DC Chef Returns With Fried Chicken
Celebrity chef Carla Hall is back in DC with Bumblebirds, a Southern fried chicken spot inspired by her grandmother [https://dc.eater.com/openings/167016/inside-celebrity-chef-carla-hall-bumblebirds-capitol-hill-dc-restaurant-openings]. Hall crafted the dining room's textiles herself, promising an elevated take on comfort food with a homey vibe.
Bumblebirds takes over the former Good Stuff Eatery location at 303 Pennsylvania Ave SE, a high-traffic corner near Capitol Hill. The grand opening is Saturday, March 14, with free chicken sandwiches or nuggets for the first 100 guests. The space officially opens on Monday, March 16. Hall is partnering with the DC-based Sunnyside Restaurant Group, which also runs Santa Rosa Taqueria and We, the Pizza. Mixologist Andra "AJ" Johnson, formerly of Seranata, designed the Southern-inspired cocktail menu. The menu features fried and grilled organic chicken, served in biscuits or on brioche, with gluten-free options available. Regional toppings and sauces will accent the chicken sandwiches. Sides include homemade kettle chips, crispy chicken skins, and various slaws. Hall, a Nashville native, graduated from Howard University with a business degree before attending culinary school. She gained fame on "Top Chef" and co-hosted ABC's "The Chew" for seven years, winning a Daytime Emmy in 2015. Hall has also written several cookbooks, including "Carla Hall's Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration". Before her TV career, Hall ran Alchemy Caterers in Maryland starting in 2001. She also had a Nashville hot chicken restaurant in Brooklyn called Carla Hall's Southern Kitchen, which closed in 2017. Hall is involved with charities like the Pajama Program and GenYouth. She also serves as the Culinary Ambassador for Sweet Home Cafe at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Bumblebirds is intended to be a six-month "pop-in" concept, with potential to become permanent. Hall's paper-quilt art is showcased in the restaurant's design.
