Food for the soul is what Chef Kevin Watters is aiming to bring to Philly for Black History Month. And now it’s official—Watters’ pop-up Mom Mom’s Soul Food is back after launching successfully in 2020.
Watters, a longtime Executive Chef of The Dutch—the popular breakfast and lunch eatery with a focus on reinventing the Pennsylvania Dutch classics—is originally from West Philadelphia and has been hosting this activation for four years now after popular demand. The pop-up was inspired by his late grandmother Lillian Lewis, who was known in her community as “everybody’s Mom-Mom,” a release notes.
The event will take place on Monday, Feb. 19, at The Dutch (which now resides in the East Passyunk neighborhood after a move from Pennsport in 2022) with two seatings at 6 and 8 p.m. The once takeaway-only pop-up is now presented in the form of a multi-course sit-down dinner for $75 per person.
“Hosting Mom Mom’s Soul Food Pop-Up is something we look forward to every year here at The Dutch as it allows us to give back to the community and also pay tribute to my grandmother who was very influential in not only my day-to-day, but also my career as a chef,” said Watters in a statement. “Our goal this year is to showcase our dinner and bar program by hosting fun and meaningful dinners and events such as this one.”
Courses being served at the pop-up include roasted garlic deviled eggs with pan-seared Cajun shrimp; mac and cheese cornbread with braised short ribs in a creamy cheese sauce; buttermilk fried chicken with collard greens, turkey and oven-roasted candied yams; and to finish everything out on a sweet note, a banana pudding parfait with a shortbread cookie and whipped cream.
As the release notes, Watters and The Dutch will be contributing a percentage of sales to Everybody Eats, a BIPOC-owned and chef-driven local nonprofit organization as well. The West Philadelphia-based food drive’s mission is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger. Reservations for Mom Mom’s Soul Food Pop-Up dinner at The Dutch are encouraged and can be made by emailing lee@thedutchphilly.com or via Tock.
To find out more information about The Dutch (1537 S 11th St.,) visit thedutchphilly.com
