Sandra’s Next Generation isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a vibrant celebration of family, community, and the rich heritage of soul food. Founded by Sandra and Miguel Pittman, this beloved eatery brings the warmth and flavors of home-style Southern cooking to [mention city/location if available, otherwise keep it general for “close to me” optimization]. In this heartfelt conversation, Sandra and Miguel share the inspiring story behind their restaurant, revealing how passion, family legacy, and a commitment to community have made Sandra’s Next Generation a soul food haven.
Sandra, the heart and soul of the kitchen, laughingly introduces herself: “My name is Sandra Harris Pittman. The name of the restaurant is Sandra’s Next Generation. I am the owner slash chef, Chef Sandra.” Beside her, Miguel, her husband of 39 years and business partner, adds, “And I guess I’m her sidekick, her husband for 39 years. Miguel Pittman. I guess my title would be manager. Yes. Because I’m not the chef. My wife is the chef!” This playful banter reflects the strong partnership that is the foundation of their restaurant.
The seed for Sandra’s Next Generation was planted by Miguel’s simple yet powerful suggestion. Sandra recounts, “What inspired me to open up a restaurant actually was my husband, Miguel.” She explains her lifelong passion for cooking, rooted in her upbringing and community involvement. “You know, I had the gift, the talents to cook. I cook for the community, I cook for the church—and every Friday, I will cook dinners for the community, and I was selling for $5.” Witnessing Sandra’s culinary gifts and community spirit, Miguel proposed a life-changing idea: “Honey, what do you think about open up your own business?” Sandra admits, “I really did never have that idea. Until he asked me that question. And I was like, “Yes, that sounds good. Let’s do it!””
Sandra’s culinary journey is deeply intertwined with her family history and Southern roots. She reminisces about her mother’s stories of growing up in Selma, Alabama, and learning to cook out of necessity. “As a little girl, my mom will always share stories in terms of how she was born and raised from Selma, Alabama, where she picked cotton. And she actually dropped out of school in ninth grade to help her siblings and my art were to teach her how to cook.” These stories instilled in Sandra a profound appreciation for home-cooked meals and the legacy of Southern cooking. “So I will sit down and watch my mom prepare food for the household, dad and six children. And when I tell you her breakfast, lunch and dinner, we didn’t really know about fast food growing up our household we knew about good Southern Cooking.”
Further inspiration came from Miguel’s family and his fond memories of his grandmother’s cooking. Sandra laughs, “And then when I met the love of my life, he will always talk about his grandmother saying, honey, you gotta meet my grandmother. My grandmother cooks so well. Your food doesn’t taste like my grandmother, your food doesn’t taste like my grandmother.” These playful comparisons fueled Sandra’s determination to perfect her craft. “So I heard that a lot. While you know, we first got married. So that really encouraged me to practice more on cooking a look at me today in terms of he doesn’t say that anymore. So I might be kind of close to grandma.”
At Sandra’s Next Generation, customer experience is as important as the food itself. Sandra emphasizes her personal connection with her patrons. “I pay attention to my customers. I’m one of those ones who’s more in the forefront. Hello, how are you? Is this your first time down in that Sandra’s? You know, how did you find out so I think that when it comes to food, I think customer service, hospitality. Everything works hand in hand together.” This genuine hospitality creates a welcoming atmosphere that keeps customers coming back for more.
Miguel’s role extends beyond management; he brings a strategic business perspective to the restaurant. “I’m just happy to be a part of her vision. And to be able to contribute based upon the gift and the talent that I have in terms of management, marketing, and doing projection for the business, and always keeping my hands on the pulse of the business not only with our business, but business in general—watching the economy.” This balanced partnership is key to their success. “So I guess we make a good team. We balanced each other and that’s one of the reasons why we still together after 39 years.”
When it comes to the menu, Sandra’s Next Generation offers a delightful array of soul food classics. Miguel highlights some of the most popular dishes, “Some of the things that people enjoy eating is—if I would pick their favorite—I would say the chop barbecue. But also we do offer a turkey chop,for folks that don’t eat pork and a combination of the candied yams and the collard greens and black eyed peas. So it’s amazing how you put those items together and it creates a flavor by itself. And that’s why they call it soul food, because it comes from the soul.” The restaurant’s name perfectly encapsulates the essence of soul food – dishes prepared with heart and tradition.
Sandra points to the “Church Plate” as a standout favorite, a hearty combination that embodies the soul food experience. “I would say the most popular dish is a Church Plate. There’s four sides: one meat, fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, candy yams and black eyed peas.” While deeply rooted in tradition, Sandra also embraces culinary innovation. “I love to cook. I think it’s important not just to focus on your own culture. Just learn different types of cultures of food and just add a little twist to it.”
This innovative spirit is evident in her creative “Soul Empanadas.” “For example, my empanadas. When people actually see it on the menu, they like “no way soul empanadas! What is soul empanadas?” Soul meaning: collard greens, macaroni and cheese, candy yams. So I put some soul inside the empandas. Just being different and thinking outside the box, and really creating something different.” These unique dishes showcase Sandra’s ability to honor tradition while adding her own distinctive flair.
The “Next Generation” in the restaurant’s name refers to more than just culinary evolution; it’s a tribute to their family. Sandra proudly explains, “Sandra’sext Generation is our four children: Shandrea, Shantay, Sharwin and Miguel Jr.,and then our four grandchildren too. Cuz they going to be holding the cornbread really soon as well.” Family is integral to the business. “So all four of our children are heavily involved in the business, they have their own role. And that’s the “Next generation”.”
Miguel expands on the broader vision for the “Next Generation,” emphasizing the valuable business skills their children are gaining. “The way I look at the “Next Generation” is…it doesn’t necessarily mean that is going to be the next generation in the restaurant business. I look at as the next generation in a business, whichever direction they decide to go. But I think that their experience in a training that they received me now in the restaurant business is going to prepare them for wherever their endeavor may be, because business is business. The model is the same as all about having a product, meeting demand, being consistent in what you’re doing, and doing projections. And that applies across any business that you might decide to get into.”
Sandra’s Next Generation is deeply committed to giving back to the community. “Our restaurant—Sandra’s Next Generation—we’re very heavily involved in the community. We often have different events, like we just held a big one for Juneteenth. We had different vendors with different types of business, let people know about Black excellence and just trying to be a role model. You know, to let people know, dream big, dream big, anything that you desire in your heart, you know you want to do you just have to go out and just make it happen. Just do it.”
Miguel adds, “I think that our business does play a role that we as African Americans, we can also run a very successful business. And we are a living testimony.” Sandra concludes with heartfelt words about their deep connection to their neighborhood, “So just being in the community, myself, my husband, raising four children here, now four grandchildren here, and we’re excited. The Hill is our home. And we here for the long run. We really are!”
For those seeking authentic and heartwarming soul food close to home, Sandra’s Next Generation offers not just a meal, but an experience steeped in family tradition, community spirit, and the undeniable flavors of the South. Visit them and taste the love in every bite.
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