Opening day in the MLB is like the first bite of a new season of food pop-ups in NYC. A fresh start means exciting surprises are in store. Players seem to get stronger and faster each season although not as many get caught juicing anymore. Leave that to NYC chefs who are constantly bringing juicy flavors and new techniques to the table like pitchers throwing their best dishes at us with precision. And just like fans who erupt with excitement over an extra-base hit, we get pumped when we discover these rare experiential eating opportunities. On top of that, Spring has brought us an abundance of seasonal ingredients adding a whole new level of freshness to chefs’ arsenal. So get ready to taste the flavors of the new season, because the pop-up and drop game is set for a career year.

As always, this article is just a small taste of the pop-ups and drops in the 8it app. Hit the green button below each dish to access 8it and get all the deets. (Private Beta password: NYCPOPUP)

99 Burger
The Bronx // 99 per Yankee Game

The heyday of peanuts and Cracker Jacks is long gone. Ordering food at baseball stadiums has become a potentially gourmet experience, and of course baseball’s most successful, larger-than-life franchise, the New York Yankees, is taking that to a whole new level. The 99 burger, named for team captain Aaron Judge’s number 99, is stacked with two four-ounce wagyu beef patties, Chef Eric Greenspan’s New School Quality American Cheese, dill pickles, caramelized onions, and burger sauce on brioche. Get to the stadium quick, because 99 are available per game, only in section 223. Tap the baseball below for all the info.

Flor Camorlinga Residency
Greenpoint // Thru 4.29

Fulgurances’ current resident chef, Flor Camorlinga, is bringing her worldwide cooking experience to the Greenpoint chef’s incubator through April. Flavors from Chile, Los Angeles, Denmark, Mexico, Tokyo, and Seoul are present throughout the menu. Japanese and Korean techniques meet her Mexican roots in Korean-Mexican fried chicken wings, coconut and blood orange aguachile, and smoked fish head noodle soup. So if you need a vacation but already burned all your PTO, opt for a trip to Greenpoint for this constantly evolving tasting menu that doubles as a world tour- so multifaceted you could call it the Shohei Ohtani of dinners. Tap the globe below for all the info.

Smokin Jerks BBQ
LIC // 4.1 + Red Hook // 4.2

Smokin Jerks BBQ, known for Texas style barbecue sandwiches and more infused with Caribbean flavor has a double header of pop-ups coming up this weekend. Pitmaster Kent Samm spent time on a little farm team in California called Bludso’s BBQ, where he learned the art of barbecue from Kevin Bludso, who you may recognize from Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, BBQ Brawl and The American Barbecue Showdown. Now in the majors, contending with his own barbecue brand, Samm seasons his food with the flavors of Trinidad using methods he learned from his mother. You can expect pork, chicken, and beef spiced up with jerk seasoning- so juiced up you could call it the Barry Bonds of barbecue. Tap the buttons below for all the info on this weekend’s Smokin Jerks pop-ups.

Hera
Clinton Hill // 4.5 & 4.6

Chef Jay Rodriguez is on deck to man the hearth at Rhodora Wine Bar as his roaming restaurant Hera, known for seasonal fare, is popping up with an a la carte menu for two nights this week. This short residency hits the barrel of the bat as it coincides with the start of Spring produce season. The menu features abundance potatoes from upstate with preserved ramp ranch and spring greens, a berkshire porkchop, roasted oysters, rhubarb clafoutis, and more. Tap the oyster below for all the info.

Beta password is: NYCPOPUP

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