Tilman Fertitta Keeps His Hospitality Empire Afloat With $300 Million Loan

Welcome to AM Intel in the time of coronavirus, a round-up of the city’s newest bits of restaurant-related intel. Follow Eater on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date details on how COVID-19 is impacting the city’s dining scene.

Tilman Fertitta’s plan for surviving the pandemic

The Houston Chronicle has a deep-dive into how Houston restaurateur and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is keeping his hospitality empire afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Chron, Fertitta managed to secure a $300 million private loan to keep the company afloat while his restaurants, casinos, and entertainment venues are closed — at a steep 13% interest rate. As far as the Texas portion of that empire, Fertitta’s company plans to open all of the restaurants operated by Landry’s Inc. on May 1.

Chef Kiran Verma debuts cook-at-home dishes at HEB

Following in the footsteps of Houston restaurants like Coltivare and Hugo’s, Houston chef Kiran Verma is bringing some of her most iconic Indian dishes to grocery store shelves. According to CultureMap, dishes like palak paneer, butter chicken, and saffron rice pulao will debut at five local HEB and Central Market stores this week.

Texas governor Abbott considers allowing alcohol to-go sales “forever”

When Texas governor Greg Abbott announced that restaurants could, for the first time ever, sell alcoholic beverages to go, restaurateurs rejoiced. Now, it looks as if that plan could continue “forever,” per a tweet from Abbott’s personal account. “Alcohol-to-go sales can continue after May 1,” Abbott tweeted. “From what I hear from Texans, we may just keep this forever.”