What's Eric Eating Episodes 320 and 321

Meet the dynamic duo behind Houston's rockin' Southern kitchen, plus our trip to Dough Zone Dumpling House

Rockhouse serves an eclectic menu of Southern-inspired dishes.

Photo by Brandon Holmes

On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Rockhouse Southern Kitchen chef Jabril Riddick and co-owner Rob Wright join CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss the restaurant, sports bar, and live music venue that opened earlier this year in the former Billy Blues space on Richmond Avenue.

The conversation begins with Riddick discussing his career that included stints at Feast, hotels, and a range of other restaurants. From there, he and Wright discuss the development of Rockhouse, including favorite dishes, its musical lineup, and more.

Rockhouse is one of the nominees in CultureMap’s Ultimate Sports Bar Showdown and will be serving pulled oxtail sliders at the Tailgate, our celebration of sports culture. It’s happening Wednesday, October 25 at Silver Street Studios, and tickets are already on sale.

Sandler asks Wright about operating sports bars. He’s a partner in Prospect Park, the game-changing bar and restaurant that paved the way for a wave of imitators. As Wright notes, being open to a wide variety of fans sometimes brings unexpected results.

“Even with Prospect Park, there may be a thought process that we’re primarily African-American driven, but believe it or not we gave some of the best World Cup events you can imagine,” Wright says. “One of the best events of those nine years is when Brazil played Colombia. You had people walking out there crying after their team lost. It was incredible.”

Listen to the full episode to hear Riddick’s hilarious story about his time at Feast working alongside chef Richard Knight. Wright offers some observations about the future of The Warwick.

In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Linda Salinas discuss the news of the week. Their topics include La Cruderia opening a new location in Spring Branch; Dumpling Haus closing its location in Sawyer Yards; and chef Jane Wild’s new dinner series.

In the restaurant of the week segment, the two friends share their thoughts about Dough Zone Dumpling House, the Seattle-based restaurant that recently opened its first Houston-area location in Midtown. Listen to hear what they liked and what they think could use improvement.

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Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify. Listen to it Sunday at 9 am on ESPN 97.5.

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blinded with science

New York's science-themed holiday bar shakes up the Museum District

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

A taste of Manhattan has made its way to Houston with the immersive LIT-Mas Spectacular holiday pop-up. From now until January 12, Houstonians can discover the hype behind New York City’s The Drunken Lab that's known for its unique blend of science and cocktails.

This pop-up marks the first expansion for The Drunken Lab’s parent company, Science and Sip, a concept created to make science accessible and unforgettable. Attendees can dive into holiday-themed science experiments — including explosive endothermic reactions — while enjoying festive cocktails in a winter wonderland setting enhanced with a live DJ. Appropriately, the pop-up is located in the Museum District at 4715 Main Street.

“Houston was the perfect next step for Science and Sip,” founder Cautney Nelson said in a statement. “The city’s vibrant culture, love of celebration, and ties to science through world-famous programs like NASA aligns beautifully with our mission to blend entertainment with discovery.”

Visitors enter a world filled with larger-than-life gingerbread decor and candy-inspired installations where light bulbs and laboratory flasks have been transformed into quirky beverage containers. Admission includes one cocktail or mocktail, a lab coat and goggles, and two to three science experiments. Add-ons like cocktail-filled ornament “Booze Balls” and Grinch-inspired pouches in festive red and green add an extra dose of holiday charm.

“We’re thrilled to host guests for an immersive holiday experience that merges festive fun with curiosity,” Nelson added. “With each pop-up, we aim to create a space where a great party and exploration come together, and we’re excited to see how Houston embraces The LIT-Mas Spectacular.”

A portion of the proceeds from LIT-Mas will benefit Millennial Scnce, a nonprofit founded by Nelson that provides students with accessible STEM resources and educational opportunities.

Tickets are available for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with showtimes at 2:30 pm, 6 pm, and 9 pm. Private party and group bookings are also available.

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

cocktails holidays museum district nightlife

What's Eric Eating Episodes 320 and 321

Meet the dynamic duo behind Houston's rockin' Southern kitchen, plus our trip to Dough Zone Dumpling House

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blinded with science

New York's science-themed holiday bar shakes up the Museum District

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome
Get Houston intel delivered daily.