For more than 18 years, Chef James Jones and his wife, Shawn, have filled the bellies of classic soul food and barbecue fans in Indianapolis. And for almost as long, the owners of His Place Eatery have dreamed of being featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
During NBA All-Star Weekend in February, host Guy Fieri slipped into town to initiate four Indy restaurants into the Triple D Life. The His Place Eatery episode – the last of the four to be featured on the show – will air at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11.
Fieri also visited Che Chori (aired on Aug. 2); Tlaolli (aired on Aug. 30); Pa and Ma’s Backyard Barbecue (aired on Oct. 4).
Chef Jones, who operates two His Place Eatery locations — one on the east side and one on the north side — talked to us about how the restaurants offer customers more than just great food.
What was your first reaction when you were contacted by the show?
It was surreal. Honestly, it had always been a dream of ours to be featured on the show — something we’d talked about since the early days of His Place Eatery. But even then, we were completely shocked when it actually happened.
What was your first impression of Guy Fieri?
He’s got this larger-than-life personality that you see on TV, but in person, he’s even more down-to-earth and genuine. From the moment he walked in, he was full of energy, cracking jokes and making everyone feel at ease.
What dishes did you make for the show?
Grandma Minnie Sue’s chicken & dumplings and collard green grilled cheese.
What was your favorite behind-the-scenes moment?
Getting to see the show producers and their team in action. It was like watching a well-oiled machine — everyone had their role, and they executed it flawlessly.
If you had one do-over, what would you do differently while the cameras were on?
It’s easy to get caught up in making sure everything is perfect — making sure the food looks just right. Looking back, I wish I had taken a step back to soak it all in and just relax and enjoy the moment a little more.
What’s one cool thing about your restaurant that people should know, that they might not catch while watching the show?
How much love and care goes into the entire experience, not just the food. While the show focuses on our signature dishes, we’ve worked hard to make the restaurant feel like home. We’re not just serving meals — we’re creating a sense of community.
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