Settled in a cozy corner of North Omaha, Big Mama’s Kitchen caught Guy’s eye with its authentic soul food offerings, serving dishes that are piled high with family traditions and Southern comfort.
Patricia “Big Mama” Baron serves Guy crispy fried chicken and an Afro Burger so spicy that it turns the Mayor of Flavortown’s face red. Watch to the end, though, for the best part- Guy biting into a slow-cooked pig ear sandwich!
Big Mama’s Homestyle Cookery
Nestled in the heart of North Omaha, Big Mama’s Kitchen serves up traditional soul food. The owner, Patricia “Big Mama” Baron shares her passion for cooking, a skill honed through family history and a lifetime of experience, in what was once the cafeteria of the Nebraska School for the Deaf.
Big Mama’s menu features comforting soul food staples. Oven-fried chicken prepared with a blend of meticulously selected seasonings, and sides like collard greens with bacon drippings, serve up all of the comfort of a Sunday family dinner.
The restaurant’s Afro Burger—a spicy, well-seasoned feast—is inspired by Big Mama’s travels and personal experiences, while her pork chops and sweet potato pudding are lauded as off-the-charts. Every dish, including the pig ear sandwich, is cooked with care and intended to be savored.
Preparing Oven-Baked Chicken
Guy’s first taste of Big Mama’s cooking is a plate of delicious and traditional fried chicken.
The chicken is marinated in buttermilk, and seasoned with a custom blend of spices, allowing it to absorb the flavors overnight. Next, Big Mama coats the marinated pieces in self-rising flour, ensuring a thick layer for a crunchy exterior, and tucks the wings back on themselves to retain moisture.
The chicken is then placed skin-side down in canola oil before being oven-fried in a convection oven, turned once halfway through to ensure even cooking and a crisp finish.
Crafting the Afro Burger
To achieve the savory kick of Big Mama’s Afro Burger, Big Mama begins with 10 pounds of quality Angus beef and infuses it with a plethora of peppers, including fresh reds and a generous mix of hot chili flakes, ensuring a powerful spice blend. Guy is skeptical when he sees the chili flakes, calling it “all of the hot pepper flakes available in the Western United States.” Big Mama just tells him, “if you don’t like spicy food, you won’t like this dish!”
No need to worry- the spiciness of the Afro Burger turns Guy’s face red, but he goes back for a second and third bite.
Specialty: The Pig Ear Sandwich
Guy is less than enthusiastic about tasting one of Big Mama’s specialties, the Pig Ear Sandwich! To prepare the dish, thoroughly cleaned ears are seasoned with Grandma’s blend of sugar, salt, cumin, paprika, and chili powder.
The ears are submerged in water with a splash of vinegar, then slow-cooked on low for eight hours until tender. After cooking, the pig ears are sandwiched between slices of bread, and dressed with a generous amount of mustard for added zest.
It takes Guy a few false starts to take a bite of the sandwich, and afterward, he calls it “tender” and compares it to bologna. Guy never has anything negative to say about a dish he tries, but based on his face, I don’t think he’ll come back for a second pig ear sandwich!