Pop Stars

The first time I was taken to a pop-up, I was full of questions: Why is this popular chef sweating over a hotplate in the back of a defunct coffee joint? How long is the wait?! Where’s the rest of the menu? One bite in, I traded over-thinking for over-eating as raw culinary talent silenced my apprehension.

For a cluster of adventurous chefs, both emerging and established, pop-ups are the opportunity to get their idea of the perfect plate from conception to the table, without the investment or bureaucracy of a conventional restaurant. They get in, blow your mind with a few stand-out dishes, and get out.

Acclimating to this kind of elastic dining makes the traditional restaurant model seem overly predictable. And in this Peter Pan kind of town, pop-ups are in perfect company. Here's a list of my favorite food ideas to pop up.