What's Eric Eating Episode 3

Bryan Caswell reveals plans for new restaurant and rooftop bar in downtown Houston

Bryan Caswell has news. The chef-owner of Midtown seafood restaurant Reef, Montrose Tex-Mex restaurant El Real, and the slider joint Little Bigs is preparing to launch his first chef-driven concept since Stella Sola opened in 2009.

The new restaurant represents other new beginnings, as well. It will be Caswell's first without his one time business partner Bill Floyd, and the first where his wife Jennifer will have contributed to the overall concept, including the design and the marketing.

"This is the most personal thing I've done since I opened Reef," Bryan Caswell tells CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler in a special episode of CultureMap's new podcast, "What's Eric Eating?."

In a freewheeling conversation, the Caswells discuss the name of the new restaurant, Oxbow 7, where it's located at the new Le Méridien Houston Downtown hotel opening July 18, what inspired the menu, and a rooftop hotel bar that the couple will also design and operate.

After the Caswells share news about their new restaurant, they also discuss their plans to create "Reef 2.0." As the Gulf Coast seafood restaurant prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, it will undergo some physical changes to its design as well as changes to its menu to reflect changes in the way people like to eat. Finally, Caswell talks about Riel, the Montrose restaurant opened by his protege Ryan Lachaine.

Before the Caswells join the show, CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler and this week's co-host, local bartender Chris Frankel, discuss the news of the week. Topics include Frankel's new position as a consultant for Dallas-based Neapolitan pizzeria Cane Rosso, sommelier Evan Turner's sudden departure from Helen Greek Food & Wine, and some brief thoughts on Better Luck Tomorrow, the new neighborhood bar from Anvil owner Bobby Heugel and Oxheart chef-owner Justin Yu.

In the restaurants of the week segment, Sandler and Frankel share their experience at Rim Tanon, a recently opened Thai restaurant in the Upper Kirby area, and Frankel offers his opinions on how some of Houston's new poke restaurants compare to those he's encountered during his travels to California and Las Vegas.

Stay current on "What's Eric Eating" by subscribing to it on iTunes.

Jennifer and Bryan Caswell in front of the future Oxbow 7.

Bryan Caswell Oxbow 7 construction Jennifer Caswell

Courtesy photo

Jennifer and Bryan Caswell in front of the future Oxbow 7.

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two days of bbq

2 Michelin-rated barbecue joints holding can't-miss pop ups in Houston

Courtesy of KG BBQ

KG BBQ is bringing its Egyptian-influenced barbecue to Houston.

Two of the Texas barbecue joints to earn Bib Gourmand recognition in the Michelin Guide will be holding pop ups in Houston this week. One is visiting from Austin, while another is a Spring favorite with a one-day-only menu.

On Saturday, December 14, Austin’s celebrated KG BBQ will be serving at Axelrad in Midtown. Part of Texas Monthly’s 2023 list of the Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas, KG BBQ has earned wide acclaim for pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh’s Egyptian-influenced take on Texas barbecue.

The menu will include many of KG’s most popular dishes, including brisket rice bowls with smoked Mediterranean rice; smoked lamb chops; sumac-and-cinnamon-rubbed lamb shoulder, and sides such as pink buttermilk potato salad and Baladi salad.

Service begins at 10:30 am. Preorders are available online with a minimum order of $60.

In a statement, Axelrad co-owners Adam Brackman and Monte Large say that KG will make more visits to Houston in 2025. El-Ghayesh adds that he’s a fan of the Houston bar that’s known for its spacious backyard with hammocks, a stage, and a wide-ranging menu of beer and cocktails.

“Since the moment I stepped foot in Axelrad, I loved their culture, their vibrant colors and artistic flare, their attention to detail and hospitality and love for entertainment makes this place perfect for bringing back my nostalgic memories of hosting pop-ups like how I started in Austin,” he said. “I’m proud to bring what I have created to Houston. From how diverse the city is, its beautiful variety of ethnic foods, and large Egyptian community, it has so much to offer. We are excited to serve up some Egyptian BBQ to the Houston community through our pop ups over the next year at Axelrad.”

On Sunday, Spring’s Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q will trade its usual offerings for a special menu of dishes made with smoked whole hog. The menu will include whole hog plates, whole hog sandwiches, whole hog-and-parmesan polenta cakes, and whole hog served over cheese grits with a New Orleans-style barbecue sauce as well as sides and desserts. Service will run from 11 am until everything sells out, likely sometime between 2 and 3 pm.

“The whole menu is filled with specials and cool items we don’t do everyday at the stand,” co-owner Jordan Rosemeyer writes in an email. The motive, beyond exercising some creative muscles, is to raise money for Hogs for the Cause, an annual event that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research and the families who are fighting it.

Like KG, Rosemeyer is also a member of Texas Monthly’s 2023 new and improved list. Located at 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd., the humble trailer has earned acclaim for its weekly specials, housemade ice cream, and well executed barbecue staples.

news-you-can-eat barbecue pop ups kg bbq rosemeyer bar-b-q