On this week’s interview episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Agricole Hospitality co-owner Morgan Weber joins CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss the company’s latest projects. Known for establishments such as Coltivare and EZ’s Liquor Lounge, the group recently opened Tex-Mex restaurant HiWay Cantina and live music bar Lightnin’s Good Times in the EaDo space formerly occupied by Indianola and Miss Carousel.
Weber begins the conversation by explaining why Agricole made those changes. He then dives into the decision to open a Tex-Mex restaurant and the work that went into creating its menu. Little decisions such as how thin to make the chips and whether to serve the salsa warm all come together to create a complete experience. They also chose to do some dishes such as roasted oysters and vegetarian dishes that are a little unusual for typical Tex-Mex restaurants.
“We didn’t want to go so far off base that people who are used to going to places like Lupe Tortilla, ‘Sito’s, El Tiempo, or Ninfa’s, they’re going to be able to scratch the same itches at HiWay with certain items that are filtered through our brain,” Weber says. “But also if they want to get off the course a little bit they can do that.”
Listen to the full episode to hear Weber’s thoughts on the benefits and challenges of operating a live music venue. He and Sandler also look back at one year of EZ’s Liquor Lounge and 10 years of Coltivare.
In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Monica Danna discuss the news of the week. They’re topics include: ChópnBlọk selecting Montrose for its first brick and mortar location; Gr8 Plate Hospitality opening a wine bar in Memorial; and Danna’s picks for the best new restaurants of 2023.
Morgan Weber is this week's guest.
In the restaurants of the week segment, the two friends discuss their meals at two recently opened Mexican restaurant. First up, they explain why even Inner Loopers should be making the drive to Spring to visit Belly of the Beast. Then, they assess the highs and lows of Mi Tierra Mexican Kitchen, a casual Tex-Mex restaurant in Garden Oaks.
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