To the Man behind the Brand, Happy Birthday!
Here’s my heart, ya’ll. My momma’s daddy. My Papa.
There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. The way the brim of his Kangol hat sat right above his eyebrows. The smell of his cologne with a hint of Kool menthol cigarettes when I went in for hugs. Our countless trips to White Castles in the mornings for breakfast sandwiches and his medium coffee: straight black, no sugar, no cream. Just like him.
Throughout the streets of Cincinnati, he was respectively known as Mr. Harrell. Only family and friends could call him Chico. Uncle Chico to his host of nieces, nephews and surrogate children. Daddy and Granddaddy to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Yet, I will always and forever refer to him as My Baby, someone whose presence has made such a great impression on my life. He is my motivation. He is the reason why Chico’s Cheesecakes exist.
My earliest memories of Papa set back to the days of sitting at his kitchen table. Mountains of ingredients laid out before us. We were preparing to create Strawberry Cheesecakes for our family and friends. His afternoon “stories”, All My Children or Guiding Light, provided the soundtrack for our baking time. Papa would have his cup of black coffee and I, a cup of orange juice. We were ready to begin.
Now, I just didn’t start out making the cheesecakes. Oh, no, no, no. At first, I was only designated to crack the dozens of eggs into a separate bowl. Eventually I graduated to the “human mixer”, stirring the cream cheese into the smooth creamy batter you all love today. Every weekend and even summer days, Papa and I would sit at his kitchen table making his signature Strawberry Cheesecake. As the years went by, I mastered every secret to making my Papa’s cheesecake and in honor of him, it is my pleasure to share with you a delicious piece of his legacy.
So to my Papa, when you look down upon us, I hope the only words that come across your mind are “Beautiful. Just Beautiful”.