8.25 Drop Digest: NYC’s Running Tab of Food Pop-Ups, Dish Drops & Collabs
Psst… We want to let you in on something. The most outstanding food in NYC isn’t always served in a stuffy dining room full of white tablecloths. It can be from anywhere-like a restaurant that shares a space with a ceramic studio, or a jerk joint in the back of a bar-and you should know about every one of them. That’s why the 8it team curates recommendations that are solely based on the food and we hunt for elusive pop-ups, new dish drops, and collabs. This week’s bounty features ice cream innovators, a paella street party that will transport you to Spain, and one of the world’s biggest Japanese food festivals. The 8it Drop Digest is just a small taste of what you can discover in the 🧨 Pop-Ups & Drops category on the 8it app, so go check it out for more.
@ostudioatnight
Caleta Residency at Ostudio
Bed-Stuy // 8.26
What’s the drop?
Co-founders of Bad Habit Ice Creams Jesse and Javier Zuniga, formerly of Wildair and Contra, are opening a brick and mortar called Caleta soon. But first, they’re spinning their wheels at wine bar/ceramic studio, Ostudio (pun intended). Their menu features beef tartare, sunchokes & aji verde, mussel toast, plus fun desserts like olive oil ice cream with rasberry bombe, and sweet corn baked alaska. ”The food that Caleta has presented at Ostudio is a riff on the menu we will serve at our upcoming ice cream shop & bar brick and mortar. Inspirations are drawn from New American cooking but also our collective travels around Europe, Mexico and South America as well as the cities we grew up in,” said Jesse who is from Los Angeles. Javier hails from Caracas, Venezuela.
Why should you go?
Treat this as a sneak preview of great things to come. Bad Habit took off from Jesse and Javier’s home kitchen during the pandemic and soon it will be operating out of Caleta. “Caleta will be an ice cream shop by day and bar by night. During the day, Bad Habit cups and pints will be available. Caleta is also the home of wholesale production for Bad Habit, so the ice cream is made fresh, hand-packed on site and the flavors will change regularly based on what’s in season. At night, while customers can still swing by for a cup of ice cream... wine, beer, small bites and plated desserts such as our Baked Alaska will be available,” said Jesse. Keep Caleta on your radar as it’s expected to open November 2022; it will be on ours for sure🔒. Tap the green button below and hit up their last night at Ostudio, Friday August 26.
@beaucoup_nyc
Beaucoup Banh Mi Pop-Up
Bushwick // 8.26
What’s the drop?
Commis from Eleven Madison Park Chef Nancy Nguyen is having a Vietnamese pop-up in Bushwick. Nem Nuong Pork Skewers and Classic Banh Mis will make up the traditional side of the menu. “The classic pork banh mi MUST have pâté most important ingredient,” said Nguyen, showing her commitment to the recipe. Shrimp Banh Mi Dogs will also be available, displaying Nguyen’s inventiveness. “I’m actually not a huge fan of the processed mystery meats in a regular dog so I conjured it up, plus I love seafood.” Your beloved corner hot dog stand could never.
Why should you go?
Chef Nancy will be bringing her Michelin-star experience to Vietnamese classics and expanding hot dog lore at this pop-up. “(The Shrimp Banh Mi Dog) did very well last summer so I’m kickin it again but better,” she said. Tap the green button below for the time and location.
@cmartysjerk
Cmartys Jerk Pop-Up
East Williamsburg // 8.27
Crown Heights // WED-FRI weekly
What’s the drop?
Chef Christopher Martin’s jerk pop-up emerged from his seasonings business. “Back in 2016 I decided to make my seasonings and then used food pop ups as activations for the brand,” he said. “I started by grillling for friends and taking pictures and then started getting paid to do it. In 2019 I was getting pretty serious about it and was getting gigs every weekend and the jobs got bigger and bigger.” Since then, Cmartys Pop-Up has found a home at bars and local haunts due to pandemic regulations. “COVID for my business was a blessing in disguise because with unemployment and the need for establishments to sell food with every drink I was getting a lot more jobs and was still able to maintain my current lifestyle.” Cmartys Jerk Banh Mis and tacos are some of the good things born from the pandemic along with Tiger King memes and the self-care routine you learned on TikTok.
Why should you go?
This pop-up combines Martin’s expertise and curiosity. “I’ve been grilling and cooking since I was 8 or 10 but the pop up started organically,” he said. “I saw a Vice how to video on Banh Mis during COVID and tried to make one myself but it felt like I needed to adds little more to it. So I made it more caribbean. I did an escovitch for the pickled daikon & carrots. Made a jerk Mayo and then jerk marinated and grilled the meat to make it more me.” Tap the green buttons below to catch innovation in action at Cmartys upcoming pop-ups.
@arrocesnyc
Arroces Street Paella Pop-Up
Carroll Gardens // 8.28
What’s the drop?
Chef Eduardo Cuenca is bringing big energy to his pop-up in Carroll Gardens that will feature house DJs and paella. “The sofrito is the key to a delicious paella. The sofrito recipe is passed down from generations and gives the paella its unique flavor, but it’s equally as important to use bomba rice. The rice I use is imported from Valencia, Spain,” said Cuenca. “I’ve mostly been doing seasonal ingredients and seafood. I use whatever I find at the farmers market that reflects what will be most flavorful.” The menu will also feature tortilla española, spicy chicken croquetas and gazpacho popsicles.
Why should you go?
Cuenca has been curating good vibes with Paella for years. “I’ve been eating paella all my life because my grandfather is from Spain, I started cooking it with my family when I was a kid, and I have been doing it ever since. I started cooking it for my friends and family when I moved to the United States, and I’m wanting to bring the same joy that I had with my family to a party environment, with drinks and music.” Bring your hangry friends and don’t sweat the technique as paella is cooked for you and three more groups right before your eyes. “The pan I use is 60” in diameter and serves 20 people,” Cuenca said. Tap the green button below and RSVP for the festivities.
@karlsballs
Japan Fes
East Village // 8.28
What’s the drop? One of the biggest Japanese food festivals in the world is coming to the East Village! There will be traditional games, contests, and Japanese street food including Takoyaki from KARLSBALLS.
Why should you go? You may have had Takoyaki at a Japanese restaurant before, but Karl Palma emphasized that his is the real deal. “Takoyaki is a very Japanese dish specific to Osaka. It’s like a savory creampuff filled with Octopus. My takoyaki is done Osaka-style. It has a dash-forward taste and less oil than the Tokyo-style. My mission is to educate, influence, and promote real Takoyaki culture from Osaka,” said Palma. “We can’t wait to crank them out on Sunday. There’s so many customers so I’m preparing for 600 orders.” There will likely be lines so make sure to get there early. Tap the green button below for the time and location of Japan Fes.
Karl Palma making his Takoyaki
@compagnienyc
Orange Crush at La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels
Little Italy // 8.26
What’s the drop? Orange wine will intersect with Orange Crush soda, American pop art, and food nostalgia at this event where the food menu is both sophisticated and fun. According to Riley Murphy of Compagnie, "We're trying to showcase the intersection between wine making and playfulness. The chefs like to play with nostalgia a lot, so meals they had when they were younger. The ricearoni arancini, The frito pie, the charcuterie board that we're calling 'lunchables' are all a part of that." The menu will also feature Kachapuri (pictured above) and Duck à l'Orange Bao with Orange Crush Gastrique.
Why should you go? Grab that friend of yours who has been waxing lyrical about trendy orange wine all summer and head down to Compagnie. Your friend the amateur sommelier has made it abundantly clear that the orange wine movement has been gaining lots traction recently but Murphy, a certified sommelier, shed light on its rich history. “Orange wine is the first wine ever created, and it came from Georgia,” he said. "Kachapuri comes from Georgia too so we wanted to make that connection. There are 40 Georgian wines on the menu for the event.” Tap the green button below, get that dose of food nostalgia and wash it down with some orange wine; or soda, if you prefer.
YOU SHOULDA 8it!
Not to rub it in, but here’s a pop-up you may have missed out on. To stay in the know on all the hottest drops in real-time, check out 8it’s Pop-Ups & Drops category in the app.
@reginasgrocery
Family-Style Block Party at Regina’s Grocery
Last weekend, Regina’s Grocery put the block on their back with a neighborhood party on Orchard & Canal. They served up a 50-foot prosciutto sangwich, free soft-serve ice cream, and they flew in Bebito’s from Miami to slang some fire Cubanos straight off a whole hog made in front of the shop.
All the food was on the house (thanks to Red Bull), plus free REAL tattoos, Two Robbers seltzer, and RAGAZZI on the spins. Keep it on lock because Regina’s has something crispy in store for Labor Day weekend that you don’t wanna miss.
NEVER MISS A FOOD POP-UP, DROP, OR COLLAB AGAIN!
Beta password is: NYCDROP
