Sunday Barbecue Pop-up Hits Cambridge Cocktail Destination

Welcome back to AM Intel, a round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.

What Happened Last Week?

Catch up on last week’s most-read stories, including a peek inside the glitzy new Back Bay location of steakhouse chain Del Frisco’s, a map of the best Italian restaurants in the Boston area, news of a new place to get pizza bagels, and more.

And from our international big sister, Eater.com: a deep dive into the failure of modern hospital food, another side to the increase in anti-plastic straw fervor, and a rundown on the best food-related television episodes of the year so far.

Barbecue Pop-up

There’s some new barbecue in town. (Actually, a lot of new barbecue: Don’t forget that Smoke Shop just opened its third location, this one at Somerville’s Assembly Row.) A pop-up called Hog Island Smoke Club is, well, popping up at essential Central Square cocktail den Brick & Mortar (569 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge) every Sunday throughout the summer, “exploring New England regional barbecue.” (The group is also available to cater special events.) Dishes served over the past couple of Sundays include pulled pork sandwiches with chimichurri slaw and smoked potato salad; local line-caught smoked striper with toast; red beans and rice with barbecued bologna and “cowboy candy”; pork ribs; and more. Keep an eye on Instagram for updates.

Piano, but Without German Food

Missing Mel Stiller’s piano music while his Friday night home base, Jacob Wirth (31-37 Stuart St., Downtown Boston), remains closed to repair damage from an early June fire? Catch him outside instead: He’ll be playing on an outdoor piano at Faneuil Hall Marketplace (near Durgin Park and J.J. Donovan’s) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the next three Fridays.

Video Interlude

Eater.com heads to New Haven, Connecticut, to showcase the iconic pizza at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (which expanded to the Boston area at the end of 2015 with a Chestnut Hill location and will reportedly expand to Burlington next). See also: the Definitive Guide to New Haven Pizza.

Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email boston@eater.com.