3 Upcoming Pop-Up Dinners You Shouldn't Miss
By Anthony Todd in Food on Aug 26, 2016 3:16PM
Chefs Brandon Baltzley and Laura Higgins-Baltzley of Crux. Photo by Nick Murway.
While most of the news lately has been about really big restaurant projects (the opening of Revival, the closing of Cantina 1910), it's important to keep an eye out for smaller, more fleeting events. Especially when they are as delicious as these three pop-ups, which include a Food & Wine Best New Chef, a James Beard nominee and some awesome grilled pizza.
Crux Dinner Series (in Collaboration with Sauced)
Chef Brandon Baltzley is back, for a limited-time only engagement, and he's brought some friends. His Crux dinner series has teamed up with Sauced, the night market and all-around culinary adventure creator, to bring four dinners to four different Midwestern cities in September. The Chicago dinner is on Sept. 11, and features Baltzley, Chef Jonathan Brooks of Milktooth in Indianapolis (A 2015 Food and Wine Best New Chef), Chef Kyle Paton of The Black Lodge, Chef Kevin Cuddihee of Two and Chef Laura Higgins-Baltzley, co-chef of Buffalo Jump in Falmouth, Massachusetts. The menu is funk-tastic, and includes things like fermented grasshoppers, turmeric-poached sablefish, mushroom-cured pork, and more. Tickets are $85.
Claudia Joins Forces With Ardent
Claudia, the pop-up dinner series from Chef Trevor Teich (that we called the most exciting pop-up series in Chicago) is hosting a special dinner in collaboration with Chef Justin Carlisle, the James Beard Award-nominated force behind Ardent in Milwaukee. If you haven't been to Ardent, start driving now, but if you don't have any extra vacation days, this is the perfect opportunity to get a taste of the culinary offerings from both of these great chefs in one place. Buy tickets here. The dinner is BYOB. If you can't make this special collaboration dinner, consider buying tickets for the Sept. 11 and Oct. 2 sessions of Claudia.
A Pizza Grilling Party at Sportsman's Club
If you're looking for something a little less formal (and less expensive), look no further. This weekend, on Saturday, Aug. 27, Sportsman's Club is teaming up with Pickle and Chub and Middle Brow Brewing Company to host a patio pop-up. Pickle and Chub will be grilling pizzas made with fresh farmers market produce gathered Saturday morning, and Middle Brow will be pouring beers, mixing them with fresh sodas and, at the end of the night, using some of the farmer's market haul to make a new creation. A pizza and a beer are just $17, and the fun kicks off at 4 p.m.