duo's Frozen Treat Shop Returns with Soft Serve Margaritas Growing Houston Coffee Shop Hits the Road with Battery-Powered Electric Van Houston Earns 6 Finalist Nominations in the 2026 James Beard Awards

On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by David Anderson III and Dominick Lee of Fancy's. The pair speak with Eric about how they started working together, their work on Augustine's, how the opportunity for Fancy's came about, the difference between Fancy's and Augustine's, why the River Oaks area was the right spot, bringing people together from all walks of life, the food, the amount of caviar, how they'd like the concept to evolve, being a destination spot, and much more! Plus, David talks about his career leading up to becoming a bar owner, the creation of Off the Record, what the scene is like for Off the Record, what Dominick has learned from the pop ups in the lead up to both Augustine's and Fancy's, and what could be next!  Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Houston Earns 6 Finalist Nominations in the 2026 James Beard Awards These are Houston's 11 Best Dessert Programs of 2026 6 Things to Know in Houston Food: Openings, a Closing, and More Houston Olympian Simone Biles Opens New Restaurant at Bush Intercontinental 16 Best New Houston Restaurants Compete for Coveted Tastemakers Title