LOCAL Houston | The City Guide OCTOBER 2015 | Page 69

FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

As co-owner of TREADSACK GROUP (a combination of his name and cofounder/best friend Joey Treadway), Chris Cusack counts some of the
Heights’ best restaurants as his creations. He, along with Joey, helped create Down House, D&T Drive Inn, Johnny’s Gold Brick Tavern, Choam Gulf
Fish Distribution Company, and Sugar & Rice Magazine (a homeage to
Gulf Coast culinary culture). And with three new restaurants opening in the
next few weeks, Chris is one busy, and simultaneously excited, restaurateur.
With the whole process of opening the latest eateries taking almost three
years, it’s no surprise to see him thrilled as they near completion.
Foreign Correspondents, a homage to Thai food from the north and northeastern region of the country, will source food locally and try to avoid riding
any trends. “We plan to share what we love,” Chris states confidently.
Hunky Dory, located at 18th and Shepherd, is a British-American tavern,
with a chef-driven steakhouse focus. Right next door, Bernadine’s features a

Gulf Coast-driven menu. “You see a lot of Gulf Coast food that isn’t represented in restaurants. It’s not just Cajun food, it’s not just BBQ. Let’s make
a restaurant that’s a good representation of Gulf Coast food here in
Houston,” Chris says emphatically.
When he’s not busy managing and working on his new concepts, Chris
enjoys music, whiskey, tattoos, food, people, beer and traveling with his
girlfriend. He recently attended the Aspen Food & Wine Festival, and traveled to Thailand earlier this year. He also enjoys DJ’ing, recently spinning
tunes at White Linen Night in the Heights.
While Chris says it’s hard to really get away from “work” due to the nature
of his business, it comes with the territory: “I wouldn’t really do this job if I
didn’t love it.” And with an empire being built in the Heights, that comes
as no surprise.

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