Pop-Up General Store

Pop-​Up General Store was founded by Christopher Lee and Samin Nosrat. Pop up «is a group of professional cooks and artisans (almost all are current or former chez panisse cooks) making the foods we love to eat.»
every month or so, pop up announces a list of participating cooks and what items they will cook. such offers can be pre-​ordered. one pick ups and pay at the day of the event at 4629 martin luther king, oakland, ca. 5 – 7 on the designated day. (site of grace catering).
some leftovers or extras will be available on first come, first serve basis on day of the event.
website:
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foodnotes:
–food items will be unique and also pricey.
–food cooked by professionals, not talented amateurs.
–cash only?

What a great addition to the neighborhood. My side of the tracks for a change. Yay!
Know this: you’ll spend lots of money but it’s all good, amazingly prepared foods. Just do it. The breads were heaven. We got these pastries that I can’t recall what they are called but are like double baked caramelized croissant filled with almond or chocolate. I got some lovely apple cider vinegar from Katz-​the gentleman being so informative and kind. I was hoping to get the candied orange peel biscotti that were listed on the pre-​order but got sour cherry and pistachio-​delicious!
Everyone there was so friendly and truly seem to love what they are doing. I’ll pay extra just for that. My only negative would be as a non meat eater there were not an array of choices of prepared dishes to take home, as I had hoped. The one potato dish by the former chef of JoJo didn’t really get me on looks alone to fork over $ 17 for a small gratin. Hopefully in the future more fish and vegetarian items will join the other high quality meat venders.
Thanks guys for coming to the neighborhood!

This institution is alone in its category and therefore certainly at the top of its heap. «As good as it gets» for sure! I’ve been three times, and I’ll be back. Some things I have purchased: Four Barrel Coffee (yum!); a made-​on-​the-​spot pizza (excellent); cupcakes that would make Kate blush with envy; «salty» chocolate cookies with fleur de sel; chicken confit from Soul Food Farm; killer calabrian sausages; two-​year-​old prosciutto ($ 72/​lb!); six great small jars of marmalade and jam ($ 20 for two); a spelt bread ($ 8) that leaves Acme in a cloud of floury dust; French macarons that embodied perfection; a great soup with potato and basil (I think).
I’ve never pre-​ordered, and that has bit me at least one time — that was when I wanted a meat product that was sold out in the pre-​order phase of the operation. But basically the strategy of walking in with a lot of $ 20 bills has served me well. The Store is crowded, but it hasn’t been ridiculously crowded. Neighborhood parking is definitely a problem, but you’re OK if you’re willing to walk a few blocks.
The prices are high, but I’ve deliberately refrained from asking myself what a nominally identical item would cost me in, say, the Berkeley Bowl. The quality is exceptional here, for sure. I like that most of the products are sold by the very people who made it or at least by the children or boyfriends of the creators.
The Store has an indoor component and an outdoor courtyard component that looks like an impromptu farmers’ market. I wonder whether the outdoor part will stay outdoors when the weather turns bad.

Pre-​ordered food. It ranges from average to high quality although mostly hovers in the average zone. All of it is pricey pricey.

Cupcakes, check.
Pizza, check.
Macaroons, check.
Chicken confit, check.
Pre-​order is a must for this place!
I think that impatient folks should cut ‘em some slack as they are only just getting started, and run primarily on the good will of volunteers. Be ready to wait, and be kind! This is a family affair. If you are in a hurry, then head on down to Berkeley Bowl.
I have to say this past week was well organized and now that you can pre-​pay online it is easier to get your goods.
Dork moment: I was starstruck by seeing Ms. Novella Carpenter there selling goods from her garden, as in, couldn’t talk to her I was mute!
Friendly suggestion: I’m hoping they will rebrand their location. This is NOT Temescal. It is actually in the Longfellow Neighborhood of Oaktown.
I’m just sayin’ — this is my ‘hood. :)

What’s not to love? I spent about $ 60 and got enough deliciousness to round out 4 meals. A corn chowder that was so unbelievable, I wanted to crawl into the bowl and immerse myself. And Cuban Black beans that made my tear-​up once the bowl was empty. Oh the gratins are off-​the-​hook!
Pre-​ordering is the way to guarantee you get what you want. And now I think they are accepting PayPal, which should speed the payment process and reduce the lines. But the wait is all a matter of timing. I stop by later in the evening, after the 5:00 heading home crowd had departed and literally waited for 5 minutes to pay. In fact, the wait for the pizzas was longer than the wait to give them my $.

Update: They had a new system set up for this last one which worked incredibly well. You go online to pre-​order as well as pre-​paid via paypal. A separate booth was set up away from the store. You walk up with your name, they check you off and gather the goodies for you. Within 5min, I was on my way home giddy about all the things i was going to cook that night. it was AWESOME! I added the last star back!
Original review:
The good: incredibly tasty food that was well worth the madness and mayhem
The bad: the crazy lineups and general chaos (that’s where the 1 star got docked)
Read about the Pop-​Up store in the SF Chron article and decided to check out this new piece of foodie-​heaven. Good thing that I had pre-​ordered! Practically EVERYONE did not had «extras» to sell to those who didn’t pre-​ordered.
It supposedly starts at 5pm. I showed up at 5:06 to find a long line already snaking in the courtyard waiting to pay.
When I first arrived, I had initially thought the line in the courtyard was to *enter* the store. Then I quickly realized it was the payment line and scooted my way into the store. I noted that several groups that I had entered the courtyard with were still in that line.
Relief was quickly smooshed as I was faced with a room PACKED with people. everyone was asking everyone «is this the line for… ?»
Almost everyone were friendly as we chatted each other up. But there were a few folks who just pushed and shoved their way up to the front of the line. It was amusing to see them turned away since those were the type who also didn’t pre-​order. Karma. :)
After waiting in line for ~20 min for my precious Gyoza from Peko-​Peko, the rest was much quicker (Samin’s Chorizo/​Sweet Corn Soup/​Pasta, pork chops from Becker Lane, and a pint of vanilla bean icecream). Then I went outside to the courtyard and enjoyed another 20min wait for the cashier line. At least I was surrounded by amusing folks that I enjoyed chatting with.
Next time, I might show up later to let the craziness simmer out first.

Pregnant with mayhem, mêlée, and general madness a la gourmet!!!
Went again today; this time, decided to bring my Mom in order to ‘demonstrate’ the craziness of how serious Bay Area folk appreciate food that is respected and well-​executed. Due to the aforementioned article in the Chronicle by one astute review (hehe… blush), the crowds today were just out of control!!! Lines that snaked their way around everything… long long looooooong waits for everything. Space too small and number of homo sapiens too high.
One bona fide recipe for frustration and the feeling of «this had better be worth it»… and it has been so far!
Got some delicate strawberry with vanilla bits french macaroons by chinchin, some perfectly balanced (perfect price too, at a pretty $ 7 for 4) English muffins that were rich indeed, and yet crunchy, and dense… the lemon marmalade with pear jam from Blue Chair, Four Barrel coffee (Brass Tacks, having sampled before purchasing… soft fruity notes at the end!!!), and organic ground pork from Becker Lane for the wontons that I will one day wrap myself.
Queues being as chaotic as they were, the cacophony that results from large crowds in tight spaces, I cannot in good conscience rate the event a studly ‘5 stars’…
but I count myself quite fortunate to be able to enjoy such rich goodies, and also for the serendipity to stand in line with Carol, who owns Farmstead wine and cheese in Alameda/​Montclair. She was a delight to chat with, and Jeff, I will come to say hello one day!
Sincere best wishes for those who plan on attending upcoming other pop-​ups.
Top tips: bring a recyclable bag, and cash or check only. And be quick and nimble with the mental arithmetic, and imbibe in a cup of chamomile or other sedating agent, as without the proper attitude, one might begrudge all the hoops to jump through before going home with such wonderful goods. Bön appetit!!!