Ah, the pop-up restaurant concept is all the rage. Look out for Celebrity Chef Mike Isabella’s foray into the pro tem restaurant market February 16 through February 19 at 918 F Street. That’s when the forerunner to Bandolero, his new Mexican concept opening in Georgetown this spring, will debut and diners will get the chance to sample some of the fare, which ain’t cheap. Tickets to chow became available yesterday and are $119 each for five courses. Missed it? Too bad; tickets to the pop-up have already sold out! Just last week, the DowntownDC BID awarded a Momentum Award to America Eats Tavern (405 8th Street), a unique, pop-up dining destination. The award recognizes community contributors who help create remarkable urban experiences in Downtown. Chef Jose Andres of ThinkFoodGroup partnered with the Foundation for the National Archives (700 Pennsylvania Avenue) to create the “benefit” dining experience. No one is surprised that Chef Isabella, a Bravo Top Chef contestant (Season 6) who opened his highly regarded Graffiato (707 6th Street) Italian restaurant last spring, plans to venture down a somewhat similar path. After all, that’s what celebrity chefs do!
