February 23: EVERYONE HOT POT with Natasha Pickowicz and Travis Swikard!

NYC-based cookbook author Natasha Pickowicz will be joined in conversation with acclaimed San Diego chef Travis Swikard, the owner of the beloved restaurant Callie and now the recently opened Fleurette. Join us for a reception following the talk, with light bites from Wayfarer Bread & Pastry and tropical refreshments from the Mandarin House bar!

La Jolla independent bookseller Warwick’s will have copies of the cookbook available for purchase. We will be offering first come, first served seating in the historic Mandarin House dining room. Everyone is welcome to attend—see you there!

About EVERYONE HOT POT:

Hot pot is the ancient East Asian cookery method of rapidly poaching bite-size morsels of fresh vegetables, meats, seafood, and tofu in a tableside broth. This communal way of eating is perfect for home dinner parties where guests become active participants in cooking the meal. Four-time James Beard Award nominated chef Natasha Pickowicz provides more than fifty recipes for the broths, dumplings, sides, desserts, and drinks, along with a guide to the essential hot pot ingredients, equipment and tools, plus an explanation on how to pull it all together. Recipes include essential hot pot accompaniments, such as:

• Not-Just-Scallion Pancakes
• Toasted Cumin and White Sesame Sauce
• Caramelized Mushroom and Cabbage Dumplings
• Charred Tomato and Lemongrass Broth
• Crunchy Seaweed Boats
• Watermelon Shiso Slushie

Through four distinctly unique hot pot menus, Pickowicz shows how to pull together this cozy tradition best enjoyed at home no matter where you are; everyone, hot pot!

About Travis Swikard:

Travis Swikard, a San Diego native, is the chef and owner of Callie in East Village and the recently opened Fleurette in La Jolla. His passion for cooking began at age four, inspired by his father’s adventurous home cooking, which eventually led him to study at the New England Culinary Institute. Travis trained in acclaimed kitchens around the world, including Auberge du Lac in England, as part of the team that earned the restaurant a Michelin star. He later worked alongside Daniel Boulud and Gavin Kaysen in New York City, eventually serving as Executive Chef at Boulud Sud. In 2019, he returned home to open Callie, celebrated for its “Cuisine du Soleil,” light, bright California-Mediterranean dishes made with local ingredients. At his newest restaurant, Fleurette, Swikard’s menu is inspired by the French-Italian Riviera and the vibrant, sun-kissed flavors of the region.

About Natasha Pickowicz:

Natasha Pickowicz is a California born, New York City–based chef, a four-time James Beard Foundation Award finalist, and the author of More Than Cake, which was a New York Times Best Cookbooks of 2023. Her follow up cookbook, Everyone Hot Pot, was published by Artisan Books in January 2026. Pickowicz’s recipes and writing have been published in the New York Times, Vogue magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Bon Appetit, Saveur, Food & Wine, New York magazine, Cherry Bombe, and many other publications. Follow her on Instagram at @natashapickowicz.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Natasha Pickowicz