You know how I know you’re a rapper from Houston? You slip local restaurants into your lyrics.
“You want Pappadeaux seafood?” Cake, 2013 w/ Big KRIT
Bernard Freeman is originally from Port Arthur, but the Rice University lecturer and hip hop artist is best known in Houston — where he now resides — as Bun B (his stage name) and one of the original members of UGK (Underground Kingz).
If you’re naturally adverse to rap and hip hop, consider this: Bun B not only has been an advocate for feeding Houston’s hungry since the original Bun B Day was recognized on August 30, 2011, he’s also a spokesperson for the City of Houston in its efforts to persuade H-town drivers not to text and drive. “It Can Wait, Houston.” You probably have seen the TV spots and heard the radio commercials, and you may have asked yourself who the heck Bun B is. (The kids know.)
Last year, Bun B and Uchi chef Philip Speer teamed up together to orchestrate a special breakfast at Free Press’s Summer Fest. The Uchi team plated and served four courses of food to a room full of seated guests while Bun B performed live; the dishes presented by Uchi each fit within the theme of a song that Bun B performed. It was also the launch of You Gotta Eat This, the food blog and Instagram account orchestrated by Bun B and Premium Pete, who co-hosts the Combat Jack Show (a hip hop podcast) and is the founder of SneakerTube.TV (yep, that’s an underground world for people who really love sneakers).
Bun B is going to perform again this Saturday (tomorrow, May 31) at the FPSF preview breakfast, but he’s got tricks up his sleeve.
I stalked Mr. Freeman for more than a week before he succumbed to my interview requests, and I managed to get just nosy enough before he had to dash off to rehearsals.
How did the collaboration for the FPSF 2014 preview breakfast come to involve Hell’s Kitchen winner chef Ja’nel Witt, Philip Speer and Kaz Edwards of Uchi and producer Dan the Automator? What can guests expect at the 2014 performance?
Well, Dan is friends with Philip Speer, actually, and he’s a big foodie. Philip and I knew we wanted to do the breakfast again this year and to add new elements and step it up. We all happened to be in Austin one weekend, so we met up and threw together ideas. This year we’ll have an expanded menu of five courses, and Justin [Burrow, of downtown’s Bad News Bar] will be serving different cocktails. We’ll be performing more music and new material. Kaz is going to be more involved too, and Ja’Nel will be helping the Uchi folks to create and plate the food. It’s going to be two musicians and three chefs. We didn’t want to do it the same way this year — we wanted it to be better, and more.
Last year, the launch of You Gotta Eat This — your food blog co-founded with Premium Pete — was presented to guests at the FPSF Preview Breakfast. Would you say your fan base has a second following with the success of your blog?
You know nobody is one dimensional, people are multidimensional and have many different interests and talents. Pete and I both love food. We talk about food, we shared food experiences, food is another common interest between us. Yougottaeathis.com is a platform for foodies, for people who love to eat. Artists aren’t afraid of different tastes and textures and trying new things, exploring new genres, and neither are people who consider themselves foodies. And everyone needs food, can all relate to food in a way. It’s for like-minded people, and maybe there are some new fans out there that are like-minded when it comes to food, and that’s why they like You Gotta Eat This.
Okay, so let’s get serious here. If you had friends or family visiting Houston, what five restaurants would you recommend to them?
Hubcap Grill for burgers, I like the waffle burger. For tacos, I’d say Brothers Tacos. Burns Original BBQ in Acres for barbecue, and Killen’s Steakhouse for steaks. And, for sushi I would tell them to go to Uchi.
Many athletes have a standard pre-game meal. Do you have a meal you like to eat before you perform?
Actually, I don’t eat anything. I go onstage with an empty stomach. I’m very adamant about not eating anything before I go on because I’m usually really nervous. I’m there to work and until the set is ready and everyone is happy and the show is finished, I don’t eat. It has led to some bad eating habits.
This is a loaded question, but what is your favorite Houston restaurant when it comes to Tex-Mex?
I prefer the taco trucks.
Any truck in particular?
No, I just see them pulled over, and I pull over. I want to try them all.
What dish would you bring to a potluck party or backyard barbecue?
Oh, baked beans. Everyone likes baked beans, and it’s pretty hard to mess them up. I’m bringing baked beans.
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