Los Angeles bar legend Matthew Biancaniello is slated to host a New Orleans-themed oyster and cocktail pop-up at the Evangeline Swamp Room in Chinatown on September 17, 2026. The event marks a notable return for Biancaniello, known for his innovative approach to mixology.
Biancaniello’s career has seen him transform the bar programs at Library Bar from 2008 to 2012 and at the Hollywood Roosevelt, turning the hotel bar into a destination for ingredient-driven cocktails. He published *Eat Your Drink* in 2016 and gained a following for his pop-ups across the region, where he experimented with unconventional preparation techniques and ingredients, often sourced from his own garden. His events were regularly sold out.
However, 2018 brought a series of severe challenges. Just one month after opening Mon-Li, his 12-seat restaurant at Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club in Malibu, the Woolsey Fire destroyed the property. Following this, Biancaniello faced personal health issues, including a torn calf and a sciatica diagnosis. Within four years, he also lost his mother, brother, father, and in-laws. In 2024, he underwent major back surgery.
During his recovery, Biancaniello discovered a passion for swimming. He shared that swimming was "the only thing that made me feel good, and I was hooked." Last September, he swam 21 miles from Catalina Island to Palos Verdes and is currently training for a 15-mile swim in New Zealand scheduled for January 2027. His journey of recovery and his swimming obsession will also be featured in a documentary, *Rhythms: An Indivisible Marathon Swim*, set to appear on September 13. Reflecting on his experiences, Biancaniello stated, "I’m just happy that I’ve come through it all."
The pop-up at Evangeline Swamp Room, a popular New Orleans-themed bar co-owned by Marcus Christiana-Beniger and Eunah Kang-Beniger, will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Biancaniello plans to blend New Orleans flavors with his signature unorthodox techniques. He recalled that after his time at the Library Bar, he began to "infuse alcohol with food" and had "loved doing alcoholic oysters then." He added that he appreciated the "strong passions and sensibilities" of the Evangeline owners.
The menu for the evening will feature Biancaniello’s take on classic cocktails and three types of alcoholic oysters. Offerings include a Pimm’s Cup with Weiser Farms melon, rhubarb, and lemon balm; a Negroni spin with Aquavit, leeks- and cornichon-infused Dolin Blanc, Salers Gentian Apéritif, and briny Dirty Sue Olive Juice; and an Asian pear and curry leaf Sazerac shooter with vanilla bean pastis, Peychaud’s Bitters, and candy cap mushroom. One oyster option will include green Chartreuse, jalapeño relish, and fried capers. Each cocktail and oyster will be priced between $9 and $20, and all come with a complimentary lovage and bronze fennel–infused water.
Guests can choose from two tasting menus: a $55 option includes lovage water, an amuse bouche, the Sazerac, and three oyster shooters. A $75 tasting provides each oyster offering plus a cocktail. Biancaniello also plans to offer a secret drink menu and some classic items from his previous pop-ups. A shiso leaf Dolin Blanc vermouth amuse bouche will be available as part of the tasting menu or à la carte.
Marcus Christiana-Beniger, originally from New Orleans, noted that he and Biancaniello quickly connected. He described the event as an "oyster odyssey" for guests to "go nuts, and imbibe."
