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"Set to debut next month in Alexandria, the new Executive Diner will serve all-day fare that blends Asian cooking, traditional Southern barbecue, and Creole cuisine under chef Dadisi Olutosin. The menu is slated to include Japanese-style buttermilk pancakes—"airy, fluffy and delicious," as he describes them—pulled pork sandwiches, shrimp and grits bolstered by andouille sausage, Creole creme succotash, blackened pork chops with apple butter, and a spicy hummus made from black-eyed peas. The restaurant will also feature a companion café offering coffee service, pastries, confections, and gourmet sandwiches; it will open with breakfast and lunch service and add dinner seatings later. As executive chef, his goal is to fill bellies and put smiles on everyone’s faces." - Warren Rojas