Test Kitchen by Ricardo Zarate, a Pop-Up on Steroids
By Joshua Lurie
The stars have aligned over Beverlywood. The oft-neglected neighborhood that borders Century City and Beverly Hills will soon host some of the city’s biggest culinary talents. Beginning August 18, they’ll all converge at 9575 West Pico Boulevard—the Spark Woodfire Grill location—for “Test Kitchen” by Ricardo Zarate, a monster pop-up offering Angelenos a different food and drink experiment each night.
The partners in the venture are Zarate, a Peruvian chef who exploded onto L.A.’s dining scene with Mo-Chica, restaurateurs Bill Chait and wife Elizabeth, and international restaurateur Stephane Bombet. Bombet and Elizabeth Chait will co-manage the 75-seat Test Kitchen, which will feature a steady front-of-house staff and rotating kitchen crews. Brian Saltsburg, co-organizer of the hush-hush Boyz Night Out restaurant industry night, has been instrumental in suggesting and securing Test Kitchen talent.
So far, chefs Jordan Kahn and John Rivera Sedlar have committed to preview food from Red Medicine and R26, respectively, with Kahn cooking contemporary Vietnamese dishes from August 18-22.
On the nights that Zarate cooks solo, he’ll prepare experimental Peruvian dishes, and Amy Pressman will make bread and desserts that he promises will have “Peruvian flair.” Mo-Chica’s kitchen is tiny, and Zarate said, “It’s the first time we’ll have a proper kitchen, so we’ll have more freedom.”
Chait said other “name brands” are certain to appear at the “sophisticated pop-up,” but the organizers want to maintain an element of surprise, so they’re not announcing every name right out of the gate. According to Bombet, “You’ll never be able to come two days in a row and get the same food and drink.” They’ll use Twitter to announce the night’s talent @TestKitchenLA. Bombet said the “pop-up on steroids” will last “one month and we’re hoping for more.”
Rivera/R26/Short Order bartender Julian Cox will coordinate the mixology component of Test Kitchen, bringing in a number of high-profile bartenders from L.A. and beyond to complement each night’s food. According to Bill Chait, “He just came back from Tales from the Cocktail, and has ideas about all sorts of people who can come in for short stints.”
Test Kitchen by Ricardo Zarate will operate Tuesday to Saturday, 6 P.M. to midnight. Space is limited and tables will be in demand, so reserve one this week.
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Heather & Learka, Teles Properties
424-202-3208
heatherandlearka@telesproperties.com
