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Of course D.C.’s newest Philadelphia-inspired sandwich shop has an option called “The Jawn.” In this cast, the City-of-Brotherly-Love lingo for just about anything is being used to describe a gourmet meatball sandwich. Try it starting tomorrow at Hoagie Boyz, operating out of Grand Duchess.
Vinnie Rotondaro and Rory Adair, who own the Adams Morgan bar, say pivoting to hoagies and other Italian sandwiches is their way of “working creatively through the crisis” and offering “something fun that makes people feel good.” Adair is from outside Philadelphia, but Grand Duchess brought in Chef Alex McCoy from nearby Lucky Buns to develop the menu. They’re using bread from Hyattsville-based Lyon Bakery.
Hoagie Boyz launches tomorrow, and going forward will operate Wednesdays through Fridays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Customers can order delivery or pick-up through DoorDash and Uber Eats. They can also order on the Grand Duchess website.
The bar is also selling alcohol to-go, including bottled cocktails people can pour over ice at home; a selection of amari sold by the two-ounce bottle; and $22 wines by the bottle. On weekends, Grand Duchess plans to open its patio and serve two boozy slushies: Frozen Palomas and Frozés. Check out the full food and drink menus below.
The hoagie called the “Old Calabrian,” with prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, and Calabrian chili conserva, is a wink at the future of Grand Duchess. Before COVID-19, Adair and Rotondaro were looking to transition their food menu to a Calabrian theme. That’s still on the table, and the pair hope Italian hoagies offer a little taste of what’s to come.
Stacked sandwiches have become the comfort food currency of COVID-19. Grand Duchess’ Hoagie Boys joins two other restaurants that have swapped their typical menus for subs. Coconut Club owner Adam Greenberg partnered with former Yang Market owner Pete Sitcov to launch Subbies, and Columbia Room is operating Get a Hero Be a Hero. For each sandwich purchased, founder Paul Taylor will donate a sandwich to first responders, medical staff, or those in need.
The word “hoagie” supposedly comes from World War I-era Philadelphia, when Italian immigrants working at the Hog Island shipyard on the Delaware River began making sandwiches filled with meats, cheeses, and toppings. “Hoggies” didn’t sound as good as “hoagies,” especially in a Philly accent. Of course, youse guys, there are other theories, too.
The Hoagie Boyz menu is subject to change:
HOAGIES (served with chips)
PORT RICHMOND ($15)MORTADELLA, FIOR DI LATTE, PISTACHIO, SALSA VERDE, ARUGULA, TREVISO & BABY GEM, TOASTED RUSTIC
OLD CALABRIAN ($15)PROSCIUTTO, POMODORO SECCHI, FIOR DI LATTE, TREVISO & BABY GEM, ARUGULA, BASIL, CALABRIAN CHILI CONSERVA, TOASTED RUSTIC
THE JAWN ($16)POLPETTE, MAYMA’S MEATBALLS, SAN MARZANO SUGO, CACIOCAVALLO, FRESH HERBS, SEMOLINA LOAF
ROGGIANO ($16)PORCHETTA, GRILLED RED ONION, TREVISO & BROCCOLI RABE, CACIOCAVALLO, SALSA VERDE, RUSTIC LOAF
EAST PASSYUNK ($16)SOPPRESSATA, COPPA HAM, PROSCIUTTO COTTO, NDUJA, CACIOCAVALLO, CALABRIAN CHILI CONSERVA, LETTUCE, RED ONION, TOMATO VINAIGRETTE
QUEEN VILLAGE ($15)FRIED EGGPLANT, SAN MARZANO SUGO, CACIOCAVALLO, GRANA, FRESH HERBS, SEMOLINA LOAF
COSENZA ($15)LOCAL TOMATOES (OLNEY, MD), FIOR DI LATTE MOZZARELLA, FRESH HERBS, PESTO GENOVESE, ARUGULA, BABY GEM, TREVISO
EL TRAIN ($16)TURKEY, PROSCIUTTO COTTO, AVOCADO, BACON, GREEN GODDESS MAYONNAISE, BABY GEM, TREVISO, ARUGULA, TOMATO, RED ONION, FRESH HERBS
Add-ons
-SPICY CALABRIAN CHILI CONSERVA
-PICKLED PEPPERS
-LOCAL TOMATO
-DUCHESS LETTUCE BLEND
-MOZZARELLA
-CACIOCAVALLO
COCKTAILS ($13 each)
Old Fashioned
Joaquin’s Negroni
Boulevardier
Ferrari
WINE ($22 per bottle)
Red
Gaglioppo: Scala Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore, Calabria, Italy, 2018
Nero d’Avola, Valdibella ‘Kerasos’, Sicily, Italy, 2017
Sangiovese: Donna Laura ‘Ali’ Sangiovese di Toscana, Tuscany, Italy, 2018
Corvina Blend: ‘Remo Farina’ Valpolicella Ripasso, Verona, Italy, 2018
White
Greco: Scala Cirò Bianco, Calabria, Italy, 2018
Sauvignon Blanc Blend: Pullus ‘Halozan’, Štajerska, Slovenia, 2018
Falanghina: La Capranera, Campania, Italy, 2018
Vermentino: Pala ‘I Fiori’, Sardegna, Italy, 2018
Rosé
Gaglioppo: Scala Cirò Rosato, Calabria, Italy, 2018
AMARI ($9 for two ounces)
Amaro Dell’ Etna – Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy
Don Ciccio Fernet – Washington DC, US
Don Ciccio Sirene – Washington DC, US
Fernet Branca – Milano, Lombardia, Italy
Amaro Lucano – Pisticci Scalo, Basilicata, Italy
Montenegro – Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Ramazzotti – Milano, Lombardia, Italy
Santa Maria Al Monte – Genoa, Liguria, Italy
Hoagie Boyz/Grand Duchess, 2337 18th St. NW; (202) 299-1006; grandduchessdc.com