Foodie News

A cool Latin chef, hot city & new restaurant make reality TV debut in Aquiles enHouston

Aquiles Chavez and family
Photo by Amy Dunn
Chef Aquiles Chavez of La Fisheria
Photo by Amy Dunn

From Erica Rose to Bryan Caswell and Rebecca Masson, Houston has had its share of reality stars. Yet Houston itself has never had much of a presence on the small screen, and unless one of those rumored Real Housewives of Houston shows actually happens, Bayou City's biggest television moment is set to start on Sunday, when Aquiles en Houston debuts on Spanish-language cable channel Utilisima.

Aquiles in Houston follows celebrity chef Aquiles Chavez as he transplants his family from Mexico to Houston to open a new restaurant, La Fisheria. Chavez has already acheived fame across Latin America with his previous Utilisima shows, including an Anthony Bourdain-style travel show, Aquilisimo, and El Toque de Aquiles, a fun-packed cooking show.

It might be airing on Spanish-language TV, but Aquiles en Houston has the potential to show a quintessential part of life in Houston, one of the most diverse cities in the country.

His new show should show a new side of Aquiles, as he navigates the culture and lifestyle of a new country with his family, all while dealing with the challenges of creating a business as an immigrant. It might be airing on Spanish-language TV, but Aquiles en Houston has the potential to show a quintessential part of life in Houston, one of the most diverse cities in the country.

Chavez could have chose to put down roots somewhere like Miami (where his Latin American fame would probably have been more useful); his settling on Houston is both evidence of our city's relative economic well-being and a sign of the prominence of Mexican citizens relocating here. In an interview about his new Houston projects, Chavez mentions that there are many Tabasco natives in Houston, with The Woodlands as a popular suburb for expats.

Are you planning to watch Aquiles en Houston?

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rolling into Town & Country

Buzzy East Coast bagel bakery sets opening date for first Houston shop

Photo by Jen Goldberg

PopUp Bagels will open on Friday, June 12.

A rapidly-growing East Coast bagel chain has set an opening date for its first Houston location. PopUp Bagels will open on Friday, June 12, the company announced.

Located at 700 Town and Country Blvd (suite 2640), PopUp Bagels teased its Houston plans with a window wrap in February. It joins two locations in Dallas. Overall, Texas franchisee Lone Star Bagels plans to open more than 10 locations statewide, according to press materials.

PopUp Bagels has a somewhat unusual business model. Unlike most of Houston’s locally-owned bagels shop, it doesn’t serve bagel sandwiches — or even toast or slice bagels for its customers. Instead, customers are encouraged to “grip, rip, and dip” their bagels directly into the spreads.

Similarly, PopUp Bagels only offers five options: plain, salt, poppy, sesame, and everything. They can be matched with one of six spreads: plain cream cheese, salted butter, scallion cream cheese, and rotating options that currently include truffle cream cheese and hot pickle butter.

Finally, PopUp bagels doesn’t sell individual bagels. Diners must purchase a minimum of three bagels and a schmear for $15. A dozen bagels and two schmears costs $46. As a point of comparison, bagels at Houston’s Bagel Shop Bakery can be purchased individually for $2 each or $25 for a baker’s dozen (13 bagels) with two 8-ounce containers of cream cheese.

Despite these policies, PopUp Bagels has amassed a devoted following for its crispy texture, airy interior, and dense coating of seeds. Its won “Best Bagel” at the Brooklyn Bagel Fest in 2021 and 2022 and is ranked as one of the 17 best bagels in New York by the New York Times. Since being acquired by equity growth firm Stripes in 2023, it has announced plans to open more than 300 locations nationwide and counts a number of celebrities, including Houston Texans legend JJ Watt, among its investors.

PopUp Bagels will celebrate its grand opening from 8-11 am on Friday, June 12, The event will feature a DJ and a limited edition spicy queso cream cheese. In addition, 50 percent of proceeds will be donated to the JJ Watt Foundation.

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