Mom Mom’s Soul Food Pop-up Returns to The Dutch For Black History Month
Chef Kevin Watters, longtime Executive Chef of The Dutch, the popular breakfast and lunch eatery with a focus on reinventing the Pennsylvania Dutch classics, is bringing back his popular pandemic-era Mom Mom’s Soul Food Pop Up for its second year, in conjunction with Black History Month, benefiting local, BIPOC-owned and chef-led charity, Everybody Eats, on Thursday, February 10, Friday, February 11, and Monday, February 28.
West Philadelphia native Kevin Watters has been the chef at The Dutch since April 2016, cranking out Pennsylvania Dutch classics to locals and tourists at the bustling South Philadelphia café. On the heels of the successful soul food pop up last winter, Watters is reviving the culinary event for a second year in a row as a nod to Black History Month, named in remembrance of his late grandmother Lillian Lewis, who was known in her community as “everybody’s Mom-Mom”.
The takeaway meal consists of a platter with two sides, cornbread, and one meat, in addition to a decadent dessert and choice of sweet or unsweetened tea, all for $35 per person. The southern-inspired offerings include the following:
· Meat: (choose 1)
o Buttermilk Fried Chicken Thighs
o Braised Beef Short Ribs
· Sides: (choose 2)
o Baked Mac ‘n’ Cheese
o Collard Greens cooked with turkey butts
o Candied Yams
· Layered Strawberry Shortcake
Watters and The Dutch are contributing ten percent of sales to Everybody Eats, a BIPOC-owned and chef-driven local nonprofit organization. The West Philadelphia-based food drive’s mission is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger.
Orders for Mom Mom’s Soul Food Pop Up can be placed on online here, for pick up from 12 – 6pm on Thursday, February 10 and Friday, February 11 at the original Pennsport location of The Dutch on 1527 S 4th Street.
To cap off Black History Month on a high note, Watters is planning a sit-down, multi-course menu on Monday, February 28 for the first time ever at The Dutch’s new location on 1537 S 11th Street, formerly home to sister restaurant Fond, which closed in December 2021. For $50/person, attendees can enjoy a slightly elevated take on Mom Mom’s Soul Food Pop Up with a robust four-course dinner including Deviled Eggs, Cornbread Mac ‘n’ Cheese with braised short rib, Fried Chicken Collard Greens and Candied Yams, and Strawberry Shortcake Beignets. This highly exclusive event is available for two seatings only at 7pm and 7:30pm, and reservations can be made by e-mailing info@thedutchphilly.com.
