With Valentine’s Day coming up, we’re less interested in the gimmicky heart-shaped pizzas and more curious about one question: What’s your food love language? Is it when your partner saves you the last bite? When they eat all the flats and save you the drumsticks? Does it happen to be a champagne-laced doughnut? An aphrodisiac tasting menu? Ok, those might be ultra-specific. But if your love language is trying out new dishes with your crush, then this week’s must-eats will have you speaking in tongues. 

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

Chaat Dog
Prospect Heights // 2.12

A few years ago ahead of a hot dog competition with friends, journalist Pervaiz Shallwani decided he was going to, for better or worse, attempt to pull off something unexpected; a hot dog steeped in his South Asian heritage. Thankfully, his wife, a master of condiments, provided him with a tamarind chutney to upgrade from typical ketchup, which he topped with bhel puri, green chutney potatoes, cilantro, and boom! He went home a winner and Chaat Dog began. This Sunday, no matter who wins the Super Bowl, you too can go home a winner from Endless Life Brewing, as Chaat Dog will be popping up there. Their menu now also includes apple chaat, corn & poblano chaat, and pineapple chaat hot dogs plus walking chaat (their play on Frito Pie topped with your preferred chaat instead of chili). Tap the glizzy below for all the info.

Boca Santa
Bed-Stuy // 2.12

If you’re in Bed-Stuy for the Super Bowl (or more importantly, Rihanna’s halftime show) make sure you bring your Umbrella-ella-ella because it’s gonna be raining salsa. Chef Natalie Hernandez’s Boca Santa is popping up at Cookie’s this Sunday slinging tacos during the Super Bowl. Tacos and football just go together. Tortillas are like a great offensive line; the foundation of a dynamic vessel, providing your hands with sauce protection. Fillings like nopales and beans are like a robust run game; dependable and filling, putting in work the rest of the offense can build off. Salsas are the passing game, vibrant, flavorful, and sometimes too hot to handle. Tap the taco below for all the info.

Los Bandidos Del Amor
Clinton Hill // 2.14

The love bandits are in town for Valentine’s Day. Veterans of the pop-up game, Luis Herrera of Ensenada and Conner Updegrave, former CDC of Blanca, are teaming up once again for a tasting menu that will lift the weight of wooing your lover off your shoulders. The dinner will include a “fiery, sexy aphrodisiac” according to Herrera’s Instagram. Considering his proficiency with seafood, we have a good idea of what he might have up his sleeve. Tap the flaming heart below for all the info.

Ever After
West Village // 2.10-2.12

As if their regular menu doesn’t already scream sex appeal, The Doughnut Project is doubling down. This weekend’s doughnut drop “Ever After” is almost guaranteed to have you fall in love after one bite. It’s filled with champagne cream, fresh strawberries, and coated in a strawberry glaze. If cuffing season is dragging on for you this year, bring this doughnut to your sneaky link; it could put your situationship on lock. Tap the heart on lock below for all the info.

More Than Cake + Cookies
Lower East Side // 2.11

The only pastry chef from the 2022 TIME 100 Next list is popping up on Orchard Street this Saturday. Ahead of the release of her cookbook, MORE THAN CAKE, Natasha Pickowicz will be slinging exactly that at Susan Alexandra. Known for pastries that channel her Chinese and Californian heritage, like nectarine and miso tarte tatin and olive oil layer cake with mascarpone and fennel, this pop-up offers a chance to get your Valentine’s Day shopping done ahead of time, especially if your lover thinks chocolate is too cliché. Just slip in the fact that your pastry gift was made by a chef who’s mentioned in the same sentences as Keke Palmer, Sydney Sweeney, and Jack Harlow. Tap the cake and cookie below for all the info.

Pizza Cookie
Bed-Stuy // Pick up 2.12 & 2.13

Get your heart-shaped pizza outta here! Valentine’s Pizza will be slinging giant circular cookies in pizza boxes available for pre-order to pick up on Sunday and Monday. Made with love in partnership with online baking success story Gracie Baked, it’s sprinkled with Maldon Sea Salt and sliced into six pieces, so it would be weird if your lover didn’t share. Show up with flowers, this pizza cookie, and a jug of 2% milk (or oat) for a romantic night in. Tap the pizza cookie below for all the info, pre-orders are live now for pick up on 2.12 & 2.13!

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