Pop-up Events | Cooking with Paul Young

pop-up events

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.

Note: These pop-up experiences are private events by invitation only. To receive an invitation, please join the popup_dinners_cu Facebook group, follow @popup_dinners_cu on Instagram, or subscribe to my email newsletter.

CANCELED: Chef's Table: Tokyo Omakase Experience

A unique "chef's choice" tasting menu of Japanese delights on Sunday, November 17, 2024

Sashimi • selection of the freshest catch of the day
Gyoza • handmade dumplings filled with seafood and other exotic ingredients
Kushiyaki • yakitori and other grilled skewers of interesting morsels
Onigiri • seasoned rice balls with surprise fillings
Tsukemono • sunomono and all kinds of other pickled things
Shioyaki • grilled salted fish from the fresh fish counter
Okonomiyaki • savory seafood pancake with today's catch
Homemade Green Tea Ice Cream • special homemade red bean sauce
Sake, beer, highball pairings all evening long, plus a few surprises!

Chef's Table: Paella Festival in Valencià

A Spanish festival banquet with sangria flights at Harvest Market on Sunday, September 1, 2024

Pan con Tomate: fresh tomato on bread
Gazpacho: chilled vegetable soup
Pincho Dátiles con Bacón: bacon-wrapped dates
Pipirrana: Spanish summer salad
Seafood Paella: shrimp, clams, mussels, halibut, rice
Crème Caramel: flan with fresh berries
Sangria flights all evening long, plus a few surprises!

Chef's Table: 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