Tuesday Dinners by Talented Up and Coming Pop Up Chefs
Foodies have two delicious pop up dinners options for tonight Tuesday, March 13. Chicken and waffles in the Lower Haight neighborhood, or Hakata ramen in Half Moon Bay.
Today, Greenburger’s is celebrating its first anniversary from 7 to 9 pm, with an extended dinner menu prepared by nomad chef Paul from Angry Man Eats. This food vendor first debuted last year at ForageSF’s Underground Market. The feast includes expertly fried and juicy chicken breast pieces, Liege style waffles, collard greens, and hush puppies. But these are no ordinary chicken n waffles. The aromas of the waffles embedded with crystalized pearl sugar, and the fried foods are intoxicating. Individual items cost $2.50 to $7 each, or get the combo plate for $9. This event also serves as a preview to an upcoming dinner series. Starting in April, this Lower Haight burger place will host regular pop up dinners by Angry Man Eats and friends. His previous pop ups elsewhere have been sold out events.
The other remarkable pop up dinner happens tonight from 4:30 to 10 pm in Half Moon Bay, just a 30 minutes drive south of the city. Ramen fanatics would be impressed by the exceptional quality of this Hakata style ramen pop up, hosted by Flavor Restaurant, at 10151 Cabrillo Hwy, El Granada, CA 94019. It’s worth mentioning that before moving to this locale in 2010, Flavor itself was formerly a comfort food pop up restaurant in Potrero Hill, named Sally’s After Dark. So it’s inspiring to see a former pop up helping a newcomer.
Noodle expert, Conrad Seto is obsessed with making an outstanding ramen bowl, so every ingredient is made from scratch. No shortcuts, diners get hand made Hakata style straight noodles, house cured bamboo shoots, welsh onions, sprouts and kikurage (wood ear mushrooms), a soft boiled egg marinated in soy sauce and mirin, and a milky and creamy tonkotsu broth – pork bone and marrow fat stock cooked for many hours. In my opinion, so far this is the best Hakata style ramen I’ve tried in the Bay Area. As close as you can get to Hakata ramen found in Japan. Tonight’s menu features a 3 course prix fixe for $24, appetizer, ramen – select your choice from 4 bowls, which includes a vegetarian version, and dessert. Call for reservations at 1.650.726.8000. Note that unlike the previous vendor, Conrad’s ramen pop ups are infrequent. So don’t miss out on this rare opportunity.
Photo Credit: top, from Angry Man Eats blog, original photo was taken by Albany Patch’s Emilie Raguso. Bottom, from Flavor restaurant Facebook.
