Sequoia Alum Shares Some Dishes Coming to Executive Diner

Dadisi Olutosin, the chef in charge of the kitchen at the new Executive Diner currently scheduled to debut next month, is planning to serve all-day fare that borrows from Asian cooking, traditional Southern barbecue, and Creole cuisine.

An alum of seafood-centric Georgetown standby Sequoia as well as now-defunct neighborhood bar Park View Patio, Olutosin, who goes by chef Dadisi, tells Eater the menu at the forthcoming Alexandria restaurant will feature comfort foods ranging from Japanese-style buttermilk pancakes — “airy, fluffy and delicious,” is how he describes them — to pulled pork sandwiches. Other contenders include shrimp and grits bolstered by andouille sausage and Creole creme succotash, as well as blackened pork chops with apple butter and spicy hummus made from black-eyed peas.

“My goal as the executive chef is to fill bellies and put smiles on everyone’s faces,” he says of his mission.

Dadisi notes that although the name diner is attached, the restaurant will feature additional components including a companion cafe providing coffee service, pastries, confections, and gourmet sandwiches. He also says the restaurant will open with breakfast and lunch service to start, adding in dinner seatings later on.