By Lisa Mouhibian
Pop-ups are similar to the in-home dinner model, but pop up in borrowed restaurants, often on short notice. Said to have been originated in Los Angeles by Chef Ludo Lefebvre (who claims his famous LudoBites has evolved into more of a “touring restaurant”), some amazing meals by creative chefs are being served in temporary digs, with diners being alerted primarily via social media. A few of the many dotting Los Angeles:
LQ@SK Chef Laurent Quenioux, formerly of Bistro LQ and now at Vertical Wine Bistro in 
Pasadena, and Nguyen Tran of Starry Kitchen downtown (who started an illegal dinner/restaurant in his apartment in Hollywood, got so big he was shut down and then opened Starry Kitchen) have teamed up twice a month for a limited time. Chef Quenioux’s delectable and inventive fare has included escamoles (known as “insect caviar” or ant larvae, harvested from the base of the agave plant) and cod, “lobster” bouillon and Thai snapper with smoked black sea salt. Using mostly seasonal and organic, this is some of the best food in town and at $45 for a five-course (plus amuse) prix fixe, is not to be missed.
Ktchn 105 This weekly pop-up brunch is tucked away behind a parking lot and through an unmarked iron gate in a minimalist industrial space. The menu from Chef Felix G. Barron IV’s open kitchen 
changes weekly, but inventive morning dishes have included such delights as beet hash and eggs, and smoked salmon and arugula. While you’re there, grab a cup of joe from the guys @Handsome.
Culinary Cause St. Vincent Meals on Wheels hosts a series of Culinary Cause Dinners to benefit their meal delivery service. The most recent, @Casa Del Mar, was sold out. Look on their site (stvincentmow.org) for info about upcoming events. At $150 it’s pricier than your average pop-up, but it’s for a good cause!
Most pop-ups are word-of-mouth, so the best way to stay informed is to sign up for their e-mail shout outs. Or check them out on Twitter. It’s a delectable way to try interesting, inventive and totally tasty dishes by outstanding chefs for a reasonable price.
Photos courtesy Danny Chen
Read about in-home pop-ups at Dining out-But In!
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