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    What's Eric Eating Episode 245

    Houston's Top Chef Season 19 star dishes on her TV time and new restaurant, plus the latest food news

    CultureMap Staff
    Jun 16, 2022 | 1:25 pm
    Top Chef Houston episode 12
    Chef Evelyn Garcia is this week's guest.
    Photo by David Moir/Bravo

    On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," chef Evelyn Garcia joins CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss her time on Top Chef Season 19 and her upcoming restaurant, Jūn by Kin. The conversation opens with Garcia explaining her decision to participate in the show and how she reacted when she found out it would be filmed in her hometown of Houston.

    The conversation touches on a number of topics, including Garcia's status as the unofficial "tour guide" for her fellow cheftestants, her favorite dishes from the various challenges, and when she started thinking about the dishes she served during the final episode. Sandler asks the chef about her emotional interviews where she wasn't afraid to get a little weepy.

    "Guys were like, 'oh, I'd never cry on TV.' I was, like, whatever. I don't care," Garcia says. "This is who I am. I feel all the emotions, and I feel all the emotions now. If I'm not trying to hold back in my cooking, I was like I'm not holding back on being me."

    The conversation concludes with Garcia discussing Jūn by Kin, the restaurant in The Heights she's opening with her business partner Henry Lu. She explains Lu's role in the project and describes the process of recruiting him to move from New York to Houston. Sandler asks about how the cuisine will be different from her stint at Decatur Bar & Pop-Up Factory, the innovative concept that closed in 2019.

    "As we've seen in the show, it's very important for me to connect with my food. It's part of my philosophy and the way that I cook. That's the core of what Jun is going to be," she says.

    "It's going to speak to my story, Henry's story. We're both first-generation American. I'm Mexican-Salvadorian. He's Chinese American via New York. We're calling it 'New Asian American,' because it's inspired by Asian flavors but Henry has a lot of influence from Peruvian flavors. His ceviches are killers. It's really going to speak a lot to Houston and really going to connect to us."

    Prior to the interview, Sandler and co-host Matt Harris discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: the Texas winners of this year's James Beard Awards; Phat Eatery's plans to open a new location in The Woodlands; Ronnie Killen hiring former J-Bar-M Barbecue chefs Willow Villarreal and Jasmine Barela; and globally-renown South African restaurant Nando's Peri-Peri's upcoming entrance into the Houston market.

    In the restaurant of the week segment, Sandler and Harris discuss their recent meal at Hugo's. Listen to the full episode to hear why the Houston classic might be better than ever.

    -----

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

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    Where to eat on Easter

    Running list of Houston restaurants serving decadent Easter brunches

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 16, 2026 | 5:24 pm
    Sixty Vines brunch spread
    Photo by J Chacon
    Sixty Vines recently updated its brunch menu.

    Easter provides an opportunity for Christians all over the world to reflect on the miracle of Christ’s resurrection and the profound sacrifice he made for humanity.

    While we’re not sure how eating an elaborate brunch became so closely associated with the holiday, Houston restaurants have embraced the trend wholeheartedly, with epic feasts in a range of cuisines and price points. Thankfully, Houstonians of all faiths — or no faith at all — can feast without committing to any particular religious viewpoint.

    Since the holiday doesn’t take place until Sunday, April 5, CultureMap will update this list periodically as more restaurants share their plans with us. Given the holiday’s popularity, reservations are strongly recommended.

    Etoile Cuisine et Bar
    The Uptown French restaurant will celebrate Easter with a three-course, $68 brunch. Options include lobster bisque, leek and corn tart with smoked salmon, beef “Comme Unbourguignon,” spring vegetable risotto, and profiteroles. A kid’s menu is also available for $32.

    Haywire
    The Texas-inspired restaurant in Memorial City will serve an Easter brunch buffet with carving stations, a taco bar, a seafood bar, desserts, and more. Served from 10 am-3 pm, it’s priced at $60 for adults and $20 for kids 5-12.

    Hugo’s
    The Montrose restaurant will serve its celebrated Sunday brunch buffet from 10 am-3 pm. It will feature all of its typical dishes along with a carving station, seasonal items, and Easter desserts. The cost is $58 for adults and $17 for children.

    Leo’s River Oaks
    Winner of Best New Restaurant in the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, Leo’s recently-introduced brunch menu includes options such as beef carpaccio with shaved truffle, a Bacon Slab Benedict with foie onion jam, and brioche French toast. Pair them with classic cocktails, including mimosas, bellinis, and Bloody Marys. Brunch is served from 10 am-3 pm.

    Liberty Kitchen
    The Southern-inspired seafood restaurant will supplement its regular brunch fare with specials such as a Coastal Benedict, made with poached Maine lobster or a Chesapeake crab cake. In addition, the restaurant will be decorated for the holiday, and the Easter Bunny will stop by for photos. Brunch is served from 9 am-3 pm.

    Nobu
    For Easter, the globally-renowned sushi restaurant will supplement its Sunday brunch buffet with chef stations serving prime rib with spicy amazu ponzu, roasted salmon, short rib-stuffed bao buns, and parmesan truffle fice with rock shrimp. The $85 meal will be served from 11 am-2 pm.

    Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
    All locations of the locally-owned steakhouse will an Easter ham special ($49), consisting of double-smoked, triple-glazed ham with whipped potatoes and green bean almondine, plus a choice of pear salad or carrot ginger soup. A kids meal is also available for $19. For dinner, get the restaurant’s signature pork chop, plus a choice of soup or salad and dessert for $49.

    Rainbow Lodge
    Located in Lazybrook/Timbergrove, the fine dining restaurant is known for its wild game. For Easter, it will serve a three-course, $69 menu ($39 kids menu also available). Choices include smoked duck gumbo, marinated Gulf shrimp salad, hanger steak and eggs, grilled rack of lamb, braised bison short rib Benedict, and croissant bread pudding.

    Remi at the Hotel Granduca
    The Uptown restaurant will supplement its regular brunch menu with Easter specials, including black truffle deviled eggs, potato and leek soup, braised lamb shank with polenta, and duck leg confit with duck fat hash brown. The meal also includes Easter egg hunts at 10 am and 11:30 am, along with photos with the Easter bunny.

    Sixty Vines
    The wine-obsessed restaurant recently updated its brunch menu with new items such as carrot cake pancakes, avocado Benedict croissant, a shareable brunch board, and the “Winemaker’s Breakfast” with eggs, hash browns, sausage, and sourdough toast. Beverage options into a matcha martini, frozé, and the Scarlet Letter Sangria made with tequila, sparkling rosé, orange bitters, mixed berry simple syrup, and and pomegranate.

    State Fare Kitchen and Bar
    Both the Memorial City and The Woodlands locations of the Texas comfort food restaurant will supplement its regular brunch menu with seasonal specials such as hummingbird pancakes. In addition, the restaurant will be decorated for Easter and feature a DJ spinning from 12-4 pm.

    Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen
    Both the Memorial and Energy Corridor locations of this Houston classic will offer an Easter brunch buffet from 11 am-3 pm. Priced at $32.95 ($12.95 for kids 5-12), the selections include chicken flautas, ceviche, shrimp cocktail, pancakes, eggs cooked-to-order, street tacos, and five of the restaurant’s most popular enchiladas — Mexico City, Refugio, Puebla, Crystal City, and Chihuahua Beef. Pair them with agua frescas or $4 cocktails (mimosas, champagne, Bloody Mary, or red sangria).

    Toro Toro at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston
    The restaurant will serve its decadent Easter brunch buffet from 11 am-3 pm. Priced at $145 for adults and $65 for children 12 and under, the meal includes a seafood and sushi station, a carving station, a Texas Charcuterie Board, classic breakfast fare, and a “grand dessert display.” Reservations are required.

    Uchi Houston
    Usually only open for dinner, the Montrose sushi will offer a special, six-course, $120 lunch for two on Easter Sunday. Served from 11 am-2:30 pm, the menu includes fan favorite dishes such as hama chili, nigiri, sashimi, temaki, and the popular fried milk dessert. The a la carate, core dinner menu will also be available.

    Zaranda
    This new restaurant in downtown will celebrate its first Easter with a $59, three-course menu ($17 for kids 12 and under). Served from 10 am - 3 pm, the meal begins with cornbread, followed by a choice of spring salad, artichoke soup, campechana, or braised lamb empanadas. Entree choices include steak and eggs, roast chicken, rainbow trout, rice with vegetables, and braised lamb hash. Two dessert options round out the meal.

    Sixty Vines brunch spread

    Photo by J Chacon

    Sixty Vines recently updated its brunch menu.

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