What's Eric Eating Episode 89

Meet the mind behind Tasting Room and Max's, plus killer crawfish

On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," Jerry Lasco, founder and CEO of Lasco Enterprises, joins CultureMap food editor to discuss his three restaurants: The Tasting Room, Max's Wine Dive, and Sing. The conversation begins with Lasco explaining how being laid off from his job as a Continental Airlines pilot led him and his wife, Laura, to open the first Tasting Room in 2003. Inspired by a restaurant in New York and one of their favorite dive bars, they opened Max's Wine Dive in 2006.

Early success prompted Lasco to open Max's locations in cities like Atlanta, Kansas City, and Chicago, but only the Denver outpost remains from those attempts to expand out of state. Since the restaurant remains popular in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, Sandler asks Lasco if he plans to try again to take the concept elsewhere.

"That's a great question. The restaurant industry has changed," Lasco says. "It's tricky. We're trying to figure that out. It's no fun shutting restaurants down. I've been doing this for 16 years now. You hope you learn some lessons along the way, and most of the lessons are from mistakes you've made. If you were successful all the time, you probably wouldn't learn anything. Either you knew it already or you were just lucky. I don't know, Eric. We'll see."

Towards the end of the conversation, Lasco discusses how Sing has moved forward since the departure of chef and co-founder Cuc Lam as well as the lessons he's learned from some of the talented chefs and sommeliers who have worked for him over the years.

Prior to Lasco joining the show, Sandler and co-host Linda Salinas discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: the news that the James Beard Foundation will announce the finalists for its annual awards from Houston; the plans to transform Star Fish into 1751 Sea and Bar; Bravery Chef Hall hiring David Cedeno to run its cocktail bar; and whether the media played a role in Rhotey Rotisserie closing.

In the restaurants of the week segment, Sandler and Salinas share some of their recent crawfish meals. Salinas praises Midtown restaurant Saigon House as a favorite, while Sandler sings the praises of the weekend crawfish boils at La Lucha.

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Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify. Listen to it Saturday at 3 pm on ESPN 97.5.

Jerry Lasco is this week's guest.

Courtesy of Lasco Enterprises

Jerry Lasco is this week's guest.

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What's Eric Eating Episodes 518 and 519

Meet the men behind River Oaks' new destination for bowls and broth

Photo by Becca Wright

Find Honest Mary's in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Honest Mary’s founder Nelson Monteith and COO Andrew Wiseheart joined CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the Austin-based restaurant that just opened its first Houston location in the River Oaks Shopping Center (2047-A West Gray St).

Monteith shares that he started the restaurant in 2017 in order to fulfill his vision of a restaurant which could serve food that’s fast, fresh, and affordable. A trained chef who operated pioneering Austin restaurant Contigo, Wiseheart joined the group to bring both culinary expertise and operational acumen to the grouping company.

Part of what sets Honest Mary’s apart is that diners can add cooked vegetables to the rice and proteins at the heart of every bowl. The “Market Sides” section includes an array of roasted vegetables — including sweet potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, beets, and Brussels sprouts — as well as black beans, maple-glazed carrots, and green lentils. Bowls can be further enhanced with toppings such as Texas pecans, crispy chickpeas, goat cheese, avocado, and apples as well as sauces such as creamy poblano, cashew lime crema, sesame vinaigrette, spicy peanut, chimichurri and apple cider vinaigrette

Monteith explains that looking at the ingredients on display usually inspires him when he’s deciding what to eat at Honest Mary’s.

“I will almost always look at the line and see what looks fresh and good,” Monteith says. “Today, I got the salted kale with white rice. Then, I got garlic-pepper steak. I added on lentils — they’re my go-to in the winter. They blend everything together, and I love it Then Brussels sprouts looked green. I got some jalapenos. Avocados, cause that’s healthy. Then I got the chimichurri sauce.”

Honest Mary’s is also known for its hearty broths, a classic chicken and a vegetarian option made with seaweed and mushroom. Sandler raves about the chicken broth to Wiseheart, who shares how it’s made.

“We spent six or seven months testing recipes and drinking it ourselves to see if it’s a good idea,” Wiseheart says. “I talk about it as a great complement to the menu. It’s healthy. It’s really simple. Most of the kitchens I came up with were rooted in French cuisine. This is just chicken stock with salt in it.”

Listen to the full episode to hear more about Honest Mary’s plans for additional locations in Houston and Dallas. Then Monteith asks a Sandler a few questions about the Houston dining scene.

In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Mary Clarkson discuss the news of the week. Their topics include Home Slice Pizza opening a new location in the Heights; the closures of Brett’s BBQ Shop in Katy and Killen’s Barbecue in The Woodlands; and Esquire including ChòpnBlok on its list of America’s best new restaurants.

In the restaurant of the week segment, the two friends discuss their recent meal at Hypsi, the Italian restaurant in the newly-opened Hotel Daphne. Listen to the episode to hear their favorite dishes and other thoughts on the meal.

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Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hear it Sunday at 9 am on ESPN 97.5.

Photo by Becca Wright

Find Honest Mary's in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

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