With the District’s international attain, the DMV restaurant scene has lengthy had a global flare, and Eric Adjepong, a celebrated chef, has expanded upon it by bringing the daring and attractive flavors of Ghana to the nation’s capital.
Earlier this yr, Adjepong – a tv persona on meals competitors reveals similar to Prime Chef: Kentucky and as a visitor on a number of Meals Community productions – determined to take an entrepreneurial leap by opening Elmina , 220814th Avenue NW.
“I’ve been in search of a location for 2 years and my dealer advised me about this house that was going to be vacant,” Adjepong advised the Informer. “The occupant was shifting their enterprise to DuPont Circle, so I made a decision to take a look at it and I appreciated it. The potential of the house for my restaurant appeared good and I like my neighbors. The whole lot has labored out.”
Adjepong, a local of the Bronx in New York Metropolis and a primary technology Ghanian-American, has began his eatery because the Restaurant Affiliation of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) launched a survey on March 18 stating that 2 out of 5 informal eating eating places are prone to shut this yr resulting from a mix of rising prices, federal workforce cuts and declining site visitors (individuals not visiting town).
The chef and entrepreneur, who holds a level in culinary arts and vitamin from Johnson & Wales College in Windfall, Rhode Island, and a grasp’s in worldwide public well being vitamin from the College of Westminster in London, is conscious of the survey however has a method to counter it.
“Elmina clients will probably be handled to a first-class expertise,” Adjepong, 37, stated. “The dishes will probably be ready properly, and the service will probably be skilled and courteous. We wish our clients to come back again and to inform their buddies about their expertise right here.”
Prospects can partake within the tasting menu, chop bar, brunch, and cocktails. The five-course meal that consists of a selection of salad, appetizers similar to fufu and brief rib, massive meats similar to Jollof duck pot, Fante Fante fish and desserts similar to Malva pudding cake is called the tasting menu.
The chop bar options oysters, octopus, plantain chips, beef, and pork stomach.
Those that need brunch can select such choices as steak and eggs, eggs benedict, vegetable omelet, shrimp & grits and sides like pork or hen sausage.
Elmina, which has a bar on the entrance of the institution, additionally options craft cocktails for company to take pleasure in.
Kelly Wilborn, who lives in Northeast, heard about Elmina from a pal and determined to go to on April 26 throughout brunch. Having ordered steak and eggs and glowing water, she advised The Informer she loved the expertise.
“The meals right here is nice as a result of it’s cooked and I can inform it was made with care,” stated Wilborn, 32. “The ambiance right here is sweet and type of stylish. I’ll undoubtedly be again.”
