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Anyone who finds a way to make his or her dream a reality is lucky, but it takes a special talent to turn that passion into something that makes others happy.
The owners of Aunt Susan's Kitchen in Laurel have both: a passion for food and a talent for making it delicious enough to keep customers coming back for more.
The Schauers opened the restaurant in February 2008 after catering for six months, making Susan Schauer's childhood dream a reality.
Schauer said she was brought up in her grandmother's restaurant and home kitchen in Guyana, where everything was made from scratch and smelled heavenly. After she married, her husband loved her cooking and supported her efforts to pursue a food industry business.
Aunt Susan's Kitchen's menu reflects the gold and black found on the Guyanese flag, said Joseph Schauer. The small dining area is bright, spacious and clean, with a refrigerated case showcasing the Schauers' homemade desserts and other items.
The restaurant's specialty is West Indian/Guyanese cuisine, as well as Caribbean food and American comfort food. Susan Schauer makes her own marinades and sauces, and her meats are thoroughly marinated before cooking to be full of flavor.
The most popular item, the jerk chicken ($7.75 for º dark, $8.75 white), is seasoned with a homemade spice blend, flame-grilled, then finished in the oven to be falling-off-the-bone tender, with a mouthwatering flavor beneath its spicy kick.
Like the other entrees, it is served with a choice of two sides. Other popular entrees include fried chicken ($7.75 for º dark, $8.75 white, $11.50 for half chicken), as well as a range of curry dishes like chicken ($9.25) and goat ($9.95).
The curry dishes are also served as "roti meals" with West Indian bread, at $6.75 for chicken and $7.75 for goat. Seafood dishes are also popular, like the blackened salmon ($12.50) and curry shrimp ($11.50).
Aunt Susan's Kitchen markets itself as an international food establishment, and the menu's appetizer section really highlights that, with everything from chicken potstickers ($3.50 for six) to Jamaican beef or chicken patties ($2.25) and Caribbean coco bread ($1.70).
Sandwiches and salads also feature unique combinations, such as a jerk chicken salad ($5.95) or a fried haddock sandwich on coco bread with lettuce and remoulade ($8.75).
Not to be missed is Susan Schauer's refreshing homemade tropical juice blend, made with fresh guava, mango and pineapple juices ($2.80 small, $3.60 large).
Most side dishes are $3 or less, including the sweet potato fries and the flavorful sautéed cabbage and carrots. With desserts also under $4, including Susan Schauer's own "ultimate cheesecake" made with vanilla bean and topped with a fluffy white chocolate mousse, it's easy to order a filling meal at great value.
A children's menu and a vegetarian section ensure that there is something available for everyone; observant Muslims and Jews might also like to know that many of the meat dishes are produced from halal and kosher suppliers.
Aside from where the food comes from, it also goes to a good place: whenever she can, Susan Schauer donates excess, unsellable food to Laurel's Elizabeth House, which helps feed the homeless.
Aunt Susan's Kitchen
15101 Baltimore Ave., Suite 111, Laurel
Phone: 301-362-4201
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday
www.auntsusanskitchen.com
