This is a pleasant surprise: A quality pop up that isn’t going to melt the credit card. While Gabriel Rucker is sunning himself on vacation (is that what chefs do with down time, or do they trek the globe seeking out novel ingredients and long-forgotten recipes?), a few of his acolytes are taking over Le Pigeon on Thursday night. Little Bird AM sous chef Andrew Gordon, Le Pigeon pastry assistant Jaclyn Nakashima and former Little Bird bartender Tom Lindstedt are coming together for what they are calling ‘South Broke Da Mouth’, a casual affair which they say will be ‘like being at your friend’s BBQ’.

They will be providing American comfort food using Pacific Northwest ingredients by way of a Hawaiian-inspired Southern barbeque. Sounds genius. They haven’t released a full menu, but are promising a pulled BBQ pork sandwich with grilled pineapple, BBQ sauce and coleslaw on housemade Hawaiian buns as well as a great sounding grilled escarole, kohlrabi and wood-smoked bacon salad. Mr Lindstedt will be making Hawaiian punch, along with two other surprise cocktails. It’s first come, first served, and they will keep going 'til midnight or until they run out of food. And the best bit: Not an item over ten bucks, which, given the provenance of the thing, is a steal. South Broke Da Mouth, Le Pigeon, 738 E Burnside, Thurs, June 18, 6 pm-midnight or until sold out