Episode 245 - Top Chef Finalist Evelyn Garcia of Kin

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Matt Harris to discuss the latest happenings in the Houston restaurant and bar scene including the James Beard Awards announcing their winners for 2022, Phat Eatery announcing a 2nd location, Willow Villarreal and Jasmine Barela working with Killen's restaurants now, and Nando's Peri-Peri is coming to Houston. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Hugo's is featured. In the Guest of the Week section Eric is joined by Top Chef finalist Evelyn Garcia. Evelyn speaks with Eric about what motivated her to join the show, the preparation that she did to prepare for the show, finding out the show was going to be set in Houston, her favorite challenges that she went through on the show, when did she start thinking of ideas for the final 4 course meal for the finale, what was going through her mind walking up to the judges in the finale, getting to know her fellow contestants, letting her emotions show on camera, how life has changed for her since being on the show, has the show helped her business in a way, how she started working with Henry Lu, timeline for her restaurant, the concept behind her restaurant baby, and much more!Follow Eric on Instagram and Twitter, plus check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com, such as: Acclaimed Houston Bar Scores City's First-Ever National James Beard Award Acclaimed Katy Restaurant Bringing Malaysian Fare and Dim Sum to The Woodlands Talented Houston BBQ and Culinary Couple Joins Ronnie Killen's Empire California-Based Thai Chicken and Rice Shop's First Houston Location Flies into Garden Oaks Houston Spongebob SquarePants-Themed Restaurant Gets Soaked for $6M After Trademark Judgement Decadent National Late-Night Cookie Shop Sweetens Up Rice Village with First Houston Locale