Shantavia Craigg works within the Crystal Metropolis part of Arlington, Virginia, for an internationally identified know-how firm and likes to take her lunch break on the Nationwide Touchdown Water Park near her employer.
Routinely, she’s going to buy her lunch on the Queen Mom’s Kitchen restaurant on the park and, if the climate is sweet, fortunately look forward to her meals by sitting within the chairs within the open area.
She confessed she loves the restaurant’s signature rooster sandwiches, which preserve her coming again for extra.
“I come right here a few occasions per week,” stated Craigg, 27, on June 9. “I really like the sandwiches which might be made right here, notably the ‘Elijah Likes It Spicy’ as a result of it has the rooster with a distinct kind of seasoning from sandwiches made at different locations and I just like the particular sauce. Plus, I can add pickles and onions to it. It’s a fairly distinctive sandwich.”
Craigg shouldn’t be alone in her love of Queen Mom’s Kitchen sandwiches as a result of the delicacies has been nominated within the “Hottest Sandwich Spot of the 12 months” class for the RAMMYS, the Restaurant Affiliation of Metropolitan Washington’s (RAMW) annual awards.
The winner of that class and the others can be introduced at The RAMMYS Awards & Gala that may happen on Aug. 3 on the Walter E. Washington Conference Middle in Northwest, D.C.
The proprietor of Queen Mom’s Kitchen is Chef Rahman “Rock” Harper, a nationally acknowledged entrepreneur, James Beard Award-nominee, writer, and podcast host. Harper obtained nationwide consideration when he gained the chef competitors on the Gordon Ramsay tv present, “Hell’s Kitchen” throughout its third season.
Harper’s popularity as a chef who makes nice sandwiches has generated constructive consideration for Queen Mom’s Kitchen on such platforms as Yelp.
“D—, it is a good rooster sandwich!” stated Maggie A., a District resident in a Yelp assessment on April 5. “Bought the traditional Queen Mom’s with their particular sauce. Good measurement, crisp and juicy, delicate brioche bun. Duck fats crinkle fries are additional with a wide range of sauces to select from. Took about 10 minutes or so for my order to be prepared. Water Park is a superb place to eat on a pleasant climate day. Queen Mom’s hits the spot for those who’re craving fried rooster.”
The Queen Mom’s Kitchen Story
Queen Mom’s Kitchen was launched in 2020, with its first location in Glover Park in Northwest, D.C., transferring to a location in Arlington earlier than settling down at Nationwide Touchdown in 2023.
Harper, 48, stated naming the restaurant “Queen Mom’s” was intentional.
“The place of Queen Mom for a lot of African tribes is taken into account royalty,” he stated. “I named the restaurant Queen Mom’s in a loving tribute to my mom, Carole Harper, and my grandmother. They’re queen moms. I named the restaurant after them and paid homage to Black ladies and meals.”
Harper stated the Queen Mom’s Basic Rooster Sandwich is a well-liked alternative amongst prospects. The Queen Mom’s sandwich consists of brined rooster breast cooked in duck fats and served with Mom Sauce and dill pickles on a toasted Lyon bakery brioche.
The Queen Mom’s is seasoned with such gadgets as Sicilian Sea salt, Spanish paprika, French black pepper.
Ramon Singh, a 30-year-old resident of Arlington, stated he comes particularly for the Queen Mom’s sandwich.
“This sandwich is an enormous deal as a result of it’s so well-liked,” he stated. “It’s a good high quality sandwich. I’ve loved it each time.”
Harper emphasised the rooster he serves prospects are freed from antibiotics, medicine, genetic modification, pesticides, development hormones, synthetic preservatives, flavorings, and colours.
“The rooster we serve is about six ounces,” he stated. “We bake the buns we serve on daily basis, and they’re of the premium high quality. So far as sauces are involved, we’ve got a variety of these as a result of individuals are fanatical in regards to the sauces. We now have mumbo and spicy mumbo sauce as a result of that is D.C., and you should have that right here.”
The duck fats cooked French fries, complemented with the restaurant’s particular Queen’s Spice, can be a fan favourite.
“Individuals within the D.C. space love the crinkles,” Harper stated. “The seasoning that goes on the fries are paprika, garlic, onion, salt, with a contact of sugar and a bit of little bit of tomato sauce, wine and vinegar.”
When requested his ideas in regards to the RAMMYS nomination, Harper stated his sandwiches are scorching “and that’s cool.”
“We now have nice rooster sandwiches,” he stated. “If we win our class, that’s nice. If we don’t, that’s OK. We are going to proceed serving nice meals.”
