feel the buzz

Houston celebs Washington Ho and Tony Buzbee pop open new THC seltzer

Two men who are very good at getting the attention of their fellow Houstonians have teamed up on a new line of canned drinks. Washington Ho and Tony Buzbee have launched the HoBuzz line of THC-infused seltzers.

Both men are locals who have publicly eschewed drinking alcohol. Ho rose to national prominence as one of the stars of House of Ho, a reality series that airs on the Max streaming platform. Buzbee is a successful trial attorney, a former Marine, and a current candidate for Houston City Council, District G.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Tony Buzbee and Washington Ho have teamed up on HoBuzz.

Developed in partnership with Bayou City Hemp and 8th Wonder Brewery, HoBuzz sells two flavors of seltzers infused with 10 milligrams of Delta-8 THC. The Washington is a black cherry-flavored drink — a nod to the story about George Washington, Ho’s namesake, and the cherry tree. Buzbee’s flavor is a hibiscus-infused seltzer called The Patriot that can be sipped on its own or as a mixer. More flavors may be released in time.

They’re touting HoBuzz as part of a “Texas sober” lifestyle for people who no longer consume alcohol but want to relax with a little THC. In keeping with the brand’s healthy image, The Washington has 29 calories per can while The Patriot has zero calories and zero sugar.

“I am passionate about living a fun, healthy lifestyle, and through researching and developing this product, I found that I could still be myself without the negative side effects of alcohol,” Ho said in a statement. “I’ve realized I don’t need alcohol or medication to be me, and with HoBuzz, I can be my best self while still having fun. I can’t wait to share this with the world.”

The seltzers will go on sale the week of September 4. Look for them at 8th Wonder, Wild Concepts, Wakefield Crowbar, and other cannabis-friendly places. It’s also available for shipping nationwide via hobuzzco.com.

“More people are looking for an alternative to alcohol, and we are excited to introduce HoBuzz to anyone looking to try something different,” Buzbee said. “We’re very grateful to our partners and look forward to helping eliminate the stigma around Delta-8 products in the Lone Star State. We’re proud to be an American, Texas-based company.”

celebrities cocktails

a CultureMap Exclusive

Houston's 'Chinese takeout bar from the future' touches down in Webster

Courtesy of The Rice Box

A rendering previews The Rice Box's new location in Webster.

Houston’s Chinese takeout bar from the future is coming to the Bay Area. The sixth location of The Rice Box will open in Webster later this summer.

Located at 114 El Dorado Blvd, the new location will be called Rice Box Space Center after NASA’s headquarters at the nearby Johnson Space Center. Founder John Peterson tells CultureMap that it’s a bit of a homecoming for him and his wife/business partner, Jenny Vo, as they grew up in the area. As with every new location, the restaurant created a movie-style poster to announce its opening.

Rice Box Webster movie poster The Rice Box Space Center is expected to open later this summer.Courtesy of The Rice Box

For its first truly suburban location, Peterson plans to offer a more efficient pickup system for to-go orders. Dubbed The Rice Box Pickup Reactors, the system applies Rice Box’s sci-fi aesthetic to curbside ordering. As seen in the rendering above, the building will have six slots that drivers will pull into to get their orders.

“The goal is to have guests in and out with food in hand in around 90 seconds,” Peterson writes in an email. “It’s still pickup, but we’re trying to make that moment feel more intentional and more connected to the digital side of Rice Box instead of treating it like an afterthought. We’re looking at this opening as both a new store and a prototype for how Rice Box can work in more suburban markets without losing the part of the brand that makes it feel like us.”

Bay Area-area diners can expect the same menu as the Rice Box’s other locations. That includes staples such as General Tso’s chicken, sesame chicken, beef with broccoli, and orange peel beef. The restaurant also serves traditional Chinese-inspired fare such as Chongqing chicken, cumin beef, mapo tofu, and chow fun noodles.

Recently, Peterson rolled out a new version of Rice Box’s dumplings. Available in chicken, pork, or vegetable, each style of dumpling comes with a different wrapper that enhances the filling’s flavor. They’re also available either steamed or fried.

The Rice Box started as a food truck in the early 2010s. After moving to a permanent location in the Greenway Plaza food court, it has opened brick-and-mortar locations in the Heights, River Oaks, Rice Village, and Memorial.

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