In this episode of “The Special,” we learn how Houston has embraced its heritage and reimagined it for a modern era. We meet Anna Pham, whose Mai’s Restaurant has been a city staple; Chris Shepherd, a chef who draws on Houston’s ethnic blend for his culinary creations; and James Glassman, a historian with insights on the city’s changing culture.

Mai’s serves as the venue for our talk, as we dine on traditional Vietnamese fare, including catfish, hot and sour soup and Vietnamese crepes.

BMW’s first ever X7 inspired “The Special,” by bringing together a new collaboration between two expert storytellers — The New York Times T Brand Studio and The Infatuation for the first time. Together, we examine culture and food in a way only we can.

For more information and behind the scenes photos, visit nytimes.com/thespecial. Sponsored by BMW.

When you’re in Greenville, S.C. you feel like you’re home. There are no strangers in Greenville, the locals say, only friends you haven’t met yet. In this episode of “The Special,” we explore Southern hospitality through the eyes of the people who live there. We’ll hear from the chef Shaun Garcia on his restaurant, Soby’s, where he puts a modern twist on recipes from his great-grandmother. We’ll also explore how Greenville’s dedicated residents transformed the city for the modern era. We’ll tour the city’s parks with a member of the City Council, speed along BMW’s test track with a high-performance driver, and learn about the city’s past from a civil rights legend.

We’ll sit with our guests for a meal of fried chicken with a honey and peppercorn twist. Sponsored by BMW.

BMW’s first ever X7 inspired “The Special,” by bringing together a new collaboration between two expert storytellers — The New York Times T Brand Studio and The Infatuation for the first time. Together, we examine culture and food in a way only we can.

For more information and behind the scenes photos, visit nytimes.com/thespecial.

In this episode of “The Special,” we explore the constantly evolving South Philadelphia neighborhood. Once considered a red light district, an influx of businesses have moved there, some of which are owned by the chef Marcie Turney, who has opened restaurants, bars and boutiques in the area. While Turney prepares this episode’s meal, we’ll tour South Philly and visit a local glassblower, a butcher and a boxing coach.

We’ll sit for a traditional Italian-Philly meal of “Sunday Gravy” with three female entrepreneurs. For more information and behind the scenes photos, visit nytimes.com/thespecial.

BMW’s first ever X7 inspired “The Special” by bringing together a new collaboration between two expert storytellers: The New York Times’s T Brand Studio and The Infatuation for the first time. Together, they examine culture and food in a way only they can. Sponsored by BMW.