What's Eric Eating Episode 217

The dish on Garden Oaks' hottest new restaurant, plus tropical sips in the East End

On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," Daut Elshani and chef Geoff Hundt join CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss d'Alba Craft Kitchen & Cocktails. Recently opened in Garden Oaks, d'Alba provides its neighborhood with a restaurant that's family friendly enough to have a children's play area but also grown up enough to draw a late-night bar crowd.

Elshani uses the interview as an opportunity to share some news. First, Hundt, whose initially joined d'Alba as a consultant to create the menu, has left Local Foods to serve as the restaurant's executive chef and partner. Second, d'Alba will celebrate its grand opening on Sunday, December 5 by debuting its eagerly anticipated brunch menu.

Despite the challenges of staffing shortages and the rising cost of ingredients, the restaurant has been a hit. Sandler asks Hundt what he'd like to accomplish in the next six moths.

"I just want to see us get dialed in. I want our cooks to execute at 100 percent. I want brunch to be executed at 100 percent," the chef says. "I want to dial d'Alba in and create more systems. Right now, as Daut said, all the feedback has been incredible. People have been incredibly complimentary, but there's always ways we can do better."

Prior to the interview, Sandler and co-host Linda Salinas discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: the Conservatory Galleria food hall project getting back on track under new management; the imminent of opening of Bodega Bellaire, a new wine shop and home goods store; and the openings of rooftop bar Idle Hands and barbecue restaurant J-Bar-M Barbecue.

In the restaurants of the week segment, Salinas and Sandler share first impressions of Chivos, the new Mexican-American restaurant in The Heights. They find much to like about both chef Thomas Bille's menu as well as the creative Mexican cocktails. Finally, the duo shares their affection for Fitzcarraldo, a tropical cocktail bar in the East End from the owners of Cantina Barba.

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

D'Alba has been a hit in Garden Oaks.

Photo by Becca Wright

D'Alba has been a hit in Garden Oaks.

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no screaming required

15 Houston restaurants crafting nostalgic and decadent ice cream sundaes

Alex Montoya

The Pit Room in Memorial has a build-your-own dessert bar where patrons can craft sundaes with cookies and toppings.

There’s no need to scream for ice cream when dining at the Houston restaurants listed below as they all scoop out ice cream sundaes for patrons to enjoy. The timeless frozen treat has made a delicious comeback on dessert menus, with variations — like decadent build-your-own bars — appearing all over Houston.

This list takes a broad view of what constitutes a sundae — in line with its dictionary definition of “a dish consisting of ice cream served with toppings.” With that description in mind, sundae fans will discover several iterations of the classic dessert at these local eateries.

The miso caramel sundae at Balboa Surf ClubCourtesy of Western Addition

Balboa Surf Club
Balboa Surf Club emphasizes details in its food, from the sushi rice prepared fresh every 45 minutes to the elegantly crafted miso caramel sundae. A rich housemade miso caramel sauce is drizzled on three scoops of ice cream before being crowned with shaved chocolate, whipped cream, and crushed macadamia nuts.

Buttermilk Baby
The charming burger joint in the Heights could be a Candyland palace stand-in, so it’s only right that diners can order a Carvel’s sundae dasher with Reese’s or Oreo’s (12oz/$7.50, 16oz/$8.50) with layer upon layer of ice cream, whipped cream, and crunchy candy or cookies.

The buttermilk sundae at CredenceCourtesy of Credence

Credence
The buttermilk sundae at Credence aligns with the restaurant’s dedication to preparing ingredients over an open flame in a nod to South Texas’ rugged landscape. The cold treat is served with caramel cooked in embers and toasted pecans, a fitting tribute to Texas.

Pistachio soft serve at ElRo Pizzeria and CrudoCourtesy of ElRo Pizzeria and Crudo

ElRo Pizza & Crudo
This pizzeria is based in a bungalow tucked into a spot where Montrose and Midtown converge, and its soft serve sundae is just as approachable as the locale. The pistachio soft serve ($10) is made in-house at ElRo before being covered in crumbled cannoli shells that have been dipped in chocolate.

il Braco's Italian sundae with olive oilCourtesy of Western Addition

il Bracco
The Italian sundae at il Braco is a luxurious dish with olive oil, chopped pistachios, and three scoops of vanilla ice cream resulting in a smooth, creamy dessert. Flaky sea salt adds texture while enhancing the sundae’s sweetness.

Katami's sundae is made with Japanese shaved iceCourtesy of Katami

Katami
The American dessert receives an international spin at Katami, where the restaurant substitutes ice cream with kakigori, Japanese shaved ice. The green tea ($15) is made with white chocolate cream, caramel, and condensed milk. The strawberry Nutella ($16) combines chocolate ice cream with mascarpone cream, Nutella, and strawberry compote.

La Lucha's soft serve sundaeCourtesy of La Lucha

La Lucha
After slurping down oysters at this stylish spot on Shepherd, it’s time for soft serve. Diners can build their own soft serve sundae ($7) with Nutella or vanilla ice cream. Then come the toppings and there are plenty to choose from, with pecans, Maldon sea salt, Fruity Pebbles, and mini M&Ms, to name a few.

Little Rey
Houston native Ford Fry brought his Atlanta-based chain, Little Rey, to the city this summer with street tacos and other northern Mexico-inspired fare. The eatery’s soft serve machine is getting lots of love from patrons, with a range of flavors and toppings. The newest soft serve “sundae” is a Mexican spiced chocolate concoction with peppermint bark and sea salt.

The Marigold Club's sundae cartPhoto by Zach Horst

The Marigold Club
The classic sundae experience is elevated with the upscale restaurant's sundae cart ($22). A server navigates the elegant walnut cart through the Marigold Club's dining room, laden with housemade chai tea, clotted cream, and chocolate ice creams. Patrons can craft their ideal sundae without leaving their seats thanks to an array of toppings from sprinkles and candied hazelnuts to rum-infused banana jam and vanilla chantilly.

Medium Rare's hot fudge sundaePhoto by Alex Staniloff

Medium Rare
Dessert isn’t included in Medium Rare’s, two-course, $33 dinner of steak frites and salad, but the hot fudge sundae ($12) is worth the order. Also known as le sundae maison with sauce au chocolat chaud, the classic creation’s vanilla ice cream is smothered in hot fudge, with sprinkles scattered over a tower of whipped cream with a cherry on top.

Relish Restaurant & Bar
Relish's Town & Country location may have only recently opened its doors, but it's already dishing out a housemade vanilla soft serve sundae ($6). Relish's take on the dessert is adorned with Luxardo cherries, candied pistachios, and shaved dark chocolate. At the original River Heights address, diners will find the sundae with sweet cream ice cream.

the annie cafe's sundae The Annie sundae at The Annie Cafe and BarPhoto Kirsten Gilliam

The Annie Cafe and Bar
This Uptown cafe delivers a sophisticated interpretation of Texas-American cuisine and the Lone Star State inspiration is evident with the Annie sundae ($12). Vanilla and chocolate ice cream are smothered in chewy brownie bites, pralines, and marshmallow fluff, before being stacked with churros.

The Pit Room has a dessert bar for guests to create sundaes. The Pit Room's Memorial location has a dessert bar to create sundaes. Photo by Alex Montoya

The Pit Room
Diners can step up to The Pit Room’s dessert bar at its Memorial location to customize a sundae by mixing and matching ice cream flavors, such as sweet cream, pistachio, and birthday cake, with fresh baked cookies like chocolate chip and red velvet white chocolate. Garnishments such as sprinkles, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream are on hand to complete the masterpiece.

The coffee ice cream sundae at Tiny ChampionsCourtesy of Tiny Champions

Tiny Champions
The coffee ice cream sundae ($12) is the perfect way to end a meal at this pizzeria from the team behind Nancy's Hustle. At Tiny Champions, coffee beans are cold-steeped in housemade ice cream for 48 hours, infusing it with rich flavor. The sundae is then topped with hot fudge and pillowy, freshly fried donut holes.

The turtle brownie sundae at Turner'sPhoto by Brian Kennedy

Turner's
The fine dining establishment’s turtle brownie sundae ($17) is a recent addition to the menu. “We wanted to create an elevated take on the beloved, classic dessert by adding refined ingredients, including candied pecans and bourbon whipped cream,” restaurateur Ben Berg told CultureMap. “It’s the sundae you loved as a child, with the elegance you expect when dining at Turner’s.”

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