On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” chef Jason Ryzcek joins CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss Little’s Oyster Bar. The seafood restaurant has been a smash hit since it opened, earning CultureMap Tastemaker Award nominations for Best New Restaurant and Wine Program of the Year.

Ryzcek begins the conversation by explaining the path that led him to become a chef. From there, he looks back on his time in California and the experiences that eventually led Pappas Restaurants to hire him Little’s executive chef. He also shares the experiences that led to his esteem for making and serving caviar.

Fans of the restaurant will enjoy hearing Ryzcek discuss some of the highlights of the menu, including the signature yellow edge group and farmed Texas red fish that have become customer favorites. While many of the dishes have been popular, he’s ready to switch things up.

“What scares my bosses the most is telling them that, as much as we have some winners on the menu, part of it is replacing some winners on the menu with new winners,” he says. “I don’t want people to come here on the menu [and say] ‘oh, they have the same stuff.’ Even those these last six months have been trying with not making changes, it was with the understanding that we’d have more changes this year. We have our six major changes planned out based on what I’ve come to learn.”

Listen to the full episode to hear the chef’s take on being named Houston’s top restaurant by venerable Houston Chronicle food critic Alison Cook. He also shares his take on whether Pappas should seek to replicate Little’s in other locations.

In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Michael Fulmer discuss the news of the week. Their topics include the Houston representatives on Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s best new restaurants; the opening of the Conservatory Galleria food hall — with an assist from show producer Michael Carrell; and what Sandler’s new role as city editor for CultureMap Houston means for the podcast’s future.

In the restaurant of the week segment, Fulmer and Sandler share their thoughts on meals at two Indian restaurants. First, they explain why inner loopers should be making the drive to fine dining restaurant Amrina in The Woodlands. They conclude by praising Himalaya, the Southwest Houston staple that celebrated its 20th anniversary last week.

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