What's Eric Eating Episode 163

A new, piping-hot Heights coffee shop and roastery, plus phat dim sum in Katy

On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," Jacob Ibarra joins CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss Tenfold Coffee, his recently opened coffee shop and roastery in The Heights. The Texas A&M alum explains how a trip to Costa Rica after graduation sparked a lifelong love of coffee that took him to Seattle and Melbourne, Australia.

Ibarra's path took him from barista to coffee roasting to traveling the world to purchase coffee. All of those experiences are synthesized at Tenfold, where Ibarra and his team buy, roast, and brew coffees from six countries — Burundi, Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Ethiopia — where Ibarra has established personal relationships with the farmers who grow the beans.

Opening during a pandemic has presented a variety of challenges, but Tenfold has started to build a following. Ibarra credits part of that success to the classes he holds in subjects such as how to brew better coffee at home and how to taste coffee like a professional.

"What's been great is we booked out three months basically from the get-go, and people's responses have been really positive," Ibarra says. "I love it, because it creates a relationship with a certain group of people. I never expected to have such depth. [They start] as a customer then move to that friendship category to them cheering you on now."

Prior to the interview, Sandler and co-host Felice Sloan of Swanky Maven discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to allow restaurants to raise their capacity to 75 percent and the difficult position bars find themselves in; Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson's partnership with Detroit-based restaurant Lefty's Famous Cheesesteaks, and a new documentary that tells the story of how local influencer Julie Nong (better known as Julie Julez) used the power of social media to support local, Black-owned businesses.

In the restaurants of the week segment, Sloan and Sandler share their first impressions of The Original Hot Dog Factory, the Atlanta-based restaurant that just opened its first franchised location in Houston. Then, they discuss the dim sum offerings at Phat Eatery in Katy.

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The hosts visit The Original Hot Dog Factory.

Courtesy of The Original Hot Dog Factory

The hosts visit The Original Hot Dog Factory.

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Best Easter brunch to-go

8 Houston restaurants with Easter feasts to serve at home

Carla Gomez

Eat in the comfort of your own home this Easter with takeout options from Houston restaurants, like Feges BBQ.

Prefer to enjoy Easter in sweatpants or with zero stress about cooking? These Houston restaurants have you covered with chef-prepared carryout meals. From slow-smoked barbecue to bakery bundles and seafood boils, here’s where to pick up a holiday spread with plenty of time for the backyard egg hunt.

Balboa Surf Club
For a meal reminiscent of a hug from mom, consider Balboa Surf Club’s two whole roasted chickens ($50) over creamed corn, plus a side of off-menu Parker House rolls ($20). The to-go menu also features favorites like poached Patagonia salmon ($150), coconut shrimp ($45), and jalapeno salad ($30), all serving up to six. Cap it off with the cuatro leches cake ($70).

Common Bond Coffee & Bakery
Start the day with Common Bond’s Easter Breakfast Pastry Bundle ($20), packed with an Easter bun, chocolate croissant, morning bun, blueberry muffin, and two classic croissants. Cinnamon rolls get a bunny-rific makeover with whimsical Easter Buns ($5), iced cinnamon rolls with festive sprinkles. Both the buns and the bundles are available at Common Bond Coffee & Bakery locations from now until April 20. For an eye-catching centerpiece, preorder the carrot cake ($40) with cream cheese icing and floral decor for pickup April 18–20 at Bistro locations and On-The-Go MarqE.

Crawfish Cafe
It may be called a Bunny Boil, but no bunnies were harmed in Crawfish Cafe’s $34 seafood feast. The restaurant’s Easter special of crawfish (1lb), shrimp (1/2lb), black mussels (1lb), corn, and potatoes is available for carryout or dine-in at each of its five locations. Even better, 20 percent of sales benefit Kids’ Meals, a local nonprofit fighting child hunger. The Bunny Boil is available April 19-21.

El Bolillo Bakery
Nothing says Easter in Houston quite like egg-shaped conchitas. El Bolillo Bakery is going all out with a lineup of conchitas ($20 for 25), sugar cookies ($30 for 12), and vanilla cake pops dipped in white chocolate ($20 for 6). Add El Bolillo’s famous tres leches cake to the Easter meal with a 6-inch flower basket cake filled with strawberry mousse and topped with florals and a bunny ($35). Traditional capirotada, a Lenten bread pudding with peanuts, raisins, coconut, and cheese, is also available ($40–$80). Preorders are open, and pickup is available from now until Easter Sunday.

Feges BBQ
Celebrate Easter with a smoked feast from Feges BBQ. Preorder the barbecue joint’s popular meats like pork ribs ($45 for a whole rack of 12–14 bones) or brisket ($160 for 6–7 lbs). Add sides such as hog fat cornbread or Moroccan glazed carrots. For dessert, choose between rum raisin bread pudding or carrot cake (or both!). All items come pre-cooked, vacuum-sealed, and with reheating instructions. Orders are due by 5 pm on Tuesday, April 15 for pickup from 11 am–9 pm on Friday, April 18, or Saturday, April 19, at the Spring Branch location.

il Bracco
Uptown’s il Bracco has your Easter table handled with elegant, family-style entrees and sides that serve six. Choose from marinated prime tri-tip ($100), chicken piccatta ($90), and poached salmon ($150), paired with sides such as focaccia ($35), pesto riggatoni ($65), and kale salad ($30). For a sweet finish, there’s a chocolate torte ($60) and tiramisu ($80). Add a Round of Braccos, a half-gallon of frozen greyhound cocktails with Aperol and grapefruit, for $90.

Kolache Shoppe
The revered kolache can be a part of the Easter celebration with Kolache Shoppe's pastries. For an early morning, select from the sweet, savory, and breakfast-centered kolaches or opt for gooey cinnamon rolls. Continue the yeasty goodness with a preorder of the Shoppe’s special holiday dinner rolls ($7/dozen). Orders require a 48-hour notice, with pickup on either Friday, April 18, or Saturday, April 19. The Pearland location will be open on Easter Sunday, while all others will be closed. Preorder dinner rolls here, with kolaches and cinnamon rolls orders placed here.

Whiskey Cake
Easily impress holiday guests with Whiskey Cake’s Easter Prime Rib Feast ($55 per person). Packaged warm and ready-to-serve, this entree features 44 Farms prime rib with bourbon-rosemary jus, served alongside baby potato salad with roasted apples and crispy bacon, grilled jumbo asparagus, and poppyseed potato rolls with whipped brown butter. This decadent option is available for takeout or dine-in from April 17-20.

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