UberEATS Launches in Houston

Major chefs join in swank announcement party for Houston UberEATS, launches Thursday

The expansion to Houston of UberEATS, the quick-delivery meal program in 10 locations around the country, was announced Tuesday night amid a fanfare of top chefs, food stations and open bars at the historic Heights Fire Station.

UrbanEATS Houston general manager Sarah Groen announced the launch, which begins Thursday, at the private, secret gathering with 100 guests including media, "Uber riders" and foodies. Little information was given out before the evening other than time, location and embargo restrictions.

Guests arrived to a party room with thumping DJ tunes, disco lighting, bars and food stations from participating eateries. Celebrity chefs including Ryan Pera, Bryan Caswell and Lucille's Chris Williams mingled in the crowd before the announcement.

Following the official unveiling of the UberEATS Houston neon logo, Groen conducted a brief round table discussion with those chefs as well as Pondicheri's Anita Jaisinghani, Latin Bites' Carlos Ramos and Morgan Weber of Coltivare/Revival Market/Eight Row Flint.

Each of these chefs is participating in the program that features a different lunch menu from a different chef each day of the work week. Orders are taken between 11 am and 2 pm and food delivered, they say, within 10 minutes. The initial delivery zone will be Downtown and Midtown.

Pera of Coltivare will kick off the launch on Thursday as Chef Zero.

"What this means to our riders is that they have access to an experience that they've never had before and that has never been possible before," Groen tells CultureMap. "These riders are now able to order food from the best chefs. It's fresh and it's at their doorstep or their office in 10 minutes or less."

What can they order? "It's a daily rotating, curated menu of three items," Groen said. "So we'll feature a new menu and a new chef every day."

The group of 100 guests grazed through offerings from Tout Suite, Revival Market, Mala Sichuan Bistro, Jackson Street BBQ, Sticky Chicken food truck and Common Bond.

None was more exuberant on this evening than Reef's Caswell. "This is going to change the way Houston eats," he said, adding that he and his wife are loyal Uber fans. "My Uber bill is higher than my mortgage payment each month," he quipped.

Caswell's El Real and Jackson Street BBQ will be participating in UberEATS Houston. Jackson Street pitmaster Greg Gatlin was on hand with Derek Cooper serving that hot spots brisket on jalapeno cheddar biscuits.

UberEATS Houston general manager Sarah Groen, chef Ryan Pera.

UberEATS Houston announcement Sarah Groen, Ryan Pera

Photo by Raj Banik

UberEATS Houston general manager Sarah Groen, chef Ryan Pera.

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”