What's Eric Eating Episode 208

Diving into Midtown's new po' boy spot, plus authentic Italian arrives near River Oaks

Winnie's will feature a Peacemaker po' boy.

Photo by Emily Jaschke

On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," Graham Laborde and Benjy Mason join CultureMap food editor to discuss Winnie's. Located in the former Natachee's space in Midtown, the bar-forward po' boy concept begins its soft opening this weekend.

The two worked together at Bernadine's when Laborde served as executive chef and Mason oversaw operations for the Treadsack restaurant group. After the restaurant closed, Laborde worked for Killen's Restaurants until early 2020 while Mason became the owner of Johnny's Gold Brick, the popular cocktail bar in The Heights. They teamed up with chef Chris Roy to bring Winnie's to life.

Sandler asks about how similar the concept is to Bernadine's. Laborde acknowledges that the gumbo, oysters, and certain other recipes share roots with that restaurant, but Mason notes the more casual setting dictates certain differences.

"The base sauces and breadings come from Bernadine's, but the end result is piled on a sandwich and covered with Cool Ranch Doritos," Mason says. "Back in the Bernadine's days I remember arguing how fancy should things be, this swings pretty far in the other direction. It's prepared with the same quality of ingredients and to the same standards, but we don't really have plates. And we have a lot more Doritos."

Prior to the interview, Sandler and co-host Mary Clarkson discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: the imminent closure of Golden Bagels & Coffee; Dish Society's plans to open sister concept Daily Gather in CityCentre; and the recent departure of the chefs at Brennan's and Degust.

In the restaurant of the week segment, Sandler and Clarkson discuss their recent meal at Concura Italian Bites, the new establishment that opened near River Oaks District. They find a few rustic Italian dishes not often seen in Houston restaurants.

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a spoonful of sugar

New Mexican eatery sweetens Houston with 150 spirits and bold flavors

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

A Dallas-based Mexican restaurant is coming to Houston. Mexican Sugar will open its first Houston location in Montrose this December.

Located next to Georgia James in the Regent Square mixed-use development, Mexican Sugar will occupy a two-story, 13,000-square-foot building. All that room offers seating for 375 as well as two private dining rooms with full audio-visual capabilities. Both the upstairs and downstairs patios will have a view of nearby Buffalo Bayou Park.

Its part of FB Society, the Dallas-based hospitality group behind Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, and Haywire, the Texas-inspired comfort food restaurant that opened its first Houston-area location earlier this year. Mexican Sugar has three locations in the Dallas area: Plano, Las Colinas, and Uptown Dallas.

In a release, Mexican Sugar touts its use of seasonal ingredients. It also makes its tortillas by hand. Menu highlights include skirt steak, lobster fundido, and a bone-in pork chop. At brunch, look for options such as cajeta French toast, Benedictos Rancheros, and vanilla-cinnamon pancakes.

Agave fans will find plenty of choices courtesy of more the 150 tequilas and mezcals. They’re available in individual pours as well as in flights that allow customers to compare the flavors of the different spirits.

“Our goal is to create a dining experience that blends bold Mexican flavors with our signature style of hospitality that stays two steps ahead,” Justin Beam, Mexican Sugar’s director of operations, said in a statement. “We’re excited to offer Houstonians an immersive Mexican experience in a fresh, light, and approachable way.”

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

news-you-can-eat openings mexican sugar