LA native Tiana Gee will bring her pop-up brunch SoulPhil to Redbird in DTLA on Sunday, Aug. 27. The Black Filipina chef celebrates her heritage with dishes like Sasawan glazed prawns with summer succotash, corn grits and okra chips, as well as chicken and waffles, adobo short rib hash and banana pudding French toast – coconut pudding stuff brioche bites, Nilla wafers, banana caramel, whipped cream and more bananas.

Gee, who started her culinary journey at age 17, had a handful of successful dinner pop-ups and has spent time working at Republique, Tartine, Hearth and Hound, and as the sous chef at Marcus Samuelssons’ Red Rooster in Harlem. 

Redbird

Courtesy Maple Block

Smorgasburg will celebrate its 7th Annual BBQ Day on Sunday, Aug. 27, with a stellar lineup that includes Maple Block & Maple Block Chicken (bringing its huge custom-built horizontal rotisserie back to the market, the “Cambodian Cowboy” from Long Beach, Battambong BBQ, and Texas Armenian pop-up III Mas BBQ that specializes in Khorovats (Armenian kebab). The Dulanville truck will serve up its Original BBQ Hot Chicken & Spicy Watermelon BBQ Chicken as a special, and Domestic BBQ from La Puente returns for the second year in a row, offering its full menu, along with a smoked duck pastrami collab with Evil Cooks. 

There will be an agua chile rib tostada by Correas Mariscos and Saulitos BBQ, plus Filipino BBQ specialists SmokED & Salted BBQ, and Apoy Barbecue will be collaborating with Love Hour and Mano Po respectively. Quarantine Pizza and A’s BBQ signature al pastor pizza collab will make a return, and weekly BBQ regulars Black Sugar Rib Co. and the award-winning Pit-Madam Smoke Queen BBQ will also be on hand. 

There will be themed specials from Smorgasburg residents like The Golden Skewer‘s Surf’n’Turf with coconut corn, vegan-friendly Champignon Eats‘ lion’s mane ribs and Avocadamama, as well as drink specials like Offshore Tea‘s peach oolong sweet tea with peach rings.

Redbird

Courtesy Ginza Nishikawa

As the one-year anniversary of Ginza Nishikawa continues, there will be a two-day takeover at Bread Head LA on Wednesday, Aug. 30, and Thursday, Aug. 31. Bread Head LA will use only Ginza Nishikawa shokupan for three limited-time sandwiches available for both days. Options include roast chicken salad with green apple and tarragon, white chocolate ganache peanut butter, blueberry jam and Nueske’s Bacon, as well as a pimento cheese sandwich. Prices vary by sandwich and there are limited quantities of each. 

ALK and The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood have crafted a live music experience with a weekly jazz performance at the restaurant taking place every Saturday night alongside executive chef Olivier Rousselle’s fusion of haute cuisine and wine pairings from across the globe. Reservations for ALK on Opentable: https://www.opentable.com/r/alk-at-the-godfrey-hotel-hollywood-los-angeles. 

Upstairs, the I|O Rooftop features a French Riviera soiree, an all-new exclusive event series every Saturday with dancing and views of the Hollywood sign and a sushi station that’s open all night. Tables are also available for a small minimum spending requirement; reserve your table now at [email protected], to secure your spot. Full details and free entry tickets are available on Eventbrite. 

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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