Latest news with #Calleo
Eater
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
3 Houston Restaurants to Try This Weekend: May 30
Each week, we'll provide a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: 'Where should I eat?' Here are three places to check out this weekend in Houston. And if you need ideas on where to drink, here's our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town . For Detroit-style pizza: Gold Tooth Tony's 1901 North Shepherd Drive, Suite 4, Heights 5225 Bellaire Boulevard, Bellaire 2010 Waugh Drive, Montrose Pizza is always an easy, no-cooking way to end a long week, and while ordering delivery from a chain might seem easiest (Domino's is my go-to lately), sometimes it's good to treat yourself to something special. Fortunately, Houston is brimming with different styles, including Neapolitan; ironclad, a newer-Texas style; and my personal kryptonite, Detroit-style. Anthony Calleo, the pizza mastermind behind Gold Tooth Tony's, has spent a long time working on his craft, starting with his days at the now-closed Pi Pizza to slinging pizzas at Rudyard's and consulting at Betelegeuse Betelgeuse, where the round ironclad-style pizzas have his fingerprints all over them. Now, Calleo has three pizzerias of his own where he dishes out some of the best cheesy Detroit-style pizzas in town, built on a base that offers a pillowy combination of focaccia and sourdough with crispy edges and generous lines of tomato sauce. Diners can build their own pizza with a selection of toppings, but the signature combinations cover all the bases, with classics including pepperoni and cheese pizzas and more adventurous renditions, like the carb-loaded Mac Attack is Back with macaroni and cheese and bacon. Favorites include the Detroit Supreme, which is covered with a mixture of meats and veggies, and Sebastian's Big Idea, a pie that hits all the notes of sweet and salty with spam, togarashi-roasted pineapple, and furikake seasoning. Be sure to look at some of the menu's other items, which include doughy garlic knots, pizza tots, and an assortment of wings served with two styles of homemade ranch (appropriately listed on the menu as the Nectar of the Gods). For a cinematic experience: Haii Keii 3300 Kirby Drive, Suite 9-A, Upper Kirby If you or someone you know would love to dine on what feels like the set of Kill Bill , this one is for you. This new Japanese restaurant in Upper Kirby will make you feel like you're in a movie, with dark and moody interiors illuminated by neon signs, sultry two-person booths separated by red ropes, a bar with an overhanging upside-down bonsai tree, and an LED display of mysterious, shadowy figures floating through the dining room. Go for a few cocktails or stay awhile to soak in the ambiance and dine in. The food and cocktails are captivating, too, with purple-hued ube espresso martinis, soft-shell crab fried rice, and a menu of sushi. Aside from its standout vegetarian nigiri made with delicate slivers of eggplant and bell pepper, Haii Keii also offers the most decadent Murimake roll, which is stuffed with king crab and topped with A5 wagyu and kaluga caviar. The touch of gold leaf on the roll is nice, but the best part is the accompanying crackling crab butter candle. Made from a boiled-down and molded combination of crab and butter, the lit candle sits at the end of the plate in a hunk of wasabi to keep it steady, dripping butter for your dipping pleasure. For a seafood splurge: Little's Oyster Bar 3001 South Shepherd Drive, Montrose One of the newest additions to the Pappas Restaurants catalog has recently switched up its menu, reminding me why we named Little's Oyster Bar the Best New Restaurant in 2023. From start to finish, the menu bedazzles, with quality cold bar offerings, refreshing appetizers like the delicate Local Greens salad, which is paired with a honey dressing and the creamiest goat cheese, and a tender grilled octopus (arguably the best in the city) served with a luxurious zhug you'll want to sop up with the marbled potatoes. Aside from its fresh catches, including a standout Gulf Grouper (ask for the heirloom tomato sauce vierge), the lobster gnocchi is the dish that captivates, with an herbaceous sauce composed of blistered cherry tomatoes with bits of crunchy potato chips for added texture. Dining here, however, will cost you a pretty penny. Most dishes will run you over $20, with entrees priced at $43 and up (and that's not including sides). But you could also pop in for oysters and a martini, or a heart-warming bowl of cioppino with buttery sourdough and a side of Pappas's irresistibly crispy fries. Little's is one of those restaurants you should treat yourself to every once in a while. Sign up for our newsletter.
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
The new map of African logistics
Africa's logistics and transportation sector stands on the brink of major transformation. From deepening geopolitical complexity to a renewed push for private-sector involvement, 2025 is rapidly becoming a defining year for how goods — and economic growth — move across the continent. These changes present immense opportunity for those who understand the shifting dynamics early. At Calleo, we deliver market intelligence that empowers organisations to see around corners — and act with confidence. Drawing on a wide range of recent developments across the region, we explore five major trends reshaping the logistics and transport ecosystem across Africa. Whether you're an infrastructure investor, supply chain operator, or policymaker, understanding these themes is key to building resilience and unlocking growth. The Infrastructure Catch-Up: Scale, Urgency, and a New Approach to Delivery Africa's infrastructure deficit is neither new nor surprising — but what is new is the pace and shape of response we're now seeing. 2025 has already witnessed significant commitments to road, rail, and port projects from both the public and private sectors. In South Africa, the government is pushing forward on revitalisation efforts across its failing logistics backbone. Projects like the expansion of Durban Port and aggressive reforms by Transnet signal that freight transport has moved higher up the national agenda. The urgency is warranted — inefficient ports and rail networks are already costing billions in missed opportunity. In fact, South Africa's citrus industry alone lost R5.2bn in one season due to logistical bottlenecks. Neighbouring countries are not standing still either. Namibia's £240m mega-project, backed by the African Development Bank, aims to overhaul its internal road network and enhance trade connectivity. In Mozambique, a €82m rehabilitation of the N4 corridor to South Africa underscores how regional players are thinking beyond borders to build economic corridors. Yet, what's increasingly clear is that traditional delivery models are no longer fit for purpose. Fragmented governance, long timelines, and funding gaps are forcing governments to explore hybrid models — from public-private partnerships to outright concessions. A more agile, collaborative infrastructure model is fast becoming the new norm. The Private Sector's Strategic Expansion: From Supporting Role to Leading Force In the past, the private sector often played a supplementary role in logistics reform. Today, it's increasingly taking the lead — innovating, investing, and in some cases, bypassing state dysfunction altogether. Take UPD, a unit of the Clicks Group, which recently launched Africa's first solar-powered refrigerated electric vehicle fleet in South Africa. This is not just a sustainability initiative — it's a statement about resilience, independence from unreliable power grids, and a commitment to cold-chain innovation. Elsewhere, ICTSI is actively stepping in to improve operational capacity at South African ports, while mining and export conglomerates are independently funding billions in rail upgrades to avoid the costs of delay and inefficiency. Even legacy players like Isuzu are rejecting the EV hype in favour of diesel-based strategies tailored to African terrains — proving that context-specific strategies matter more than global trends. This shift has important implications. Companies are no longer just logistics users; they are infrastructure stakeholders — often moving faster than governments. The competitive advantage now lies in acting early, forging the right partnerships, and leveraging intelligence to predict where the next bottlenecks — or breakthroughs — will be. A Geopolitical Chessboard: Trade, Power and Strategic Corridors Africa's transportation infrastructure is not just about economics — it's fast becoming a geopolitical instrument. As trade tensions between the United States and China continue to reverberate, Africa has found itself in a tug-of-war for influence, investment, and access. The evolving status of AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) and its uncertain renewal have raised alarms in South Africa, prompting urgent conversations about reciprocal trade deals and supply chain resilience. Simultaneously, China is deepening its logistics footprint through strategic projects across the SADC region, from railway expansions in Zambia to new road infrastructure in Namibia. The 'Great Railway Race' between China and the US is more than rhetoric — it's reshaping the continent's transport geography. For African economies, this presents both risk and reward. Aligning too closely with one bloc may threaten long-term independence, while remaining neutral risks losing competitive advantages. The most strategic players will use market intelligence to understand these dynamics early — and to position themselves at the intersection of opportunity. Technology and Sustainability: Disruption in Motion Digitisation and decarbonisation are no longer on the horizon — they are unfolding across African logistics networks today. We're seeing increased adoption of digital supply chain platforms, more intelligent port scheduling systems, and widespread use of telematics to optimise fleet performance. South Africa, in particular, has shown leadership in pushing for digital customs systems, remote container management, and smart warehouse solutions. At the same time, the continent is beginning to see its own innovation paths emerge — shaped less by global carbon policy and more by real, local constraints like power outages and rural connectivity gaps. That's why solar-powered EV logistics fleets and off-grid cold chain systems are getting traction — not just as green solutions, but as practical ones. The companies that succeed will not be those that copy-paste European or North American models. They will be those who understand Africa's energy, mobility, and consumer landscape — and adapt technology accordingly. Structural Headwinds: The Cost of Inaction Despite the innovation and investment, Africa's logistics sector remains hampered by deeply embedded structural issues. In South Africa, truck congestion in Richards Bay, recurring delays at Cape Town port, and border post closures continue to disrupt regional trade. In Mozambique, civil unrest has cut port volumes, while in Zambia and Zimbabwe, border inefficiencies and outdated customs protocols continue to constrain growth. Moreover, infrastructure investment is often concentrated in urban or high-volume corridors, leaving rural supply chains fragmented. For companies operating pan-African networks, the reality is still one of disjointed systems, inconsistent standards, and unpredictable policy environments. That's why real-time, region-specific intelligence is no longer a nice-to-have. It's a strategic necessity. Insight is the New Infrastructure In an environment as fast-moving and politically sensitive as Africa's logistics sector, decision-makers cannot rely on historic data or static plans. They need timely, accurate, forward-looking insight. At Calleo, we help businesses track the developments that matter — from port expansions and policy shifts to emerging players and supply chain threats. We turn fragmented news into actionable intelligence, so our clients can plan, partner, and pivot with confidence. If your organisation needs to track trends and developments in logistics — or any sector across Africa — we can help. Our market intelligence services are tailored to support strategic planning, competitive positioning, and operational resilience.
