CHEF SHUFFLES

Hell's Kitchen fave returns to San Antonio to helm Quarry hot spot

Mary Lou Davis is bringing star power to Ida Claire.

Photo courtesy of Ida Claire.

Southern comfort favorite Ida Claire is turning up the wattage at its San Antonio restaurant. The funky Alamo City Market eatery has brought Hell's Kitchen runner-up Mary Lou Davis on as executive chef, bringing some major star power to the Lincoln Heights hot spot.

Although Davis only rose to national prominence on season 19 of Gordon Ramsay's hit Fox competition series, she has been a fixture of San Antonio's dining scene for years. Even after moving to California, she made frequent stops in San Antonio for pop-ups and other one-off dining events.

Fans of the restaurant don't have to worry that the chef will do away with favorites like duck nachos and Creole gumbo. Still, they can expect Davis to bring some unexpected flavor ideas pulled from her Rolodex of global culinary knowledge.

"I've always loved how Southern food tells a story, and every dish can bring you back to the feeling of sharing a meal with your favorite people," said Davis via a release. "At Ida Claire, I'm excited to put my own twist on Southern classics by mixing comfort with creativity, pulling in flavors from my travels, and serving it all up with my signature sass."

Davis' last appearance in Alamo City was in 2024, when she collaborated with Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin on a kitchen takeover at Best Quality Daughter. One of the dishes — More Than Just Salt And Pepper Crab — hinted at her interest in Southern fare with its stack of soft shell crab, corn puree, and Cajun-spiced slaw on a bao bun.

"Mary Lou has a spark that you can feel the second she steps into a room or a kitchen," said Melissa Arizaga, Ida Claire district manager, in a statement. "She understands Ida's heart and soul, and she's the perfect person to help us write this next chapter in San Antonio."

H-E-Buzz

H-E-B surprises Texas travelers with holiday vending machine pop-up

Austin-Bergstrom Airport/ Instagram

H-E-B says it will bring surprise Texas travelers with more holiday pop-ups.

New H-E-B stores seem to be getting bigger and bigger, but at least one outpost is taking the opposite track. The beloved San Antonio grocery store surprised travelers at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) on December 10 with a tiny vending machine pop-up.

Delighted visitors were given a “H-E-B boarding pass,” redeemable for some of the store’s most coveted merch. Among the finds stocked were cushy concha slippers, Cafe Olé coffee, and the ever-popular flour tortilla blanket.

“No store does what? More!” wrote the airport in an Instagram post. “Our passengers were obsessed!”

Already cherished by Texans for its prized pre-made foods and its “Texas FEMA” efforts through its in-house disaster response team, H-E-B has become a viral sensation in 2025. In June, TikToker Anna the Colossal Titan racked up hundreds of thousands of views for a video showing her smuggling 200 H-E-B tortillas in her backpack.

In October, the grocer made more headlines by releasing a collection of heavy metal-themed t-shirts in collaboration with Nashville graphic artist Connor Dwyer. The limited drop of 1,000 shirts sold out in seconds.

According to H-E-B’s Instagram reels, the company has not finished spreading holiday cheer. It says Lone Star travelers should be on the lookout for more airport pop-ups soon. Homesick Texans who aren’t lucky enough to stumble on a kiosk can always purchase swag like shopping cart ornaments, Creamy Creations puzzles, and mystery box keychains through the brand shop.

CultureMap has reached out to H-E-B to find out where the vending machines will appear next. We will update this article with any further intel.

travel pop-ups austin grocery stores h-e-b