It all began with a single church sermon about Jonah — a simple moment that sparked an idea, which grew into what is now Jonah’s fish & grits.

Like the prophet Jonah, my own journey has been anything but straight or easy.

Over two thousand years ago, God gave Jonah a clear calling, yet he ran in the opposite direction. When a great storm threatened his ship, Jonah knew the only hope was to be thrown into the sea.

But God, in His mercy, sent a great fish — not to punish Jonah, but to save him.

Inside that fish, Jonah’s life was transformed. His season of struggle renewed his faith, deepened his humility, and gave him the perseverance he needed to fulfill God’s purpose. Through that experience, Jonah was restored — and an entire city was saved.

In much the same way, my own storms have shaped me. Losing my mother, battling and surviving cancer, and living with the consequences of poor choices in college — each “whale” I faced brought me to a place of surrender, faith, and ultimately, purpose.

For years I worked in the food industry without ever imagining I’d open a restaurant of my own. But it was in those seasons of hardship and grace that Jonah’s fish & grits was born — not just as a place to eat, but as a place of redemption, restoration, and hope.

We all face storms. We all run at times. But no matter how far we go, there is always forgiveness and a way home through Jesus Christ.

My prayer is that your time here is about more than great food and friendly service — that you leave refreshed, encouraged, and reminded that God still redeems stories, one life at a time.

Caleb Brown, Founder