All that wood burning in Canada made it smell like a barbecue outside all week, giving us flashbacks to Rib King and making us HANGRY. Thankfully, the orange haze is clearing, and it’s time to indulge in another week of some of NYC’s best food pop-ups and limited dish drops. That record high air quality index is being replaced by record high food quality. A smash burger showdown, an ube extravaganza, a film-inspired feast, and more are coming at ya this week.

As always, this article is just a small taste of the pop-ups and drops you can find in the 8it app. Hit the green button at the bottom of this article to explore the 8it app.

Ube Festival
Williamsburg // 6.10

The orange haze may have left NYC, but another color wave is on the horizon. Marsha P. Johnson State Park will turn purple this Saturday as Ube Festival, a celebration of the purple sweet potato is going down at Smorgasburg. More than 25 AAPI vendors will be getting creative, each of them offering ube treats in different iterations. There will be ube mochi cookies from The Boiis Co, ube musubi by Japayuki, ube twinkies from Keyks, ube croissants from Panaderya Salvaje, the ube brioche by Kora pictured above, and so much more. Find all the info in the 💥 Pop-ups category on the 8it app.

Thai Iced Tea Cruffin
Lower East Side // Available thru Sunday

The aptly dubbed croissant-muffin hybrid, the Cruffin from Supermoon Bakehouse, might just be the single most coveted baked good in all of New York. Its flavor rotates weekly, and this week, it has certainly met its match. The sweet and creamy, then strong and bitter taste expedition of Thai iced tea crème pâtissière stands up valiantly to the Cruffin’s sugar-coated flaky layers. A white chocolate topper provides the perfect decadent finish to every bite, leaving you wanting more. We may be witnessing peak Cruffin performance this week. Find all the info in the 🧨 Drops category on the 8it app.

Smash Burger Block Party
Williamsburg // 6.17

It seems like everyone in NYC these days has a strong allegiance to one of the many stellar burger vendors in the five boroughs, but it’s time to smash the beef and try a few of them all at once. 7th Street Burger, Handcraft Burgers, Nowon, and Leon’s Smash Burgers are setting burger rivalries aside to bring us the Smash Burger Block Party at BK Backyard Bar next Saturday. Grills will be on from 12:30-4:30PM with each vendor slinging half burgers. There will be a vote for best smash burger and the winner will take home ultimate bragging rights. Find all the info in the 💥 Pop-ups category on the 8it app.

Food & Film Feastival
Fort Lee, NJ // 6.17

The Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, NJ is hosting a screening of Jon Favreau’s 2014 classic “Chef” with chefs serving bites inspired by the movie next Saturday. No popcorn will be necessary, as Chef Mario Chapé, a.k.a Big Papa Smoke ‘Em, will be slinging yucca hash, cubanos, and pork cracklings, a much more stimulating popcorn alternative. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Father’s Day eve than taking dad out to try Mario’s food. Proceeds from the event will raise money for the Culinary Content Kitchen they are building. Find all the info in the 💥 Pop-ups category on the 8it app.

Bánh by Lauren
East Village // 6.11

After leaving her post as a pastry chef at Gramercy Tavern during the pandemic, Lauren Tran began her own hustle making Vietnamese desserts and pastries. Since then, her business, Bánh by Lauren, has garnered a bicoastal cult following with treats like pandan chiffon cakes with coconut mousse, thai tea chiffon cakes with condensed milk mousse, sesame rice balls filled with sweet mung bean, and more, routinely selling out in New York and Seattle. On Sunday, she will be popping up at Nudibranch with a few fan favorites. Find all the info in the 💥 Pop-ups category on the 8it app.

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