New pop-up restaurant planned in Pontiac

Husband-and-wife team James and April Forbes won the Food Network's Cupcake Wars a few years back, and since then they've been working on something just as sweet. 

The duo plan to open what they're calling a "community culinary center" in Pontiac. The Menagerie, located at 31 North Saginaw Street in Pontiac's Indian Hill District, will include space for an incubator kitchen, a pop-up restaurant, cooking classes, and perhaps even a brunch series, according to April. The space's first official event takes place on June 27 — a pop-up dinner with Chef Travis Waynick. 

April says they've got a couple budding businesses lined up to use their incubator kitchen, including an inventive jam company that concocts flavors like strawberry habanero and other unlikely pairings as well as a gourmet mustard company. 

As for now, no cooking classes are lined up, but April says they've been in talks with a few chefs about pasta and bread making classes, though nothing is confirmed. 

For more info on the Menagerie, including tickets for the pop-up dinner, click here.