Michele StuevenTo celebrate the launch of its new Creamy Mustard Spreads, the iconic yellow mustard brand has teamed up with Smorgasburg and Picnic Sandwich for a sample spree of a new line of its thick spread on Sunday, May 1. In addition to a taste of Creamy Yellow, Sweet Applewood and Honey Chipotle, fans also have a chance to get a limited-edition Creamy Mustard Spread Picnic Kit with unique French’s items and three creamy spread flavors. Starting today, mustard lovers also can go online to Frenchs.com and order the limited Creamy Mustard Spreads Picnic Kit (just spy the upside-down French’s icon).
Family Style and Off The Menu are hosting “Island Style,” an immersive, island-style themed feast, to celebrate the beginning of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this Sunday, May 1, at The Pool at The Hollywood Roosevelt.
The poolside, luau-style dinner from Chef Lord Maynardof Kuya Lord and desserts from Café 86 and Brique include Lucenachon/Filipino Porchetta, a slow-roasted pork belly with lemongrass, green onion, red onion, garlic, Kuya’s spices, housemade spiced vinegar from Kuya Lord and ube desserts. Expect a live hula show, DJ sets from NOODLES and DJ Agana, and complimentary festive cocktails from Sipsmith Gin and Guayaki Yerba Mate. Tickets are on sale on CASHDROP, where you can donate directly to SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans,) a nonprofit organization that enriches and empowers generations of Filipino Americans and others by providing health and human services, community economic development, and arts and culture, to Historic Filipinotown and Asian neighborhoods throughout Greater Los Angeles.
Island Style dinner (Courtesy Family Style Food Festival)
LA Cha Cha Chá and LA Barra will be hosting a pop-up with Mexico City’s Licorería Limantour – #6 on the World’s 50 Best Bars. The pop-up will take place at La Barra on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 from 10 p.m. to 2 p.m., walk-ins only. Behind the bar will be Limantour bar manager Eduardo Nava Mendoza, creating a pop-up menu featuring specialty cocktails with seasonal produce, as well as Limantour classics like the Margarita Al Pastor – made with fresh pineapple juice, coriander, and green chili.
If you’re heading out to Stagecoach, Hollywood hotspot Desert 5 Spot will be popping up at Nikki Lane’s Stagestop Market Place from Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to close, and serving signature Desert 5 Spot cocktails. Festival-goers will be able to experience a curated marketplace with music, shopping and drinks. Additionally, Desert 5 Spot will be co-hosting a disco-cowboy pop-up with SHEIN from Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., which will include cowboy karaoke, a makeup counter, bolo tie making and chain stitching.
The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center will open its doors to the “Rising Chef Series,” the organization’s first-ever pop-up concept featuring emerging Asian American chefs — David Nguyen, Kevin Lee, and Tway Nguyen — and JACCC’s new Resident Chef Chris Ono.
Each week will introduce a new immersive dinner experience including a five-course pre-fixe menu inspired by each chef’s cultural heritage, signature House of Suntory cocktail pairing, and pre/post-dinner Japanese garden cocktail.
The pop-up will run from Tuesday to Wednesday of each week, with two seatings available each night at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- Week 1, May 3-4 | David Nguyen @dvdnguyen
- Week 2, May 9-10 | Kevin Lee @chefboylee
- Week 3, May 17-18 | Tway Nguyen @twaynguyen
- Week 4, May 26-27 | Chris Ono, JACCC Resident Chef
All proceeds from the event will be donated to fund culinary innovation and entrepreneurship in local communities, including support for JACCC’s Culinary Arts Program. Tickets for the full experience are available at bit.ly/risingchefseries, and retail for $180. This experience is 21+ due to the alcohol beverage pairing.
Creamy honey chipotle mustard spread charcuterie (Courtesy French’s)
For Cinco de Mayo, Pitfire Pizza and Sonoratown have created a one-day only collaboration to benefit No Us Without You. All day on Thursday, May 5, at all Pitfire Pizza locations, “The Chivichanga” – Sonoratown’s famous burrito – will be reimagined on Pitfire Pizza’s sourdough crust. The Chivichanga Pizza is made with shredded chicken, slow-cooked guisado, Monterey jack and mild cheddar, topped with the classic taco radish, onion and lime. It will be served with dippers of Sonoratown’s signature Spicy Chiltepin Salsa and avocado crema, and will be available at all Pitfire locations for dine-in, take-out and delivery through www.pitfirepizza.com. It will sell for $15, with $5 from each pizza sold going to support No Us Without You. Pitfire Pizza also will be serving $5 Margaritas.
On Wednesday, May 4 in Solvang, there will be a five course charity dinner and silent auction at Coast Range Restaurant to benefit Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen in Ukraine. Chefs include Clark Staub from Full of Life Flatbread, Jeff Olsson from Industrial Eats, Luca Crestanelli and Lincoln Carson. Winemakers Stolpman Vineyards, LoFi Wines and Whitcraft Wines will also participate. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to feeding Ukrainian refugees.
What’s Popping Up is a weekly column in the L.A. Weekly that explores all that’s new in food and drink.
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