If anyone knows the power of the pop-up, it’s Gabriel Escalante-Gafau and Annie Bingley. The husband-and-wife duo are two thirds of the brains trust behind Milton’s Mongrel Bar & Kitchen – a beloved eatery and drinking spot that began life as a pop-up Peruvian concept before blossoming into a bricks-and-mortar go-to. While visiting Gabriel’s native Peru – specifically the coast of Arequipa – for Christmas in 2019, the duo’s love for the country’s cuisine and its cevicheria culture deepened, so much so that upon returning to Australia the couple decided to dive into a new passion project – a pop-up concept called Urchin Cevicheria. On Monday February 8, Urchin will take over Mongrel for a balmy summer night of fresh fish, pisco sours, cold beer and good times. Two sittings will be available on the night (at 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm), with ticket holders taking in an indulgent feast of Peruvian gastronomic delights including mixed ceviche, arroz de langostino (prawn rice), causa de cangrejo (a layered dish comprised of potato, crab and avocado), mixed fried seafood and suspiro (Peruvian meringue) for dessert. Much like how the team built Mongrel from popular pop-up into a standalone venue, Gabriel and Annie are keen to eventually give Urchin its own permanent home in the distant future. Until then, we suggest experiencing jumping on the bandwagon now! Tickets for the first Urchin pop-up are available for $75 per person and are sold in groups of two or four.