New Pop-Up Series

Sugar Hooker lures country's top culinary talent for new pop-up series

Fluff Bake Bar's post-flood renovations may have removed most of its seating, but chef-owner Rebecca Masson still wants to share her friend's talents with Houstonians.

Instead of "Dinner With My Friends," Masson — affectionately known as the "Sugar Hooker" for her baking prowess — has launched a new pop-up series called the Thursday Night Take Over that's more casual and more affordable than a formal sit down dinner. She's invited a number of top chefs from around the country to participate in the monthly pop-ups, but for the kick-off on February 22 she's keeping things closer to home.

Chris Shepherd, the James Beard Award-winning chef behind Underbelly, Hay Merchant, and One Fifth, will appear at Fluff. Although the menu is still TBA, Masson says Shepherd may use the event as an opportunity to preview a dish or two from UB Preserv, the restaurant he's opening in April that will be an evolution of Underbelly.

"I’m very excited about this new series, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better to kick it off than Chris Shepherd,” Masson said in a statement. “All of these chefs are magical, and I want people in Houston to have a chance to experience their food in a fun and unique way. We won’t have the restrictions of a seated dinner, and I think it gives the chefs an opportunity to play around and try some new things – all in the name of a very important cause.”

The rest of the roster includes Dallas chef John Tesar (Knife, Knife Burger) — who will return to Houston after a sold out Dinner With My Friends appearance — and some of the chefs that traveled to Houston to participate in Indie Chefs Week: Christine Rivera (Galaxy Taco, San Diego); Richie Nakano (IDK Concepts, San Francisco); Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins (El Jardin, San Diego); and Matthew Gaudet, (Superfine Food, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts).

Speaking to CultureMap, Masson adds that she wanted to capture the casual, come-as-you-are feel that's made her Saturday morning bake sales so successful. The Thursday night events will allow diners who couldn't commit to a three-hour dinner (or a $125 ticket) to have the opportunity to sample a chef's dishes.

"We did a ramen pop-up with Justin Justin Carlisle (Arden and Red Light Ramen, Milwaukee)," Masson says. "I think people liked the ease of coming at any time during the night."

Those who want a slightly more formal experience may purchase one of the fours seats at the chef's counter for $20. Choose from either a 6 pm or 7:30 pm, and the $20 goes towards the night's bill. Wine and Saint Arnold beer pairings will also be available.

Best of all, 10 percent of all proceeds will benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry program. Here's the full roster:

Feb. 22: Chris Shepherd, UB Preserv, Houston
March 8: Christine Rivera, Galaxy Taco, San Diego
April 12: Justin Brunson, Old Major, Denver
May 10: John Tesar, Knife Dallas, Dallas
June 14: Richie Nakano, IDK Concepts, San Francisco
Aug. 9: Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins, El Jardin, San Diego
Sept. 13: Aaron Hoskins & Sarah Simmons, Columbia, South Carolina.
Oct. 11: Tim Maslow, Boston, Massachusetts.
Nov. 8: Matthew Gaudet, Superfine Food, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.
Dec. 13: TBA

Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins comes to Houston August 9.

Courtesy photo

Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins comes to Houston August 9.

chefs news-you-can-eat

paying it forward

Heights restaurant adds daytime coffee service with guest chef pop-ups

Courtesy of Jūn

Henry Lu and Evelyn Garcia are welcoming guest chefs to Jūn.

One of the most prominent restaurants in the Heights is adding daytime service — and using its success to promote the careers of up-and-coming chefs. Beginning this Monday, April 14, Jūn will be home to Third Place, a daytime coffee shop and cafe.

In addition to serving coffees and pastries made by the Jūn kitchen, Third Place will also have a rotating chef residency program where different cooks will serve a couple of items for lunch. First up is Jūn sous chef Julio Mendez, a Hugo Ortega alum who will be serving shakshuka with Mexican chorizo, farm egg, and baguette along with hash browns with sous vide egg, foam cheese, and ham.

After Mendez, Suu Khin, the Masterchef finalist and 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Best Pop-up winner, will take a turn in the kitchen. She’ll be followed by a number of the restaurant’s friends and colleagues, including Top Chef contestant Tristen Epps, Craft Pita owner Raffi Nasr, Nina Fonte of Aleng Nina's, and Tastemaker Awards nominee Gabe Medina, whose Subo pop-up is earning buzz for its creative Filipino fare.

For Jūn owners Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, sharing Third Place with their colleagues is an extension of the kindness showed them during Jūn’s evolution from farmers market-based pop-up into a restaurant that’s a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist, including a nomination in 2025 for Best Chef: Texas.

“Time after time, people opened their doors and provided space to us, including our friends at Tenfold, Axelrad, Feel Good Group, Urban Harvest, Rice Village Farmer Market, Heights Mercantile Farmers Market, and countless others,” Lu said in response to CultureMap’s request for comment. “This is our small way of paying it forward — providing support, enriching our neighbors, and growing our community. The Chef Residency program embodies this, providing a space for entrepreneurs to grow and build their own communities.”

For its part, the Jūn kitchen will serve four pastries inspired by its signature blend of Mexican, Salavadoran, and Chinese flavors.They are:

Passion Fruit Tart with Torched Meringue
Chinese Sausage & Cheese Kolache
Cafe de Olla Cream Donut
Cream Cheese, Thai Basil and Heirloom Tomato Empanada

They’ll be paired with a full range of coffee and espresso beverages, teas, and a matcha latte. Specialty items will include an iced strawberry matcha, Salvadoran cold brew with peanut foam, matcha lemonade, and hojicha Arnold Palmer. Free wifi means remote workers will be able to complete their daily tasks while snacking.

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Third Place; 420 E. 20th St. Monday-Saturday, 8 am-3 pm.

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