Business Spotlight: Daddy Joe’s Soul Food Serving the Community

By Naomi Bonman
IVN Staff Writer

UPLAND, CA- In honor of Black Business Month, the Inland Valley News recognizes individuals who have excelled in their career fields. The Inland Valley News is full of African Americans who have made a significant impact in their community and careers.

People love good food, especially good soul food. Many people have said that it is difficult to find soul food restaurants in the Inland Empire. Here’s the good news, there is a great soul food restaurant that sits in the heart of San Bernardino, right on the outskirts of California State University San Bernardino. Daddy Joe’s has a variety of different entrees, including barbeque, seafood and chitterlings (a Deep South specialty).

Daddy Joe’s Soul Food Take Out was opened in February 2010 by Dr. Robert Bolton, Head Chef. “It was a gift. I didn’t have plans on opening up a restaurant,” Dr. Bolton stated when asked what motivated him to start a restaurant. A portion of the restaurant proceeds go towards First Chance Ychow Inc., which provides outreach education on subjects which HIV/AIDS prevention.

The name Daddy Joe’s originated from Bolton’s grandfather who built homemade barbeque pits. Daddy Joes has a team of 12 who prepare and cook each meal from scratch. The menu includes just about every soul food item that you could think of; such as: macaroni and cheese, tilapia, wings, ribs, chicken, greens, ghetto baked beans, potato salad, ox tails, shrimp, chitterlings, corn bread, cabbage and a variety of desserts from red velvet cake, peach cobbler and a host of others. Each dessert is prepared by Shaniece Lancaster, Assistant Chef and Head Baker.

“We have a variety of southern inspired cakes,” Lancaster said. “Be sure to get the peach cobbler while you can because it sells on a daily basis.”

The chefs at Daddy Joe’s ensure that each customer is satisfied by preparing each meal how the customer wants it. “Our food is made fresh to order. It is healthy and delicious,” Dr. Bolton said.

For those who have aspirations of becoming a chef or if you just want to freshen up on your cooking skills, Daddy Joe’s offers cooking classes.. You start off by learning the basics from making macaroni and cheese to working your way up and learning how to clean and fix chitterlings. You decide how many classes you want to take and for how long. Each class meets for at least an hour.

In the future, Dr. Bolton plans on expanding Daddy Joe’s to a sit-down restaurant where there will be a soul food buffet on one side and then tables to sit down and eat on the other side. He also wants to have a Daddy Joe’s restaurant in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Las Vegas, New Mexico, Moreno Valley, and any other major city. Also look out for Cooking with Daddy Joe on YouTube.

Daddy Joe’s also has a catering service, “No job is too big or too small,” Bolton said. Place your catering order in at least a week to a month prior to your event. If you would like more information on catering, cooking classes or for a complete menu, please visit www.daddyjoessoulfood.com.

Feel free to stop by the restaurant on your way from work or school, Tuesday-Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Daddy Joe’s is located at 1357 Kendall, Suite 13, San Bernardino, CA. 92407. Be sure to bring a copy of this article for 10% off.