On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” chefs Jacques Varon and Max Lappe join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss Baso. Located in the Heights, Baso is a Basque-inspired restaurant that prepares many of its dishes using a wood-fired hearth.

The conversation begins with both chefs explaining their paths to professional cooking. Eventually, they worked together at Angler, a seafood restaurant in Los Angeles. When Varon decided to return to his hometown of Houston to open Baso, he recruited Lappe to join him.

Baso has been building a following for the duo’s flavorful interpretation of Basque cuisine, including earning two CultureMap Tastemaker Award nominations for Best New Restaurant and Rising Star Chef of the Year. They discuss some of their popular dishes with Sandler, including their innovative caviar service, signature grilled pork chop, and roasted cabbage with lamb bacon. Sandler asks how they stay motivated when they've received so much attention so quickly.

“I get a lot of motivation from my friends at these Nordic restaurants or Japanese restaurants I’ve worked in. They say, you have to keep pushing the boundaries. If you don’t, people get bored, and you become another Chili’s. Keeping people on their toes makes me happy,” Varon says.

“Like Jacques was saying, I never trust when anyone says anything is good. It kind of freaks me out. I think, why is everyone lying to me? Why is everyone nodding their heads? I don’t believe it,” Lappe adds. “I don’t see us stopping pushing any time. I know we have a really long way to go. I think we’re alright for being new, but I won’t be okay with where we’re at a month down the line.”

On this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Monica Danna discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: chef Alex Padilla announcing his departure from The Original Ninfa’s; Chicago restaurant Portillo’s plans to open two Houston-area locations; and the opening of High Five Mini Bar at the Stomping Grounds in Garden Oaks.

In the restaurants of the week segment, Danna and Sandler discuss their recent meal at PostScript, the female-focused Upper Kirby restaurant that features a menu created by Houston chef Bryan Caswell. They share thoughts on its very pink interior as well as some of their favorite dishes. From there, they turn to a recent meal at Le Jardinier, the New York-based French fine dining restaurant at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

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