Latest chapter in Hobby Airport food fight reveals potential job cuts, more references to famous Houston chef

HOUSTON – The fight between two heavyweight combatants continued Tuesday during a city council meeting over a lucrative concession deal at Hobby Airport.

In a corner the hometown champion for many, pappas. In the other corner, an out-of-town Miami challenger named Areas.

Pappas’ goal on Tuesday was to convince enough council members to vote no and end the deal for their opponent.

For Areas, it should protect their narrow contract victory ahead of Wednesday’s vote.

Areas defeated Papps by a hair’s breadth in the original presentations, but the formal approval process has since been described as a “mess” by one council member.

Since then there have been questions about the legitimacy of what Areas featured in its offering. In particular, a well-known Houston chef whom they touted as their “culinary advisor.”

The chef is Chris Shepherd, who told KPRC 2 Investigates last week that he is not on the Areas team.

On Tuesday, Areas North America CEO Carlos Bernal confirmed the same information to the city council, answering “no” when asked if there was a contract with Shepherd.

In concluding his comments to the council, Bernal continued to refer to a relationship with Shepherd that continues to develop.

“We will be good partners with the community and we will continue to work with Chris Shepherd and Southern Smoke and so you have our 100 percent commitment,” said Bernal.

After that, some council members were in no mood to talk, but one intervened.

“It’s all just smoke and mirrors, he puts this thing together to make it appear like Chris Shepherd is working with him because they spoiled the process with the reviewers leading them to believe that Chris Shepherd’s part of their program is,” Councilor Michael Kubosh said.

What was also uncovered during a back-and-forth conversation between Bernal and council member Abbie Kamin was a possible job cut.

In front of a chamber filled with Pappas employees, Kamin asked: “How many employees will you be able to employ with your capacity?”

Bernal replied “200,” which Kamin added seconds later, “but you just said you only have the capacity for 200 and there are 400 staff.”

KPRC 2 Investigates called Bernal after the hearing, trying to find out more about the future of concession jobs at Hobby and his latest comments about Shepherd, but his phone went unanswered.

The fight on Wednesday will decide when the vote should take place.

SEE ALSO:

Pappas restaurant group is firing back at the city of Houston over its future at Hobby Airport

City council votes to replace Pappa’s restaurants at Hobby Airport with Miami-based company