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    What's Eric Eating Episode 134

    The Moroccan maestro behind Houston's hot spots, plus some great tacos

    CultureMap Staff
    Mar 5, 2020 | 3:25 pm

    On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," chef Youssef Nafaa joins CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss Bella Restaurants Group. Under that umbrella, Nafaa operates Mia Bella Trattoria, Coco's Crepes, and Zoa Moroccan Kitchen, a quick service restaurant that opened this week.

    The conversation begins with Nafaa describing his path to Houston, including moving from Morocco to Chicago. After a period of working for other people, he opened Mi Luna in Rice Village. From there, he would go on to open the first Mia Bella in the heart of downtown in 1999. Time in France inspired the decision to open Coco's, and Zoa reflects the street food he eats in Morocco.

    Sandler notes that Mia Bella isn't a traditional Italian restaurant, and Nafaa shares the thinking behind his innovative approach that has made the restaurant a staple.

    "Our meatballs, instead of regular meatballs, we stuff them with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. We do seafood lasagna with shrimp, salmon, and scallops," he says. "You can play with the food and keep it authentic We still use all Italian ingredients. We stay within the frame of Italian, but we give it a little twist . . . You can have meatballs anywhere; I need to give you something different."

    Prior to the interview, Sandler and co-host Matt Harris discuss the news of the week. Their topics including Houston's 14 James Beard Award semifinalist nominations; the announcement from the Nancy's Hustle team that they plan to open a pizzeria later this year; and the new Brazilian steakhouse coming to Highland Village this month.

    In the restaurants of the week segment, they discuss recent meals at Belly of the Beast, an ambitious new Mexican restaurant in Old Towne Spring, Taqo Mexican Kitchen, a casual taqueria in The Heights, and the recently introduced dinner service at El Topo in West U.

    ---

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

    Youssef Nafaa is this week's guest.

    Youssef Nafaa Bella Restaurants Group
      
    Courtesy of Bella Restaurants Group
    Youssef Nafaa is this week's guest.
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    a fresh start

    Award-winning Houston cocktail bar diverts to new home in Montrose

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 12, 2025 | 5:00 pm
    Diversion cocktail bar Montrose
    Photo by Manoah Rodriguez
    The Vilanova Ritual is prepared tableside in a teapot.

    An award-winning Houston cocktail bar has found a new home. Diversión will reopen Thursday, June 19 in Montrose’s food-focused Harlow District development.

    Located at 1226 W Clay Street, Diversión Montrose will occupy one of the two houses that comprise Emma Jane, the European-inspired teahouse that opened last year. It replaces the original location of Diversión that opened in early 2021 in Spring Branch. Both Diversión’s original location and Degust, its companion tasting menu restaurant, quietly closed last year.

    Known for its polished service and elaborate cocktails, Esquire magazine named Diversión’s original iteration to its list of the Best New Bar in America for 2022. That ethos has been “refreshed” to be “a more intimate and playful setting,” according to press materials.

    Patrons will find a new cocktail menu that includes drinks such as the Operation: ‘White Flame’ (vodka, dry vermouth, Earl Grey, and caviar); the Sand Dollar Beach, an on-trend mini martini; and the Vilanova Ritual, which is prepared for two people in one of Emma Jane’s signature tea pots. Food options include Korean fried chicken, a Japanese-style mushroom salad (sunomono), and caviar service with crème fraiche dip, soy caramel, and crepes.

    While the original Diversión required a special trip to Spring Branch, the new one could be one stop on an evening in the Harlow District. Located on the property that served as the home to treasured Italian restaurants Nino's, Vincent's, and Grappino di Nino, the development now includes upscale Italian restaurant La Griglia, premier sushi spot Katami, and lively patio bar Verde Garden.

    Diversión will be open Tuesday-Sunday from 5 pm-1 am.


    Diversion cocktail bar Montrose
      

    Photo by Manoah Rodriguez

    The Vilanova Ritual is prepared tableside in a teapot.

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