Park Hill Chefs, what’s in a name?

Park Hill Deli Circa 1975 Queens, NY

Every few months someone asks me why my company is named Park Hill Chefs. They sometimes ask me if its the name of a Town or may ask “Where is Park Hill.”

  Well the inspiration behind the name was a Deli that my family owned in New York. The deli was Park Hill Deli and I guess was named that way because it was in Floral Park, Queens and on Hillside Ave. I took the name in honor of my Dad who is the inspiration behind my work ethic and taught me a lot about the business side of cooking. Being  a self employed Chef, means being more then knowing how to cook!

 Looking back at the days in the deli brings back many memories to me. As I said it was a family run business and many family members worked there at one time or another. Some only for a a few weeks, others for many years. From siblings, to aunts and uncles to cousins, to the kid down the block who was my “brother from another mother” it was truly a family affair.

 It was those memories that carried over when I was looking for the  inspiration on naming my business, I knew it would involve hard work and some abstract qualities  to help it grow,  By naming it Park Hill Chefs, I knew that those memories would help move me forward.

 I chose today to write about this since it is the 20th anniversary of my Dad’s passing. I can’t believe that its been that long,, it seems like just yesterday he was showing me tips and tricks in the Deli and what it takes to be successful in life.

 Here’s to you Dad, when I think of Park Hill Chefs I think of the Deli, and of course of you.

Chef Rob