Your Daily Dose of Food News, Events and Must-Read Miscellany

1. Tickets to FareStart’s Guest Chef Spectacular (June 5, Showbox SoDo) went on sale Tuesday and we have a preview of a few tastes to be offered. Chef Josh Westcott of the Capital Grille is making a porcini rubbed dry-aged sirloin with 15-year aged balsamic, Chef Matt Bumpas of Poppy is crafting Japanese cheesecake with passion fruit sabayon and matcha, and Chef Peter Birk of BOKA is preparing a cold-smoked sockeye with fennel, strawberries, and Bluebird Grains Farm rye.

2. Alvaro Candela is The Saint’s new executive chef, according to Seattle Met. Candela, who is from Mexico City, has been crafting the Monday night tacos pop-up at Sitka and Spruce. He’ll be showcasing a new menu at the Capitol Hill tequilaria starting April 9, which will include a range of tacos similar to what Candela prepared at Sitka.

3. Pop-up Kraken Congee is celebrating its return after a long winter break – and its one year anniversary – at Grub on Queen Anne. The April 7 event will re-release “fan favorites” like Pork Belly Abodo with Lugaw, Five Spice Duck Confit, and Longanisa Dumplings. New menu items will also be showcased.

4. New York City now has a 24-hour cupcake vending machine. The 24-hour Cupcake ATM has been drawing crowds of people, and the lines for a cupcake have regularly been 12 to 15 people deep.