Conversations with Oscar Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Oscar Johnson.

Hi Oscar, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today. 
I’m Oscar Johnson; I was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia. In 2010, I relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, to attend culinary school at Johnson and Wales University, where I received my degrees in culinary arts and food service management. From there, I went on to work at several fast-casual restaurants, hotels, and some of the nation’s most distinguished country clubs. Having the opportunity to train under two master chefs during my time in country clubs really shaped my career as a chef and taught me so much about leadership and organization. In 2018, I joined Chef Greg Collier at Loft & Cellar and eventually became his sous chef at the Uptown Yolk shortly after. Fast forward to 2020, my partner Daryl Cooper, aka “Coop,” started Jimmy Pearls as a pop-up, then a food truck, and finally to now where we’re in a small business incubator space inside of the Market at 7th St in Uptown Charlotte. Our food is a reflection of Chesapeake & Tidewater cuisine and family traditions. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road for me as a chef. It’s a tough task trying to manage personal life and career objectives. That’s been the hardest part for me. Missing family functions that I’ve been used to being in attendance for, disconnecting from friends because of the demands of the workplace, and investing time and money into starting a new business was a challenge as well. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I like to consider myself as a craftsman. Creating memorable food is my passion; using my hands to make food from my childhood, along with techniques that I’ve learned over the years, all make me who I am. It’s a mixture of the matriarchal hands of my family and skills of a classically trained chef that one will get when they try my food. 

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something interesting about me is that I’m a big kid and like to watch all of my favorite Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network shows when I get home from 14-hour workdays. I also eat 4 different rice dishes in one week; I loove rice. It can be fried rice, arroz con pollo, jollof, or steamed rice with some veggies, sauce, and fried egg. You can count me in for anything simple and nostalgic. 

Contact Info:

• Website: jimmypearls.com
• Instagram: chef_oscar_j
• Facebook: Oscar Johnson

Image Credits
Jonathan Cooper
Ryan Allen
Cookies for Kids Cancer