Labor Day is often spoken about like it’s some kind of impending doom, but last time we checked, summer doesn’t end until late September, which means pop-up summer is still going strong. Labor Day just means there’s a three-day weekend full of elusive pop-ups, new dish drops, and collabs. This week’s Drop Digest features life-changing porchetta, a tasting menu inspired by French disco, an ice cream bar that transformed into a doughnut, and more. 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.

Porchetta Pop-Up
LES // 9.3

What’s the drop?

The Prince of Porchetta, Chef Angelo Competiello (@mind_machine) is coming to NYC! Years ago, Competiello was inspired by porchetta food trucks in Rome and began mastering it himself. A pig’s entire mid-section is decked out in garlic, salt, and fresh herbs, marinated, and cooked slowly over a 5-7 day process for his version. On Saturday, it will be served on sangwiches with onions, peppers, fries, lemon zest, and provolone.

Why should you go?
Eating this porchetta isn’t only a tasting experience; it hits all five senses. The aromas rising from the sangwich, its layered texture, the sight of its juicy meat, and the mesmerizing sound when you take a bite will all form vivid memories. In a few months, you might step on a leaf and hear a crunch that reminds you of the crispy skin on that porchetta, and wonder how and when you’ll have that experience again. This is a chance to have your own Ratatouille moment. Don’t just take our word for it, Chef Angelo’s porchetta once took a private dinner at the James Beard House by storm and he’s served it to pork lovers all over the country including Guy Fieri. Bring your mom, bring your dog, and come down to Regina’s Grocery Saturday at noon. Anyone who misses out will cringe with envy at your BeReal. We’ll be there with our homies from Two Robbers Seltzer, so come say hi! Grab a sangwich and claim your free digital porchetta token for the chance to win a 10lb porchetta delivered to your apartment from the Prince of Porchetta himself!

French Disco Pop Party
Flushing // 9.6 & 9.7

What’s the drop?
Chefs Anthony Sousa (formerly of Eleven Madison Park and Chez Ma Tante) and Conner Updegrave (formerly of Blanca) will collab for this pop-up dinner, forming a culinary super-team that will surely do better than the Nets. “Conner and I have been working together for a couple years now in various projects. We both just work well as a pair and have a complimentary food style to each other,” said Sousa. The menu features oysters with champagne mignonette, chicken liver mousse on brioche with tart cherries and rosehip, a dry-aged pork chop with habanda burnt peaches & market greens, and much more.

Why should you go?
As its original chef, Sousa came up with the menu for Bathhouse, a Williamsburg restaurant inside of a spa; so he’s no stranger to unlikely duos. He provided insight on how his latest duality of themes: French Disco Pop and fine dining, will intertwine at this dinner. “The goal for this was to be like a really cool French bistro inspired dinner. We wanted the vibes to be fun so there will be French pop playing while you also enjoy some cool natty wines and classic cocktails,” said Sousa. Tap the green button below for the time, location, and reservation link (if any are still available).

Labor Day Kitchen Party
Greenpoint // 9.2 & 9.3

What’s the drop?
As the restaurant gears up for a new residency, Fulgurances crew members Chefs Michael Lankowski and Francisco Pedemonte will be taking over the kitchen Friday and Saturday. “We met working at Wildair and Contra a couple years ago. The dinner came about because we had a gap of about a week between the last residency and the next one so we were able to take over the kitchen for a few days,” said Lankowski. The menu will highlight local seafood and produce.

Why should you go?
These two dinners will feature the fruits of labor from chefs and farmers who have been hard at work. “The menu is a showcase of both produce from our favorite farms and projects we have been working on in the kitchen like ferments, preserves, sauces we’ve developed and bread service,” said Lankowski. “I’d say the goal for us is to get to be creative and develop our own ideas in between residencies that mostly involve helping other chefs execute theirs. Also to have a fun couple nights with a lot of our friends in the neighborhood and regulars who follow our events.” Tickets are sold out for the event at the time of writing, but press the green button and check the reservation link for the option to be notified if a slot opens up.

Mimi Cheng’s x Mama’s Too! Bun
UWS, East Village // All September

What’s the drop?
Mimi Cheng’s is bringing the big buns out for their monthly special. It’s filled with vodka sauce, pesto, chicken, nduja, mascarpone, and pecorino from their UWS neighbors Mama’s Too!

Why should you go?
Although they’re made with a similar amount of love, these aren’t the frozen pizza rolls your mama used to make for you after school. This is Mama’s Too! and Mimi Cheng’s, two UWS institutions coming together for a legendary collab. Tap the buttons below and snag these from either location.

Chocolate Eclair Cruller
Greenwich Village // 9.2-9.4

What’s the drop?
Look at a picture of this creation and the Good Humor Chocolate Eclair Ice Cream Bar side by side and cue that meme from “The Office” while you’re at it. The Doughnut Project got this one on point. Now that’s how you #recre8it!

Why should you go?
Those Good Humor Ice Cream Bars are so good, you could’ve eaten them for breakfast as a kid. Who knows, maybe you did sneak into the freezer and eat one for breakfast back in the day; and we wouldn’t even blame you if you did that this morning. But this weekend, you can have a morning stroll through the Greenwich Village eating a doughnut that tastes just like the Chocolate Eclair Bar and nobody would bat an eye. Tap the green button below for more info.

NEVER MISS A FOOD POP-UP, DROP, OR COLLAB AGAIN!

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