Ms. Didi's Caribbean Kitchen opens Haitian restaurant in east Charlotte
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Ms. Didi's Caribbean Kitchen is family-owned and operated by David Jean-Francois, Andre Jean-Francois, Milana Carruth, Edith Jean-Francois (Ms. Didi) and Christina Kedlyn Bowman. Photo: Alexis Clinton
Ms DiDi's Caribbean Kitchen, a popular Haitian food truck, opened its first brick-and-mortar in Windsor Park over the weekend with a line that wrapped around the building.
Why it matters: "Opening this restaurant is about exposing more people to our culture, our country, our food, our flavors and our resilience," says co-owner Christina Kedlyn Bowman. "That's partly why we name our menu items after cities in Haiti so people can ask us questions."
Background: Chef-owner Edith Jean-Francois opened Ms. DiDi's Food Truck with her daughter in 2019, and it quickly grew in popularity. They even made an appearance on The Food Network's "Guy's Grocery Games" last year.
- Now, their new restaurant is fully family-run and operated by Edith and her husband, Andre Jean-Francois, and their three children, Christina Kedlyn Bowman, Milana Carruth and David Jean-Francois.
The vibe: Inside the 1,200 square foot space, which seats about 20 people, you'll notice the walls are painted in the colors of their country's flag and covered with Haitian art.
- "We want you to feel the country," Kedlyn Bowman tells Axios. "This spot gives corner store vibes. This is how we grew up," Carruth added.
Dig in: Expect the traditional Haitian staples that they served on their food truck, like legume, island mac and cheese, chicken in sauce, djon djon (black mushroom rice) and griot (fried pork).
- Other signature dishes include Mama's Rice Bowl, Haitian loaded fries, and jumbo patties. Some drinks include passion fruit juice and Haitian lemonade.
- In the coming weeks, they'll add seasonal dishes like fritay (a combo platter of fried meats, plantains, and other items), boulet (meatballs), sos pwa (beans), and pwasòn gwo sèl (fish stew).
Stop by: Find Ms. Didi's Caribbean Kitchen at 2120 Kilborne Dr.
- Open Wednesday through Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 1-6pm. Always closed on the first Sunday of every month.
What's next: Ms. Didi's food truck will continue to operate for larger events, including the one they started with other businesses, Bon Fritay and Burger Divas, called the Carolina Haitian Food Festival.
