Celebrities Soul Food Bistro Opens in Draper for Casual Cuisine
(Courtesy of Celebrity’s Soul Food) Whole gold dusted chicken wings from Celebrity’s Soul Food. The national chain plans to open its restaurants in Draper on Thursday, September 8, 2022.
A business that calls itself the nation’s only national soul food chain is coming to Utah.
Celebrity’s Soul Food Bistro is scheduled to open on Thursday, September 8 at 487 E. 12300 South, Draper. The chain began in Florida in 2020 with Fredrick and Taja, who previously ran his catering business serving high-profile clients such as Oprah Winfrey, Monica, Ashanti, and Steve Harvey. Founded by Jacobs.
The Draper store will be the chain’s second franchise, following its flagship restaurant in Ocala, Florida. His third restaurant is set to open next week in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Draper Restaurant is bistro-style, a more casual version of the chain’s full-service restaurant. Instead of sitting down to eat with a server, the bistro concept has a walk-up counter.
Franchisees Scott and Anissa Hargraves, both Utah residents, began planning to expand their bistro in September 2019, but had to put their plans on hold during the pandemic.
(Courtesy of Celebrity’s Soul Food) Seafood Pineapple Bowl from Celebrity’s Soul Food.
“What they are trying to do is something that has never really been done in Utah before,” said Scott Hargraves. “The company serves the masses with real soul food in a slightly upmarket yet slightly casual setting.”
Utah has traditionally not had many soul food restaurants, but Sauce Boss Southern Kitchen, located at 877 E. 12300 South in Draper, about four blocks away, is a notable exception. It’s an educational piece,” Hargreaves said. The menu includes what he describes as “classics,” including whole chicken wings, braised turkey wings, meatloaf, braised oxtail, fried catfish, fried his chicken, and barbecue his chicken. I’m here.
“We do really cool gold dusted hot wings,” he said. ”
Hargraves says many of the recipes have been passed down through the Frederick Jacobs family, including Dr. J’s macaroni cheese and sweet potato soufflé.
“I was out [in Florida] “So Dr. J picked up the phone and called my mother.”
Desserts include red velvet cake (both mini and full versions) baked in-house and drizzled with chocolate sauce. For drinks, there are sweet tea, which is indispensable in tropical countries, and green tea, which is not too sweet.
While it’s all soul food from scratch, Anissa Hargraves says the menu also takes a 21st-century approach to soul food, offering gluten-free options, including vegan pulled barbecue jackfruit sandwiches on gluten-free bread. No plant-based dishes are served. A version of mac and cheese, and a black-eyed bean ragout.
(Courtesy of Celebrity’s Soul Food) Chocolate chip decadence bundt cake with Celebrity’s Soul Food chocolate frosting.
According to Hargraves, the only big push right now is opening restaurants, but that part of Celebrity’s business model is supporting community organizations. If the bistro does well, they also plan to donate a portion of the restaurant’s proceeds to an LGBTQ+ center to support organizations for homeless youth, they said. But for now, after waiting three years for it to open, he’s focused on opening the door and joining the restaurant community in Draper’s immediate vicinity.
“We share the same building as Five Guys Burgers. She said.
Celebrity Soul Food Bistro will hold a grand opening event on Thursday, September 8 from noon to 8:00 p.m. featuring food replicas and a performance by saxophonist Kevin Flynn. The restaurant is open Monday-Sunday 11 AM-8 PM.
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