PAUL S. HEIM

PAUL

S. HEIM

lkn MEN!

Chef Paul grew up in Queens, New York, and after high school attended The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park— after which he jumped straight into the culinary world.

Now a private chef running his own upscale dining business, Chef Paul has helped open restaurants in NYC, Florida, and Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Elizabeth, met in a New York restaurant where they both worked and they have been together ever since.

Attending The Culinary Institute was an opportunity that Chef Paul has never taken for granted. It shaped him for the culinary world and introduced him to the vast array of cuisines and ingredients from around the globe. Cooking for others and seeing the joy on their faces has always been his fuel. It keeps him focused. It keeps him learning, growing, and seeking new ways to improve his craft.

“I treat cooking for others the same way I cook for myself,” Chef Paul smiles. “I use the best ingredients that I can source and this shows in the food that I create for my clients. I had quite a bit of exposure to Chinese, Japanese, and Middle Eastern ingredients growing up in Flushing, New York. And traveling to different countries in Europe and eating at the small local restaurants really showed me that simple can be outstandingly delicious.”

As a child, young Paul always enjoyed cooking with his mother and both of his grandmothers, which led to his interest in becoming a chef. “My first full-time job was when I was 16. It was in a pizzeria and I worked there all through high school. Ever since then serving quality, delicious food has been a very strong passion of mine.”

Both of Paul’s parents have been great inspirations for him and have been an incredible support system as well. They taught him to believe in himself, always persevere, and never give up: “I’ve received an immeasurable amount of support from them and am truly grateful for this. By words and by example, they inspire me daily to always follow my dreams and not those of others … do what makes you happy and be great at it. Never settle for less than your absolute best. Spend your time being the best person that you can be and do not waste time with the negativity or persuasions of others when they do not understand. Stay true to yourself.” w

SALT CHEF EVENTS mint hill