What's Eric Eating Episode 142

Talented chef shares her Italian soul, plus hot Houston to-go restaurants

Chef Sasha Grumman is this week's guest.

Photo by Nuray Taylor

On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," chef Sasha Grumman joins CultureMap food editor to discuss her role as the executive chef at Rosalie Italian Soul and how she's been spending her time during the downtown restaurant's temporary closure. The conversation begins with chef Grumman explaining how a trip to Italy put her on the path to a career working in restaurants. After stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, chef-owner Chris Cosentino recruited Grumman to Houston for her first executive chef post.

In addition to working at Rosalie, Grumman also talks about her work at the Southern Smoke Foundation. She's one of the furloughed hospitality employees helping the organization process the applications it has received from hospitality workers in crisis. So far, Southern Smoke has distributed over $1,000,000 to people across the country. As someone used to working 14-hour days, Grumman says the organization has helped ground her while she's away from the restaurant.

"Southern Smoke has really given me a purpose, and I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity," she says. 'Working with somebody like Chris Shepherd and the team, everyone has such a big heart. It is incredible to see this process transform."

Prior to Grumman joining the show, Sandler and co-host Matt Harris discuss the news of the week. Their conversation center around Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to allow restaurants to reopen for dine-in service at 25-percent capacity; they discuss both the conditions under which restaurants will be allowed to operate and whether they would feel comfortable dining out right now.

Then, they describe three new bars and restaurants that have either recently opened or will open soon: Millie's, a new seafood restaurant from Ken Bridge; Common Bond On-The-Go, a new drive-thru concept for the popular cafe; and Roots, a wine bar with a sophisticated food program.

In the restaurants of the week segment, the two hosts share where they've been ordering food to-go, including Kata Robata, Click Virtual Food Hall, and Coltivare.

---

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

news-you-can-eat podcasts chefs

ps, we're closed

Houston's most pretty-in-pink restaurant quietly closes in Upper Kirby

Photo by Jenn Duncan

You'll see a lot of pink at PostScript.

PostScript, Upper Kirby’ posh pink restaurant, has quietly closed, CultureMap has learned.

Although the restaurant is still accepting reservations on OpenTable — and is, as of this article’s publication, listed as open on both Yelp and Google — reports circulated on social media this weekend that it had abruptly canceled diners’ Mother’s Day reservations. In addition, its dining room in the Shops at Arrive mixed-use development has been emptied of furniture.

[Update: After the publication of this article, PostScript's management provided CultureMap with the following statement:

We are saddened to announce the closure of PostScript HTX.

We sincerely thank our patrons for their loyalty and support. It has been an honor to serve you and be part of your special moments. The people and culture in Houston are first class. We wish you all the best and hope our paths cross again in the future.]

PostScript opened with considerable fanfare in February 2024. Owners Veeral Rathod and Obi Ibeto, brought their experiences as partners in the Dallas-based GAP Hospitality to the project, which operates establishments such as XOXO Dining Room, Lyla, and Drai’s Dallas. Particularly inspired by XOXO Dining Room, they created an ode to pink that included pink exterior and interior walls, a pink quartz bar, and a pink grand piano. “Push for Champagne” buttons added to the lively spirit.

Chef Bryan Caswell created the menu. Best known for his pioneering Gulf Coast seafood restaurant Reef that closed in 2019, Caswell’s menu included fried chicken with hummus, oysters three ways (raw, roasted, and fried), a sushi roll, and the double smoked pork chop that was a Reef staple. A doughnut topped with caviar became a customer favorite.

Since Caswell was only consulting on the project, he left a couple of months after opening. Latuli, Caswell’s new Gulf Coast-inspired restaurant in the Memorial area, is expected to open soon.

CultureMap has reached out to PostScript via email, phone, and Instagram message for comment on the decision to close the restaurant. We will update this article if they reply.

PostScript’s closure follows that of Cru, which ended a 13-year run in December 2024. On the other hand, Kira, a sushi hand roll concept from Houston’s Comma Hospitality that’s also located in the development, is thriving, having earned the No. 4 spot on Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s best new restaurants. The development is also home to beloved Indian restaurant Pondicheri, an outpost of the steakhouse chain Eddie V’s, and top tier Houston shopping destination Tootsie’s.

closings news-you-can-eat