Southern comfort

With a mouthwatering repertoire that reads like a “Best Of” list of southern cuisine, Wardell and Christene Davis have been quietly cranking out comfort food from the lower level of the Eden Prairie City Center since 2017.

“It had been our dream to work together,” said Wardell.

The couple’s first joint venture — aside from their 28-year marriage — is called Smokin’ Hottdish, a name that represents their individual upbringings and their fusion of cooking specialties.

Wardell, aka Daddy Davis, aka The Meat Man, hails from Mississippi and is in charge of the meats. He delivers a wide variety of smoked options, from ribs and pulled pork to brisket and chicken, while Mz. Christene, who was born and raised in a southern household in St. Paul, handles the sides. She churns out everything from jambalaya and collard greens to dirty rice and shrimp and grits, along with her signature hot dish that combines many items off their menu.

Smokin’ Hottdish offered its food for takeaway until last month, when it shuttered counter service to focus exclusively on the catering side of the business. “Catering is our passion,” said Christene, who has been working in catering and events for the last two decades.

“Catering is keeping us so busy,” agreed Wardell. “It’s taken over.”

Still, it was not a decision the couple came to easily and even now, Christene laments about it as they watch a scattering of people come to the counter, read the sign and walk away without their food. “We’re revamping,” she said.

“As with any business, we’ll be revamping until our last day,” said Wardell. “But we’re still here, still working.”

‘We feed the people’

Since opening in the Garden Room at the City Center in 2017, Smokin’ Hottdish has faced its fair share of pivots, including the pandemic. The Davises were able to weather COVID-19 through sheer ingenuity. Wardell came up with an idea to offer a curbside pickup family meal deal on Fridays with enough food to feed 4-6 people for $100. The promotion was a hit.

“Our food sticks with people,” said Wardell.

“You can taste the love in the food,” said Christene.

Wardell and Christene insist they are not chefs. “We’re cooks,” they said. And there’s nothing they love more than a battle in the kitchen to test their skills. The winner is always those who get to taste the results — usually their children and grandchildren.

“I love cooking,” said Christene. “We have fun in the kitchen.”

Sharing that joy with their customers is their focus. “Our slogan is ‘We feed the people,'” said Christene.

“If I won’t eat it, I won’t serve it to anyone else,” she added.

Quality and consistency

“I love seeing the look on people’s faces when they take a bite of the food,” said Wardell as his wife admitted that he has been known to rush to the kitchen door to peek through the window to see those reactions.

Among their most popular offerings are Christene’s Creamy Four Cheese Macaroni and Wardell’s giant Smokin’ Steak Philly sandwich from the corporate catering menu. “We used to kid it was the size of a newborn baby,” laughed Christene.

“We try to offer things that other places don’t offer,” said Wardell.

Even among the things they offer that can be found elsewhere, Wardell insists their food stands out. “You cannot duplicate it,” he added. “We use our own house seasoning.”

“Another big thing is consistency,” said Christene. “It’s so important.

“We work really hard for those five-star reviews.”

Smokies

Smokin’ Hottdish offers catering for every type of gathering, from corporate meetings and family reunions to graduation parties and even weddings. “We work with any type of budget,” said Wardell. “We aren’t in the business of breaking people.”

For those who just want a taste of their creations, Wardell says to watch their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for pop-up events. “We don’t have Swifties, but we have Smokies,” said Wardell, of their biggest fans.

Christene said the five-year dream includes another location, their own brick-and-mortar. “We want to continue to create new dishes,” she said.

Until then, they remain focused on giving their customers the best food experience possible. “We’re very blessed,” she added. “We continue to grow.”