Today we’d like to introduce you to Ericka Fizer.
Hi Ericka, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Ericka Fizer is not just a chef; she is a tapestry of passion, commitment, and resilience. At the helm of Roasted Nashville, Chef E infuses every dish with love, expertise, and a deep connection to her East Nashville roots. Her culinary journey, spanning over two decades, is marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a desire to express her unique culinary voice.
Being raised by a mother who battled addiction, this lifestyle often led to Ericka and her six siblings were often home alone. It was during these times that Ericka had to become creative in order to care for her siblings. She created entire meals from ingredients and items that may have been in the house. This cultivated her creative spins on many dishes that Chef E curates today.
Since the age of 16 years old, Ericka has always been employed in the hospitality industry. She began working in fast food, later stepping into the world of serving. While taking a break from serving, she began to explore her options as a bartender. Although she loved bartending, feeding the masses was always her true passion. She decided it was now time to elevate her career so she began Status Event Catering. After a few years of catering, this journey culminated in the creation of Roasted Nashville (formerly known as Roasted Salemtown), a restaurant that embodies her vision of providing healthy, flavorful food that nurtures both the body and soul.
As a loving mother and wife, Ericka finds parallels between nurturing her family and her business. Her leadership style is authentic and hands-on, driven by a commitment to transparency, passion, and community. She is an advocate for continuous learning and
encourages those around her to pursue their dreams with courage and integrity.
Roasted Nashville, which began its journey in September of 2022, is the realization of Ericka’s dream. It is a place where every plate tells a story of resilience, community, and a celebration of flavors. Ericka’s passion extends beyond the kitchen to the heart of her community, where she actively gives back through food drives, mentorship programs, and support initiatives. Her culinary creations aim to transform ordinary days into memorable experiences, inspired by the profound joy of bringing people together around food.
Ericka draws inspiration from several sources, including the transformative power of food, the lessons of love and legacy imparted by her grandmother, and a steadfast commitment to breaking generational curses. She is dedicated to building a legacy of health, prosperity, and unity, not just for her own family but for the broader community. In every endeavor, Ericka carries with her a mission to change narratives, create opportunities, and inspire future generations to dream bigger and aim higher.
2. It has been anything, but easy. On March31,2024 during Easter Brunch at Roasted, a gunman opened fire inside of the restaurant killing one person and wounding six others, including Chef E. She was the first to be struck as she instinctively rushed to shield patrons who were near the altercation.
In the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, Roasted’s doors were closed for eight months. Chef E had poured her heart into creating a place where our community could gather, feel safe, and be unapologetically yourself. In a matter of seconds, that sanctuary was ripped away.
After months of healing and intensive therapy, Chef E was given the opportunity to re-open, only this time in a bigger and better location. With very little funds, she walked into a turn key building and began the difficult, but determined work of rebuilding her legacy.
3. Roasted Nashville (formerly Roasted Salemtown) opened its doors in August 2022. What began as a small on-the-go health food concept soon evolved into something much greater. One weekend, Chef E decided to offer brunch and it was an instant hit! The demand for her soulful, creative brunch menu grew so rapidly that Roasted soon began serving brunch all week long.
What truly sets us apart is our deep love for the community and our guests. At Roasted, every customer is treated like family. We take our time to learn our guests, understand them and make them feel seen, loved and appreciated. Our team is passionate about what they do, and that genuine joy spills over into every plate that we serve.
From a brand perspective, Chef Eis most proud of her resilience. Despite the many challenges-launching the business, navigating the hardships, and later re-opening with minimal resources, Roasted has not only survivied, but thrived. The unwavering love and support from the community carried us through our most difficult days.
Chef E also takes great pride in creating a space where people can show and be their full authentic selves. Our motto is “changing your mood with food” and we proudly stand on that. Roasted is more than just a restaurant. It is an experience.
In addition to our dine-in restaurant service, we run a to-go location where you can pick your food up. That same location also offers delivery service through UberEats and DoorDash so you can have Roasted delivered to your front door or at work. We also operate a full service catering department offering everything from corporate catering events to private chef services. For your last minute needs, we even provide a Two Hour On Demand catering option, making us a true one stop shop for all of your culinary needs. Roasted is truly here for you in every way that matters.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been easy at all. On March 31, 2024, Easter Sunday, during brunch at Roasted around 3pm, a gunman opened fire inside the restaurant, killing one person and wounding 6 others, including Chef E. She was the first person hit as she attempted to save kids who were near the altercation. As a result of this tragedy, the doors to Roasted were closed for seven months. Chef E worked tirelessly to create a safe space for us to be able to go and be unapologetically black, but it was all ripped away from the community in an instant with this senseless act.
After seven months, intense therapy, Chef E was given the opportunity to re-open in a bigger and better location. She took the last monies she had to walk into a turn-key building and begin to rebuild her legacy.
We’ve been impressed with Roasted Nashville, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Roasted Nashville (formerly Roasted Salemtown), opened in August 2022. It originally began as an on the go health food restaurant. One day Chef E came up with the idea to offer brunch on the weekends. It was a hit! The demand for her brunches quickly increased and soon she was offering brunch all week long. Our love for our community and customers sets us apart from most. We treat each guest as family. They are not just a number to us. We learn our guests. We study them and make them feel the love. Our team members love their job and that spills over to our customers.
Brand wise Chef E is most proud of her resilience. Through all of the trials and tribulations she’s face with opening and then having to re-open the restaurant with very little to no funds, Roasted has prevailed. The love and support from the Nashville Community helped get us through our most challenging time. Chef E is also most proud of creating a space where you can come and be unapologetically yourself. Our motto is changing your mood with food.
We want people to know that Roasted is here for you in every sense of the word. We offer something for every customer. Wednesday-Friday we cater to the chill laid back crowd. On the weekends, we offer more of a day party vibe for those that love a lit brunch. We also have an entire catering department that offers everything from drop off to private chef services to corporate caterings. We also offer Two Hour On Demand catering for those last minute catering needs. We are a one stop shop for all you could want and need in a restaurant.
What are your plans for the future?
No big changes coming soon, but I have several different restaurant concepts in mind that I will begin working on soon. Stay tuned
Pricing:
- Two can dine for $55 Wed-Fri 10a-3p. It includes 2 entrees, four sides and a bottle of champagne.
- Happy Hour 4p-8p Wed-Fri. Half off the entire bar. Wings and Fries for $10. Quesadilla and Fries for $10. Catfish Bites and Fries for $10
- Brunch Special One entree and three sides for $35
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.roastednashville.com
- Instagram: Roasted-Nashville
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086653219958
- Other: www.roastedsalemtown.com/catering for our catering website
