Pulp Fiction Pop-Up

'Freak Genius' chef pays homage to Pulp Fiction at special pop-up

still of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino

Savor a Royale with cheese at the Pulp Fiction pop-up.

Photo courtesy of The Alamo Drafthouse

A Royale with cheese. The Big Kahuna burger. The $5 milkshake. Jimmy’s gourmet coffee. Pulp Fiction weaves a number of food references into its tale of the Los Angeles underworld.

The only problem for fans of the cult classic is that it’s impossible to taste any of the dishes. Fortunately, Alvin Schultz wants to help. The “freak genius” former Masterchef contestant turned Berryhill Baja Grill consultant has planned out a 13-course dinner of dishes inspired by the movie.

“My dad took me to go watch Pulp Fiction when I was way younger than he probably should have. He had no idea what it was. I was probably 12 years old,” Schultz tells CultureMap. “I was like, ‘What is this movie? It’s awesome.’ It’s been my favorite movie for as long as I can remember having a favorite movie.”

Schultz says he’s been contemplating hosting the dinner for four or five years, but his EatDrinkEXPERIENCE! pop-up dinner series Underground provides him with the opportunity to serve the dishes alongside cocktails created by Arthur Ave beverage director Lainey Collum and popular bartender Leslie Ross (recently of Canard). The dinners will take place October 1 and 2 and are limited to only 12 diners per night.

“All of the courses are inspired by either a quote or a scene from the movie. The only thing diners will know is what scenes are on the menu,” Schultz says. “You have to have a Royale with cheese, but in EatDrinkEXPERIENCE! fashion our Royale with cheese is not a cheeseburger. It will be unexpected.”

Of course, not every idea made the cut. Schultz says he contemplated courses inspired by ideas such as the name Jack Rabbit Slim’s and the reference to blueberry pancakes, but he went with other options instead.

“My team had a brainstorming session. We had enough ideas to do this dinner three times over.”

Tickets for the Pulp Fiction dinner are $200 plus an optional gratuity ($125 deposit required). Email info@eatdrinkexperience.com to reserve.

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2 staples shuttered

Downtown Italian restaurant and Upper Kirby wine bar suddenly close

Photo by © Chinh Phan/Fotowerk Group

Cru, seen here in happier times.

Inevitably, the end of the year brings a surprise closure or two, and 2024 is no exception. Both a staple downtown Italian restaurant and an Upper Kirby wine bar have quietly closed this week.

Sambuca closed after service on December 16, owner Kim Forsythe shared on Facebook. Open for 22 years in downtown’s The Rice apartment building, the restaurant was well known for its live music and lively atmosphere. While the restaurant had long been a staple for both downtown office workers and residents, it never fully recovered from the lingering economic changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In recent years, we've faced challenges that have tested our resilience,” Forsythe writes. “The changing climate of our city, with rising homelessness and crime, coupled with the lingering impacts of COVID and the resulting empty office spaces, has created a perfect storm that we could not weather. Though we fought with everything we had to keep our doors open, we're choosing to close this chapter with gratitude, carrying countless memories over the past 22 years.”

Crú Food & Wine Bar has closed its location in Upper Kirby’s Shops at Arrive development, according to a post former managing partner Annette Amaya on Instagram. In addition to the post about the closure, it is no longer accepting reservations via Open Table.

First opened in 2011, Crú earned a following for its eclectic wine list and a food menu that focused on familiar fare such as cheese and charcuterie boards and pizzas. Its location in The Woodlands remains open.

The Shops at Arrive have been busy this year with new openings. Staples such as Eddie V’s and Pondicheri have been joined by PostScript, a female-focused restaurant inspired by Dallas’ XOXO Dining Room, and Kira, an intimate hand roll bar from the team behind upscale omakase counter Neo.

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