The world lost an incredible man last week, and for some of y'all in the New Orleans restaurant/food scene, maybe you had the pleasure of knowing him. Bob was the owner of Northshore Deli Provisions, the main Boar's Head purveyor down here.
When I tell you that talking to him was the highlight of my work week, I am not exaggerating. He was a feisty born and bred Jersey boy who moved down here years ago (I want to say 40 years). I knew we'd get along because on the first call I had, there was no "hi how are you, how can I help you etc". It was a brash "what do you want". I was smitten.
He was 80 YEARS OLD and still working every day. Sometimes he'd even come with deliveries ("you never say no to a woman, especially one who scares you a little" , he'd tell me if I asked for an emergency delivery after my fuck up). I'd yell at him for trying to unload cases off the truck and not let me help. He'd shoo me away and say "don't touch my stuff" with his lil arthritis pointer finger shoved in my face.
Whenever I asked him about retiring or maybe not doing heavy labor at 80 he'd say "I love doing this, what else could I ask for".
So, when I got the call that he unexpectedly passed last week, I was devastated. Francolini's wouldn't exist without Bob. I am forever grateful for him helping us get off the ground, especially in our popup days when we had no idea how to order, or just what we were doing in general.
In his honor, our Chicken Parm will be named "The Bob" going forward now, because it was his favorite. Only so, however, because he was so goddamned stubborn that he refused to try any other sandwich. "I like what I like. I don't need to try anything else."
Whatever you want Bob. We 💚 you.