baguettes, eclairs, and more

Bakery known for Houston's best croissants rolls into the Heights

The bakery known for making some of Houston’s best croissants is coming to the Heights. Magnol French Baking has claimed the former Andy’s Home Cafe space (1115 E 11th St.) for a second location that will join its original bakery on North Post Oak.

Founded in 2019 by French-trained baker Otto Sanchez, Magnol has become one of Houston’s most acclaimed bakeries. Its croissants, baguettes, and pastries can be found in restaurants throughout Houston, including Rosie Cannonball, Ostia, and Le Jardinier. Pastry fans know to line up early on the weekends for sweets such as eclairs, cookies, and tarts.

Currently, Sanchez intends to open his new location in time for the holiday season, but the difficulties of renovating an almost 90-year old building make the outlook somewhat uncertain.

“Once the build out and permitting phases are complete comes the fun part: Operating two bakeries,” Sanchez said in a statement. “It will be grueling, but I am excited about the challenge, and to do it in this city, because Houston is home. For more than 30 years it has treated me well, and this is me trying to reciprocate.”

Prior to opening Magnol, Sanchez began his career at the Alden Hotel's *17 restaurant before leaving in Houston in 2005. He worked in Las Vegas as well as at the Hotel Bardessono in Yountville, California; The Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay; and Burj Al Arab in Dubai, where he was the assistant pastry chef. He returned to Houston in 2014 to lead the pastry program at La Table.

Joining Sanchez in the kitchen will be executive pastry chef Nicolas Berrais. Like Sanchez, Berrais brings experience working for superstar French chefs Alain Ducasse and Joel Robuchon. The native Frenchman has more than 30 years of professional experience.

“Otto and I have spoken about this for years,” Berrais added. “He’s a great friend, and he’s doing an incredible job; better than many French bakers I know. Otto and I will work together to bring Magnol to another level.”

Magnol French Baking is now open for business.

Photo by Carla Gomez

Magnol French Baking is coming to the Heights.

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an offer he couldn't refuse

Exclusive: Killen's Barbecue will soon shutter in The Woodlands

Killen's barbecue meat platter with sides

Photo by Robert Jacob Lerma

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Fans of Killen’s Barbecue’s location in The Woodlands have a days to make one last visit. The restaurant will close this Sunday, December 7, chef-owner Ronnie Killen tells CultureMap.

Open since 2021, Killen says that he’s in final negotiations to sell the location at 8800 Six Pines Dr. to Whataburger for a new location of the iconic Texas fast food restaurant. Neither the original location of Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland nor its Cypress location are affected by the closure of The Woodlands and will remain open.

“Whataburger made me a deal I couldn’t pass up. It would take 10 years to do that kind of revenue,” Killen writes in a text, adding that the company recently made a significant payment to keep the deal’s window open through the end of the year.

He added that the costs to operate the restaurant have gone up significantly. As one example, a cord of wood cost $175 when he opened the first Killen’s Barbecue in 2013. It costs $475 now, he writes.

If the deal falls through, Killen states that he could look for a new buyer or convert the restaurant into a second location of Killen’s Burger, the retro-styled burger joint he operates in Pearland.

The restaurant’s closure had been expected since February, when Killen sold The Woodlands’ location of Killen's Steakhouse. At the time, Killen said he also planned to find a buyer for his barbecue joint in the bustling suburb. He cited the driving distance from Pearland to The Woodlands as one reason he chose to divest both locations. He still operates Killen's Steakhouse in Pearland, comfort food restaurant Killen's near the Heights, Killen's Burger, and three other locations of Killen's Barbecue.

As it approaches its 13th anniversary in the spring, Killen’s Barbecue remains a vital part of Houston’s barbecue scene. The restaurant recently earned an honorable mention from Texas Monthly and holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide. In July, it opened a new location at Hobby Airport.

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