Why are pop-ups popping off?

It used to be that opening your own restaurant was the only path to gaining recognition as a chef. But these days, more and more chefs are opening pop-ups as a first step, or even an alternative, to a brick-and-mortar spot. Pop-ups can offer flexibility, freedom, and exposure without the high overhead and financial risk. But that doesn’t mean pop-up life is a walk in the park. This week on the show, Amanda talks to two LA chefs who run their own pop-ups—Rashida Holmes of Bridgetown Roti and Brandon Gray of Brandoni Pepperoni—about the pros and cons of the business model, their mixed feelings about press attention, and what chefs need to know before popping up.  Stuff we talk about in this episode:  The Promises and Perils of Pop-Ups: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/promises-and-perils-of-popups Bridgetown Roti website: https://www.bridgetownroti.com/ Brandoni Pepperoni website: https://www.brandoni-pepperoni.com/ About Chef Craig Wong: https://chefcraigwong.com/about Santa Monica Farmers Market: https://www.smgov.net/Departments/pcd/farmercontent.aspx?id=10039 Crafted Kitchen LA website: https://www.craftedkitchenla.com/the-kitchens Rashida Holmes and Bridgetown Roti – @bridgetownroti Brandon Gray and Brandoni Pepperoni – @la_brandoni_pepperoni For a transcript of this episode, please follow this link. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Om Podcasten

A last-minute party with no menu inspiration. A kitchen with no space. A toddler who will only eat buttered pasta. Name your dinner emergency—Bon Appétit is here to help.  Dinner SOS is the podcast where we answer desperate home cooks' cries for help. In every episode, food director Chris Morocco and a rotating cast of cooking experts tackle a highly specific conundrum and present two solutions. The caller will pick one, cook through it, and let us know if we successfully helped rescue dinner. Write to us at podcasts@bonappetit.com!  For the recipes featured in Dinner SOS and more, head to bonappetit.com or download the new Epicurious App in the iOS App Store. You can find episodes of our previous podcast, Food People, here.