What's Eric Eating Episode 128
Local coffee stars' piping hot story, plus EaDo's new patio lounge
On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," sisters Ecky and Niken Prabanto join CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss the evolution of Greenway Coffee, the local roaster and umbrella organization for coffee shops that include Blacksmith, Morningstar, and Coral Sword.
Ecky Prabanto's primary responsibility is roasting coffee, a process she embraced after opening the original Greenway Coffee with her business partner David Buehrer. Niken Prabanto moved to Houston to join her sister in the business and now oversees the company's operations.
The sisters united to open Susu Kopi & Boba, a stand at the Politan Row food hall in Rice Village that serves coffee, milk tea, and soft serve ice cream. Sandler asks the sisters why they chose Ovaltine as the basis for Susu's chocolate flavor.
"We grew up with Ovaltine," Ecky Prabanto says. "Basically, the idea with the soft serve is we want people to feel that nostalgic feelings of 'oh, that was my childhood.' That's Ovaltine, for us."
The duo also discuss Greenway's future plans for expansion and their unlikely friendship with celebrity couple Lexi and Hunter Pence.
Prior to the interview segment, Sandler and co-host Linda Salinas discuss the news of the week. Their topics include pastry chef Rebecca Masson's decision to move Fluff Bake Bar from Midtown to Shady Acres; chef Anthony Calleo and bartender Lacy Williams' plans to open a new Montrose cocktail bar; and Underground Hall, the new food hall that will replace Conservatory downtown.
In the restaurants of the week segment, Sandler and Salinas discuss their experiences at three new bars: Rabbit's Got the Gun, a cocktail dive in the Near Northside; How to Survive on Land and Sea, a new wine bar from 13 Celsius co-founder Mike Sammons; and Sunset Rooftop Lounge, a stylish new spot in EaDo.
---
Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify. Listen to it Sunday at 1 pm on ESPN 97.5.