The award-winning founder of Ohio ghost kitchen, Chicken Head’s, discusses life, love and his signature sensation, The Medusa Sandwich
On a crisp, Sunday afternoon in November, I was welcomed by Chef Anthony T. Head, Sr. to his
current site of Chicken Head’s. Known for its chef-crafted chicken sandwiches, tenders and
wings, it is an acclaimed, minority-owned eatery that originated in Dayton, Ohio.
Image of Chef Anthony T. Head, Sr. standing with his logo inside his ghost kitchen, Chicken Head’s, was taken November 3rd, 2024 by Karen D. Brame.
Located in Kettering, Ohio, his restaurant operates on a “ghost kitchen” concept. Head shared
that this “is a unique operating model that basically says there’s no indoor dining and we
essentially only have an online presence. You must order ahead online for pickup or delivery.
We don’t accept cash, so, it’s a cashless model.”
Established in April 2019, he emphasized that this approach has proven to be pandemic-proof,
allowing him to keep labor costs low and pay staff above market rate.
The 45 years-old, African-American father of four, Head previously worked as a business analyst
during the day while taking culinary arts classes in the evening. He became a professional
around 2008 and has taught culinary arts classes for much of the last decade.
Comparing his careers with that of character “Clark Kent”/”Superman”, Anthony declared,
“That’s how I pretty much started Chicken Head’s, by working full-time during the day and then
coming to the restaurant at night.”
Image of Mac n Cheese was sourced from Chicken Head’s website on December 6th, 2024 by Karen D. Brame.
His dedication and determination trace back to his childhood. He was primarily
reared by his father, Erskine T. Head, Sr., after his mother, Mary C. Head, passed when Anthony
was 2 years-old. During our conversation, he regaled a heartfelt early experience in cooking.
When he was approximately 7 years-old, he had spent time with Ms. Catherine Wright, a dear
friend of his mother’s and neighbor who often sat for them. On this particular occasion, the two
made pancakes and he confided, “ … I remember working with someone who loved me … it
makes you have to be very intentional.”
Not long after that lesson, Anthony was hungry and Mr. Head was not at home. Although
forbidden from using the stove, he cooked pancakes. After discovering this, his father advised
Anthony that, “’If you want to learn how to cook, Son, just cook.” Anthony recalled, “I’ll never
forget how loving he was … that actually started a love affair with cooking.”
Image of Chicken Head Parm sandwich was sourced from Chicken Head’s website on December 6th, 2024 by Karen D. Brame.
Ever-expanding his brand, Head founded a juice filling company and a coffee-roasting
operation. He will return to his Dayton roots in 2025, moving to a much larger facility.
Images of several Chicken Head’s accolades and a bottle of Red Head strawberry lemonade were taken November 3rd, 2024 by Karen D. Brame.
What will not change is his commitment to what works best, notably, The Medusa Sandwich.
Named “Best Chicken Sandwich in Dayton” this year, it is beloved by many, including me. A
masterful blend of savory, this delicious decadence also hits high notes of texture, including
hearty crisp chicken, velvety smooth cheeses and pillowy lush French bread.
Image of the Medusa Sandwich was sourced from Chicken Head’s Facebook page on November 3rd, 2024 by Karen D. Brame.
Chef Head raved about his celebrated creation, “You have the French technique of chiffonade
cut collards on there. You have Italian-inspired Cavatappi noodles with smoked Gouda and
Cheddar macaroni and cheese. You have the traditional Southern Fried chicken. Then you have
the French brioche toasted bun. So, what it represents to me is … our cooking in America has
been influenced from cultures around the world.”
I asked about his triumphs and whether he felt assured of his successes. Chef Anthony T. Head,
Sr. laughed. He spoke of pancakes he made as a child and that he recently posted a more exotic
kind in social media. He divulged that after all these years, “Now I’m doing Japanese Soufflé
pancakes as an adult … and I still haven’t arrived!”
Sources
“Best of Dayton 2024 Winners: Food, Dining & Drinking category”, Dayton Daily News, August 9, 2024
“Best in Dayton: See All the 2024 Winners”, Dayton Daily News, August 12, 2024.
Chicken Head’s ghost kitchen website is last sourced November 8, 2024. https://chickenheadsdayton.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGbDRhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTkPX3ynT2ljWDdCz6Quz1W19k9wigQzs-R1-F16fsO576-L5hYTpdqldA_aem_FGcVEYnePZt5T0mlgG32Ew
Discussion with Chef Anthony T. Head of Chicken Head’s ghost kitchen, 1122 East Dorothy Lane, Kettering, Ohio, November 3, 2024.
Facebook profile of Chicken Head’s ghost kitchen is last sourced November 8, 2024.
https://www.facebook.com/chickenheadsdayton
Facebook profile of Chef Anthony T. Head is last sourced November 8, 2024.
https://www.facebook.com/athead
“Kettering’s Chicken Head’s Wins ‘Best of Dayton Chicken Sandwich!” by Caroline Morse, Living Dayton, January 24, 2024
“Upcoming Dayton Restaurant Lands City Funding” by Angela Watson Gay, Dayton Business Journal, January 19, 2023https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2023/01/19/restaurant-nonprofits-receive-funding.html