Diners Drive-Ins and Dives: A Soulful Road Trip Through Downtown

James Bizzell's soul food joint has been a staple in downtown for over 20 years, serving up classic Low Country cuisine that warms the heart and soul. As I stepped into this unassuming eatery, I was struck by the treasure trove of flavors waiting to be discovered within its walls. It's like a chest overflowing with goodness, nestled amidst the hustle and bustle of city life.

The Menu: A Love Letter to Southern Cuisine

As we delved into the menu, it became clear that Low Country cuisine is alive and well in these parts. The offerings were a masterclass in Southern comfort food, with each dish expertly crafted to evoke feelings of warmth and nostalgia. From classic soul rolls wrapped in gluten-free goodness, to tender collard greens cooked to perfection with garlic, olive oil, onions, adobo, vinegar, and water, every bite was a testament to the power of simplicity and tradition. The seasoned rice and Black Eyed Peas were the perfect accompaniments to our main course, adding depth and texture to each dish.

The Soul Roll: A Taste of Home

One of the standout dishes on the menu was the soul roll – a masterful combination of flavors that rolled up the soul with every bite. The gluten-free wrapper was crispy and delicious, wrapped around a generous portion of fried chicken infused with adobo seasoning, seasoned rice, collard greens, and Black Eyed Peas. It was like a taste explosion in my mouth, as if my grandmother's love had been distilled into this one perfect dish.

Shrimp and Grits: A North Carolina Classic

I couldn't help but think of my friend Tommic's words – "if you can't cook shrimp and grits, then I'm not sure you're a Southern boy" – as Chef James expertly prepared a plate of creamy, buttery shrimp and grits. The key to this dish, he revealed, was in the gristle – whisked into perfection with salt cream, then stirring it just so that the grits didn't stick together. And when paired with a rich, tangy brown gravy infused with garlic, bee base, condensed milk, onions, garlic, and adobo, it was a match made in heaven.

The Flavor of Love

As I dined on these delicious dishes, I couldn't help but think of Chef James's grandmother – the one who put her foot in it, adding love to every single dish. It was clear that this wasn't just food – it was a labor of love, a testament to the power of tradition and community. As we sat down with Chef James, I realized that this was more than just a restaurant – it was a gathering place, where friends and strangers alike could come together to share in the joy of good food.

A Conversation with Chef James

As we chatted with Chef James, I discovered that his passion for Southern cuisine ran deep. He grew up eating these dishes from a young age, learning the secrets of traditional cooking from his grandmother. And it showed – every bite was infused with love and care, as if each dish had been carefully crafted to bring people together.

The Secret to Success

So what sets this place apart? For Chef James, it's all about embracing each little step in the culinary process. "You can't rush good food," he said with a smile. And it shows – every dish is made with care and attention, as if the chef himself were cooking for his family.

A Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives Moment

As we finished our meal and prepared to leave, I couldn't help but feel like I'd stumbled upon something special. The flavors had danced on my palate, leaving me wanting more. And when Chef James smiled and said, "I'm glad you enjoyed it – that's what it's all about," I knew that this was a place where memories were made, and love was served with every bite.

As we bid farewell to downtown's beloved soul food joint, I couldn't help but wonder what other culinary adventures awaited us on the road. But for now, I was content to savor the flavors of this special place – a true gem in the heart of the city.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: ennow I do not like to be too predictable here on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives but when you go to San Francisco you got to try some chupino when you go to Texas well you got to try some brisket go to New York City got to try some pizza so when you come to Charlotte North Carolina you got to try some low country and I hear this is the joint this is merch heart and soul it's definitely comfort food two Creos all day it's like eating at home or better than what I can get at home just like my mama Cooks she just put a foot in it but dad's the one doing the cooking here chef and owner James Bizzell who's been bringing down home to downtown since 1998. it's like a treasure chest in the middle of the asphalt jungle and that's what's so special about it you wouldn't expect this downtown what kind of food do you guys serve here Low Country in Southern and Southern I think it tastes like something that my grandma would cook so rolls up the soul rolls are everything you'd ever want out of the South gluten is wrapped and deep fried soul roll gotta have a soul roast all right we'll get into it collard greens tell them up garlic olive oil onions adobo adobo adobo vinegar and water and how long are we going to let this go for our all right what are we gonna do now boss well we're going to fry the chicken I sprinkle our chicken with adobo and then just regular all-purpose flour all-purpose flour simple okay let me you can put it in the fryer now here we go let's get after this and what we do we're gonna mix it all together so we got the greens we got the fried chicken the seasoned rice that delicious Black Eyed Peas okay what we're gonna do put a wrapper down I'll take a little bit here and we roll up every type of a little egg wash the seal it we take these in the fryer cook them off for 350. and then we just take them and we cut them drills a little spicy honey mustard and we do a little bit more garnish on it so those folks can't make it to merch without having the soul roll we try not to let them leave out here under my cell room that's astronaut soul food you know how this isn't the astronauts are food all prepared and ready to go yeah yeah yeah this is a soul food missile pop this comes with everything combined in one easy to eat bite I got to talk to NASA about that how delicious you guys ready to eat yeah the soul rolls got everything I like just when you eat it would you like to cook Tomic a friend of mine told me I can take homemak meet girls and eat I did it I did the same thing okay I'm serious I believe you and from the looks of it Chef James must have ended up with an A plus barbecue ribs up so good everything you order is just wonderful you get down home cooking 50 shrimp and Chris our place James does a perfect Southern shrimp and grits brown gravy on top of it unreal what are we gonna make next one of my other favorites shrimp and grits you understand something my mom was raised in North Carolina I didn't know that oh yeah I'm a good eating fool I saw him cold water margarine and my favorite Grizzly yellow organic Stone grits whisk them in yes sir the thing about griss you got a key stirring them for these do not stick together I got you there with some salt cream just make it taste so good all right so this takes care of the grit side so what are we into now well we're going to make our gravy or sauce sauce oil flour get that going and water garlic bee base condensed a whole cow into that oh not quite add onions garlic and adobo that's that's my middle name that's that's your middle name yes sir now we're going to make some shrimp come on now add a little oil I'll do about four or five six shrimp now we add a little brown gravy green onions my favorite you know that way yeah I know that's your middle name and tomatoes let that cook down yeah okay let's hit it boss Mandy gristler looking good there you go I'll top it out just a little bit more green now then focaccia bread we got a local Baker to make it for it's delicious thank you thank you this gravy's got a nice little Tang to it the Grits got to be a little twosome can't be too too soggy no I have a little bite to them um we have to pry this out of my hand shrimp and grits on this is one of my favorite things on the menu I do try to duplicate it when I get home but it doesn't come out the same did you grow up eating this type of food yes my grandmother's from South Carolina did she put her foot in it put a foot of love in it and this obviously has both everybody from out of town I bring here this age straight down Home Country Place the piece that people love about dinosaurs and Dives is meeting characters like yourself that invest so much in this I mean you Embrace each little step against the most critical piece it's fantastic it's nicer done my friend thank you sir so that's it for this flavor town road trip but don't you worry there's plenty more joints all over this country I'll be looking for you next time on Diners Drive-Ins and Divesnow I do not like to be too predictable here on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives but when you go to San Francisco you got to try some chupino when you go to Texas well you got to try some brisket go to New York City got to try some pizza so when you come to Charlotte North Carolina you got to try some low country and I hear this is the joint this is merch heart and soul it's definitely comfort food two Creos all day it's like eating at home or better than what I can get at home just like my mama Cooks she just put a foot in it but dad's the one doing the cooking here chef and owner James Bizzell who's been bringing down home to downtown since 1998. it's like a treasure chest in the middle of the asphalt jungle and that's what's so special about it you wouldn't expect this downtown what kind of food do you guys serve here Low Country in Southern and Southern I think it tastes like something that my grandma would cook so rolls up the soul rolls are everything you'd ever want out of the South gluten is wrapped and deep fried soul roll gotta have a soul roast all right we'll get into it collard greens tell them up garlic olive oil onions adobo adobo adobo vinegar and water and how long are we going to let this go for our all right what are we gonna do now boss well we're going to fry the chicken I sprinkle our chicken with adobo and then just regular all-purpose flour all-purpose flour simple okay let me you can put it in the fryer now here we go let's get after this and what we do we're gonna mix it all together so we got the greens we got the fried chicken the seasoned rice that delicious Black Eyed Peas okay what we're gonna do put a wrapper down I'll take a little bit here and we roll up every type of a little egg wash the seal it we take these in the fryer cook them off for 350. and then we just take them and we cut them drills a little spicy honey mustard and we do a little bit more garnish on it so those folks can't make it to merch without having the soul roll we try not to let them leave out here under my cell room that's astronaut soul food you know how this isn't the astronauts are food all prepared and ready to go yeah yeah yeah this is a soul food missile pop this comes with everything combined in one easy to eat bite I got to talk to NASA about that how delicious you guys ready to eat yeah the soul rolls got everything I like just when you eat it would you like to cook Tomic a friend of mine told me I can take homemak meet girls and eat I did it I did the same thing okay I'm serious I believe you and from the looks of it Chef James must have ended up with an A plus barbecue ribs up so good everything you order is just wonderful you get down home cooking 50 shrimp and Chris our place James does a perfect Southern shrimp and grits brown gravy on top of it unreal what are we gonna make next one of my other favorites shrimp and grits you understand something my mom was raised in North Carolina I didn't know that oh yeah I'm a good eating fool I saw him cold water margarine and my favorite Grizzly yellow organic Stone grits whisk them in yes sir the thing about griss you got a key stirring them for these do not stick together I got you there with some salt cream just make it taste so good all right so this takes care of the grit side so what are we into now well we're going to make our gravy or sauce sauce oil flour get that going and water garlic bee base condensed a whole cow into that oh not quite add onions garlic and adobo that's that's my middle name that's that's your middle name yes sir now we're going to make some shrimp come on now add a little oil I'll do about four or five six shrimp now we add a little brown gravy green onions my favorite you know that way yeah I know that's your middle name and tomatoes let that cook down yeah okay let's hit it boss Mandy gristler looking good there you go I'll top it out just a little bit more green now then focaccia bread we got a local Baker to make it for it's delicious thank you thank you this gravy's got a nice little Tang to it the Grits got to be a little twosome can't be too too soggy no I have a little bite to them um we have to pry this out of my hand shrimp and grits on this is one of my favorite things on the menu I do try to duplicate it when I get home but it doesn't come out the same did you grow up eating this type of food yes my grandmother's from South Carolina did she put her foot in it put a foot of love in it and this obviously has both everybody from out of town I bring here this age straight down Home Country Place the piece that people love about dinosaurs and Dives is meeting characters like yourself that invest so much in this I mean you Embrace each little step against the most critical piece it's fantastic it's nicer done my friend thank you sir so that's it for this flavor town road trip but don't you worry there's plenty more joints all over this country I'll be looking for you next time on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives\n"