A Sandwich Pop-Up From Some of D.C.’s Best Chefs Will Raise Money for Afghan Refugees

Sub shop Grazie Grazie is known for its Philly sensibilities, attracting customers to its tiny space in the waterfront Wharf development with fried chicken cutlets and cheesesteaks built with grass-fed beef and Cooper sharp provolone. But for a few days this week, a handful of the most-celebrated chefs in D.C. will be popping up to sell a limited run of sandwiches that fold in Middle Eastern, Caribbean, and Korean ingredients. Chefs from Levantine hot spot Albi, Jamaican-style Bammy’s, and casual Chinese and Korean Chiko will take turns selling custom sandwiches at Grazie Grazie to help owner Casey Patten raise money for Kind Works, a nonprofit that’s helping resettle Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban-controlled government.

All sandwiches are $14, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Kind Works. Here’s the schedule for the Belly Full pop-up, which will sell sandwiches on-site (85 District Square SW) and through Caviar and Doordash.

Albi at Grazie Grazie: Thursday, September 2

Chef and owner Michael Rafidi created a “My Heart” sandwich — Albi means “my heart” in Arabic — full of smoked lamb, garlic toum, habibi sauce, batata harra (spicy potatoes), and feta on a seeded roll.

Grazie Grazie

Bammy’s at Grazie Grazie: Friday, September 3

Owners Gerald Addison and Chris Morgan, well-known for their past jobs as the opening chefs at Maydan, are channeling their Caribbean spot in Navy Yard with a “Boston Bay” sandwich full of jerk chicken sausage, allspice mayo, cole slaw, and jerk barbecue sauce on a seeded roll.

“Za Burger” at Grazie Grazie: Saturday, September 4

Patten, the owner of Grazie Grazie, has been hosting regular pan pizza pop-ups at the shop. For the fundraiser, he’s making a pizza burger with beef, spicy vodka sauce aioli, Ezzo Sausage Co. (famous for ‘roni cups), mozzarella, provolone, and Calabrian chile honey on toasted brioche. Patten

Chiko at Grazie Grazie: Sunday, September 5

Danny Lee and Scott Drewno, the chefs who own Chiko and Korean gastropub Anju, are serving a Chiko chicken roll with a gochujang marinade, sesame slaw, and pickled daikon on a seeded roll.

• The Family Behind Lapis Bistro Is Collecting Supplies for Afghan Refugees Arriving in D.C. [EDC]
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• Taylor Gourmet Founder Set to Open a Downtown Restaurant Selling Subs, Fried Chicken, and Ice Cream [EDC]