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    Katie Couric in Town

    Katie Couric samples H-Town's international cuisine on assignment for Yahoo News

    Shelby Hodge
    Feb 12, 2016 | 8:00 am

    Fresh from a working visit at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Katie Couric arrived at Underbelly Thursday morning for a visit with chef Chris Shepherd and a surprise sampling of his famed Korean braised goat dumplings.

     

    "Goat dumplings?" she questioned with a note of relief. "I was afraid you were going to say goat testicles."

     

    It was one of three restaurant stops as she continued working on the Houston chapter of her docu-series Cities Rising: Rebuilding America, currently airing on Yahoo News where Couric serves as global news anchor.

     

    After the Underbelly visit, Shepherd accompanied Couric across Westheimer to Mala Sichuan and then to Pho Saigon in Midtown. There were interviews, tastings and plenty of selfies for Couric fans.

     

    The focus of the series, which has already posted stories on Buffalo, New York, and New Orleans, is, as Couric tells CultureMap, "how American cities are reinventing themselves in a whole myriad of ways."

     

    "This has been a really fun assignment for me because we're going to a lot of American cities and talking about how they're doing things right. I think in my business it's difficult to find positive stories," she says.

     

    The focus of the Houston story is on the city's widespread collaboration, Couric says.

     

    "It's fun for me to be in Houston and I'm learning so much . . . Houston is a lot about collaboration," she says, collaboration in particular in medicine and science through M.D. Anderson and the Texas Medical Center and collaboration through business as evidenced through Chris Shepherd and the restaurant industry.

     

    "It shows how everyone working together can produce incredible things," Couric notes. "I was struck by how Chris helps other restaurateurs and is really an ambassador for all kinds of cooking and all kinds of business really. That's obviously not only a great culinary boon to Houston, but it also helps economically."

     

    The Houston segment is expected to post on Yahoo News in two weeks.

    Katie Couric and chef Chris Shepherd posing for photos at Underbelly, where Couric filmed for Yahoo News.

    Katie Couric, Chris Shepherd at Underbelly, Feb. 2016
      
    Photo by Shelby Hodge
    Katie Couric and chef Chris Shepherd posing for photos at Underbelly, where Couric filmed for Yahoo News.
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    news/city-life

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    Shaquille O'Neal Ninfa's Uptown
    Courtesy of Ninfa's
    Shaquille O'Neal had lunch at Ninfa's Uptown.

    Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, starting with a surprise visit — and big tip — from Shaq. Plus, Houston ranks among America's most overpriced cities, and rents rise in Sugar Land. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then find the best things to do this weekend here.

    1. Shaquille O'Neal leaves $1,000 tip at Houston Tex-Mex institution. NBA Hall of Famer and media personality Shaquille O’Neal surprised the crowd at The Original Ninfa’s Uptown when he stopped by for lunch, posing for pics and leaving a very big tip.

    2. Veteran Houston bartender shakes up the Heights with new tropical bar. The woman behind your favorite bartender’s favorite bar has quietly opened a new cocktail spot in the Heights. Called Berwick’s Birds of Paradise, it’s the latest project from Double Trouble owner Robin Berwick.

     Berwick's Birds of Paradise bar Robin Berwick Owner Robin Berwick took inspiration from hotel bars for BBOP.  Photo by Vivian Leba  

    3. Houston is one of America's most overpriced cities, study finds. In what may come as a surprise to some local residents, a new study ranks Houston among the 10 most overpriced cities in America.

    4. This Houston suburb had the highest apartment rent prices in June. Apartment rent prices in June were more expensive in Sugar Land than anywhere else in Houston, according to the latest monthly rent report from Zumper.

    5. Houston influencer opens an antiques-filled boutique hotel in Montrose. 109 Stratford Street in Historic East Avondale has recently opened as a nine-room boutique hotel, The Marlene Inn, from owner and Instagram influencer Lily Barfield.

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