What's Eric Eating Episode 196

Houston chef spreads the love of new Heights restaurant, plus fine French dining at the MFAH

On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," Lance Fegen joins CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss Fegen's. Best known for Glass Wall and Liberty Kitchen, the veteran chef opened his new establishment in April.

As Fegen explains, this new restaurant is more personal than his previous projects, and not just because it's his name on the sign. Part of the menu features the Italian-American fare he grew up eating in New Jersey. Overall, it's brought a whole new energy to the space on Studewood that was home to the original Liberty Kitchen.

"I'll be honest. I didn't always love walking into Liberty Kitchen. It became a monster, and it got out of hand, personally and professionally," Fegen says. When I walk into Fegen's, I feel relieved that we have this really nice little place, and we've got a culture that's developing nicely.

"The food is simple and easy to understand. I just watching the dining room — I'm shucking oysters at the bar — and I can see every human in the building. What I'm seeing is this close knit camaraderie between the tables. They're not on their phones . . . Now I love being in my restaurant."

Tune in to hear the restaurant of the interview, in which Fegen discusses his new path as a professional coach who helps people with both their businesses and in recovering from addictions. The work has also led him to adopt a new approach in the kitchen.

Prior to the interview, Avondale Food & Wine owner Mary Clarkson joins Sandler to discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: Atlas Restaurant Group's plans to open a new Italian restaurant in Montrose; Mastro's Ocean Club coming to The Woodlands; and the recent openings of Agnes Cafe, Homestead, Badolina Bakery, and Shokku Ramen.

In the restaurants of the week segment, Clarkson and Sandler review their meal at Le Jardinier, the recently opened fine dining French restaurant at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Listen in to hear whether they think it lives up to reputation of its sister location in New York that holds one Michelin star.

---

Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify. Listen to it Saturday at 1 pm on ESPN 97.5.

Dishes like linguine with clam sauce harken back to New Jersey.

Photo by Carla Gomez

Dishes like linguine with clam sauce harken back to New Jersey.

podcasts chefs the-heights news-you-can-eat

What's Eric Eating Episodes 388 and 389

Daily Gather's dynamic duo dish on keeping it local, plus a visit to Blue Tuba

Photo by Kimberly Park

undefined

On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Aaron Lyons and chef Brandi Key join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the latest goings on at Five 12 Restaurant Concepts, the parent company of Houston-based restaurants Daily Gather and Dish Society.

A lot has happened at Five 12 since Lyons and Key last appeared on the show in 2021, including opening Daily Gather at CityCentre, closing Dish Society’s original Tanglewood location, and opening Dish Society’s first restaurant in Austin.

The conversation begins with a look back at the first two years of operations at Daily Gather, an eclectic, family-friendly restaurant that’s flexible enough to accommodate big groups and date nights. Key discusses getting the restaurant’s menu dialed in, while Lyons explains how his status as a Memorial resident has helped him his neighbors’ support.

During the Dish Society section of the interview, Sandler notes how much he appreciates that the restaurant is open for breakfast during the week. Key acknowledges it’s a core component of the restaurant’s identity.

“For me, the fact that we do breakfast every single day, that sets us apart. The type of eggs we’re buying, the bread we’re buying, the ingredients we’re buying — most of them being from Texas — you can come in and get a basic, traditional breakfast. Everything is coming from Texas. It’s so fresh and easy,” she says.

“The work from home movement has changed the way people dine. Lunch is not 11:45 am to 12:45 pm anymore. It’s 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. You have more people meeting for breakfast. We’re seeing a shift,” Lyons adds.

Listen to the full interview to hear Lyons’ thoughts on the future markets for both Daily Gather and Dish Society. The two also shares thoughts on the number of restaurants that have opened recently in both Spring Branch and Memorial.

In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Michael Fulmer discuss the news of the week. Their topics include the opening of The Kennedy, a new piano bar in the former Muse space; Chicago-based restaurant Portillo’s plans to open four Houston-area locations by the end of the year; and Ishtia, the new concept from Eculent chef-owner David Skinner that’s devoted to indigenous cuisine.

The restaurant of the week segment begins with Sandler and a special guest sharing their first impressions of Toca Madera, the high energy, Mexican-inspired steakhouse that recently opened next to the Thompson Hotel. Then, Fulmer returns to discuss his meal with Sandler at Blue Tuba, the new restaurant in the Heights that’s blending Eastern European and Texan influences.

-----

Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hear it Sunday at 10 am on ESPN 97.5.

podcasts news-you-can-eat interview