LudoBites 7.0 + The LudoBites Cookbook

Ludo Lefebvre is back in town, after a few months traveling with and filming for the Sundance Channel -- LudoBites America airs July 19th -- and thus anther incarnation of LudoBites has now been finalized. This is LudoBites 7.0 if you and Sam Sifton are counting, and no, you won't have to brave either the traffic to Redondo Beach or foie gras protesters (well, hopefully) this time. You know the drill, and you doubtless know the route, as Ludo and Krissy and company will be back at Gram and Papa's, the downtown sandwich shop that was the site of both LudoBites 5.0 and 4.0.

LudoBites 7.0 will run Tuesday through Friday nights from August 3rd to September 7th, and you can make reservations with OpenTable starting on July 14th (Bastille Day!) at 4 p.m. You may recall that reservations for LudoBites 6.0, which run took place at Max in Sherman Oaks, sold out in about 30 minutes, so plan your afternoon accordingly. You may also recall that Gram & Papa's does not have either a liquor license or valet service, so bring your own and park it yourself.

As for what to find on the menu, well, that depends on issues of seasonality, availability and Ludo's state of mind, all of which are changeable. This time around, look for small plates, relatively low prices, and food inspired by both Ludo's French origins and his Sundance travels across America. Red chile-grilled octopus, deconstructed pot au feu, steak tartare flambé, peach Melba. And foie gras, protesters or no protesters. "Lots of foie gras," said Ludo this afternoon. "I think we'll do a special night with just foie gras."

Lefebvre also told us that he's working on the LudoBites cookbook, which will be published by Ecco Press sometime next year. The cookbook will cover all the recipes from all the LudoBites so far, said Lefebvre, which puts it in the neighborhood of about 90 recipes. And in addition to the recipes, "we'll have some good stories," about the making of LudoBites, why he and Krissy, his wife and business partner, decided to go the pop-up route in the first place, and "what's happened between L'Orangerie and now." Foie gras cupcakes and gossip: what more could any of us want.

For more information, visit the LudoBites website or follow Ludo and Krissy Lefebvre on Twitter, at @ChefLudo and @FrenchChefWife, respectively. And if you just can't wait until August, you can always get a fix at the LudoTruck.