Federalist Pig Will Soon Serve Barbecue Out of a 25-Foot Mobile Kitchen in Hyattsville | Eater DC

"I've learned that after more than a year navigating regulatory red tape, the restaurant group behind Federalist Pig is moving forward with a second location in a former tire shop in downtown Hyattsville and, while that 2,500-square-foot restaurant with bar service and a patio is being built, plans to operate a custom 25-foot mobile kitchen from the parking lot at 5504 Baltimore Avenue around the end of September to dispense takeout and delivery. Restaurateur Steve Salis commissioned the trailer from a Texas company; it includes a fryer, stove, flat-top grill and an entirely wood-burning J&R smoker that Salis calls “a real showpiece.” The mobile kitchen — from a restaurant that earned a Bib Gourmand nod in the 2020 Michelin Guide — will serve a pared-down version of Rob Sonderman’s menu (including brisket, ribs and sandwich specials) and help build a Maryland customer base while also testing other markets and festivals. Sonderman says relying entirely on wood fires will let him experiment with different hardwoods compared with the gas-assisted rig in Adams Morgan, but he’ll balance that desire to experiment with a commitment to keeping flavors consistent; the Columbia Road NW location will add J&R smokers when it renovates and expands into the former mobile phone store next door. Salis hopes the Hyattsville project can be completed in the first half of 2021." - Gabe Hiatt