Champaign-Urbana is home to an amazing variety of restaurants serving a broad range of international cuisines. Despite all this abundance, we’re still missing out on several important culinary traditions. Our goal is to fill in that gap with unique dining experiences not typically available in the Champaign-Urbana area. We hope these pop-up events will offer adventurous foodies exciting new culinary experiences without having to drive to Chicago, St Louis, or Indianapolis.
Our common vision is to encourage new cultural discoveries by sharing celebrations of diversity and making more meaningful connections to the world — a mission that is more precious now than ever. Each pop-up event will be a unique experience hosted by locals with a passion for ethnic cuisine and international travel.
Chef's Table: Paella Festival in Valencià
A Spanish festival banquet with sangria flights on Sunday, September 1, 2024
Pan con Tomate • fresh tomato on breadGazpacho • chilled vegetable soupPincho Dátiles con Bacón • bacon-wrapped datesPipirrana • Spanish summer saladSeafood Paella • shrimp, clams, mussels, halibut, riceCrème Caramel • flan with fresh berriesSangria flights all evening long, plus a few surprises!
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PAST POP-UP EVENTS
Royal Persian Feast
A fantasy banquet featuring elaborate silk road-inspired dishes at Harvest Market on Sunday, July 21, 2024
Mahiche:
Persian braised lamb shank with saffron
Ghormeh Sabzi: beef herb stew with spinach and lime
Jeweled Rice: Persian rice pilaf with dried fruits and nuts
Shirazi Salad: Persian Cucumber Tomato Salad
Bastani Sonati: saffron ice cream with rosewater and mastic
Wine pairings all evening long, plus a few surprises!
Bullet Train to Kyoto
A multi-course Japanese fantasy foodie safari
with sake, wine, highball, and beer pairings on Sunday, June 9, 2024
Sakana: small bites with beer pairings
Mixed tempura: seasonal veggies fried in a light batter
Tsukemono: sunomono and other pickled things
Zaru soba: cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce
Giant Japanese-style scallops: seared with butter and miso
Chawanmushi: savory egg custard with shrimp
Seafood udon noodle soup: bonito soup stock
Homemade matcha ice cream: green tea ice cream with red bean sauce
Sake, wine, highball, and beer pairings all evening long, plus a few surprises!
Pan-Asian Singapore Hawker Tour
A vegetarian foodie safari at Strawberry Fields Café on Sunday, May 19, 2024 (co-hosted by Sirisha Bhandaru and Paul Young)
Banchan: sweet, sour, and spicy Korean side dishes
Wood Ear Mushroom Salad: crunchy Chinese mushroom salad dressed with garlic, soy, and sesame
Vada Sambar Chutney: popular south Indian savory donut snack served with lentil stew and coconut chutney
Green Papaya Salad:
zingy and spicy Thai salad dressed with a savory garlic-lime sauce
Okonomiyaki: a savory pancake from Osaka topped with Japanese mayonnaise and pickled ginger
Jackfruit Biryani: fragrant Indian rice pilaf made with unripened jackfruit and topped with crispy onion, saffron milk, and fried cashews
Sticky Rice with Mango: fresh ripe mangos with sweet coconut cream sauce
Specialty beverage pairings all evening long with non-alcoholic wine and beer options, plus a few surprises!
Mumbai Street Food Tour
A guided survey of the best eats available in this vibrant city on Sunday, April 14, 2024 (Guest chef: Sirisha Bhandaru)
Chaat: Pani Puri (playful little flavor explosions)
Sev Puri (crispy canapes topped with potatoes, onions, sauces)
Idli Sambar Chutney (steamed lentil and rice cakes with a tamarind stew and coconut chutney)
Paneer Frankie (a soft wrap encasing a spicy paneer filling)
Pav Bhaji (spicy vegetable mash served with a buttered bread roll)
Mawa Cake (a Parsi treat served with Chai Rabdi sauce)
Specially selected wine and beer pairings
An Evening in Český Krumlov
An authentic five-course traditional Czech meal with wine and beer pairings on Sunday, March 17, 2024
Kulajda (mushroom soup)
Vepřové Koleno (pork knuckle)
Braised Red Cabbage
Fried Cheese
Medovník (Soviet honey cake)
Imported wine, beer, and Becherovka
Valentine's Dinner in Napa
A romantic five-course gourmet meal on Sunday, February 11, 2024
Caviar and Napa sparkling wine
Raw oysters with horseradish, mignonette, and Sriracha
Roasted beet salad with goat cheese and walnuts
Seared scallops with garlic butter
Filet mignon au poivre with mushrooms
Garlic roasted potatoes and asparagus with lemon butter
Crème brûlée with fresh raspberries
Curated wine pairings all evening long
Formal French Dinner in Paris
A classic seven-course gastronomic meal on Sunday, November 12, 2023
L'Aperitif: Charcuterie Board
L'Entree (appetizer): Vichyssoise (chilled potato soup)
Poisson (Fish): Seared Tuna Provençal
Le Plat Principal (Main Course): Coq au Vin
Salad: Salade Lyonnaise
Fromage (Cheese): A selection of imported cheeses
Dessert: Crêpes Suzette Flambé
Imported wine pairings all evening long, plus a few surprises!
Tapas Crawl in Barcelona
A Spanish small plates feast on Sunday, October 22, 2023
Lamb meatballs and other cazuelas (small portions) served in sauce
Pulpo Gallego (grilled octopus) and other seafood tapas
Pincho dátiles con bacón (bacon-wrapped dates) and other skewered bites
Stuffed sardines and other fried nibbles
Gazpacho (chilled vegetable soup)
Imported wine pairings all evening long, plus some sherry as well
Greek Sunset in Santorini
A six-course Greek meze dinner on Sunday, September 17, 2023
An Evening in the Cinque Terre
A four-course Italian pesto feast on Sunday, August 20, 2023
Minestrone Soup
Caprese Salad
Eggplant Parmigiana
Frutti di Mare (seafood pasta)
Tiramisu
Imported Italian wine pairings all evening long
Bullet Train to Osaka
A six-course Japanese fantasy foodie safari on Sunday, July 16, 2023
Sakana (small bites served with sake)
Oshizushi (Pressed Sushi)
Tsukemono (Sunomono and other pickled things)
Gyoza (Pot Stickers)
Maguro Zuke Don (marinated tuna sushi bowl)
Okonomiyaki (grilled savory pancake)
Sake, highball, beer, and sochu pairings
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