Life is Service: Paul Chirico x Ideal's Sandwich and Grocery

“I’ve always had a deep love for nourishing people. At my core, I love to cook and prepare food—it’s never been about me, and I prefer it that way. While I can make one heck of a sandwich for you, you’ll find me eating an Uncrustable at home.

I’ve been working in and out of restaurants since I was 12 years old, and it’s given me a complicated relationship with the industry. I attended the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and had an internship of sorts at one of New York City’s top Michelin-starred restaurants. I accepted a full-time offer there and dropped out of school, not realizing at the time that working 80+ hours a week for $9 an hour was a fast track to burning out. It ran me straight into the dirt.

Eventually, I went back to school, studied information science, and started working in IT. It was fine, but in retrospect, it was a dark time in my life. Meanwhile, my brother was opening a bar in Charlotte, NC, and asked me to help out. That decision changed my life. Not long after, Ian, my best friend from the CIA program, called me with the idea for Ideal’s Sandwich and Grocery here in Durham. Suddenly, I was having flashbacks to when we dreamed up different restaurants, and here he was with the idea of making sandwiches—my top echelon of food.

Ideal’s allowed me to fall in love with cooking all over again. It speaks to the inner child in me and keeps me connected to my roots in New York. I always dreamed of being called ‘chef.’ I don’t think I deserve it yet—imposter syndrome is so real—but I know I’m on my way. I get to work with my best friend and feed people my favorite food. What more could I ask for?”

— Paul Chirico
Co-Founder: @idealsdurham

Photo series: Life is Service
Pt 6.
Photographed + Interviewed by: Jordan Abdur-Ra’oof @shotbyjbot

Location: Ideal’s Sandwich & Grocery 2108 Angier Ave, Durham, NC 27703