Freeport's Bobby Ford combines careers in policing and soul food

Freeport resident Bobby Ford combines his two passions of serving the community as a respected police officer and serving up delicious soul food at his restaurants in town.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Ford’s love for cooking was inspired by his talented mother, who instilled a passion in him for soul food at a young age. He would often help her in the kitchen, and as he grew older, he began experimenting with his own recipes and perfecting his cooking skills.

Ford never let his passion for cooking interfere with his dream-turned duty to serve and protect the community as a police officer. Growing up in Brooklyn, he saw firsthand the challenges faced by many inner-city communities and felt a calling to make a difference.

He was a New York City police officer for over 11 years, working his way up to detective covering all five boroughs. Despite the challenges he faced in his work, Ford never saw it as difficult and always felt a sense of purpose in helping others.

“I don’t believe that I looked at the job as hard,” Ford said. “The magnitude of what you’ve been exposed to wasn’t really apparent at that time and you’re just learning a lot of things about yourself, about how it is that you can fit in society, and how it is that you can contribute to make things better.”

Ford decided to move to Long Island to be closer to his family and became a valuable asset to the Freeport Police Department. 

Since then, he has served the community for nearly 20 years and is a well-known figure in the area, even involving himself in community endeavors with the Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club and serving as executive director of the local Police Athletic League. 

Ford believes that while the volume of criminal activity may be less in Freeport than in the city, crime is always going to be present. 

“It’s the volume of the activity that is the main difference,” Ford said. “Crime is everywhere. It’s always going to be everywhere, but the volume in which it occurs, changes.”

While Ford’s work as a police officer in the community is his top priority, he never lost his passion for cooking, which gives him a connection to his mother and family. 

In 2017, he turned his passion for cooking into a business opening his own barbecue restaurant in Freeport called Bobby Q’s at 447 N. Main St.

Ford’s inspiration for the restaurant comes from his memories of growing up in a family of nine children where his mother taught all of them how to cook. He believes cooking is a way for him to connect with his past while ensuring his family remains close. 

The menu features classic dishes passed down from his mother and are a staple in his family that continue to bring comfort and joy to customers.

“Sometimes you have to hunker down and hone your craft, to make sure that you provide the best possible product, and people are going to enjoy it,” Ford said. “It’s not a case of being the best, as much as it is making sure that people are satisfied.”

Although Ford has made some adjustments to the recipes to better suit the tastes of his customers and offer more alternative options such as vegan-friendly dishes, the core flavors remain unchanged.

For Ford, these dishes serve as a way to keep his mother’s memory alive. He is grateful for the opportunity to share her cooking with others and is proud to continue her legacy through his restaurants.

In January, Ford opened up the second location of his soul food restaurant at 365 W. Sunrise Hwy titled “Bobby Q’s Just Like Mama’s”

The two soul food establishments, while offering nearly identical menus, cater to distinct needs within the community. The original location was limited in space, rendering it suitable only for takeout, while the new restaurant has been designed to offer a comfortable dining experience.

“With the takeout location, customers can enjoy the food from the comfort of their own homes, and with the sit-down location, they can come and enjoy a full dining experience,” Ford said.

Ford said his day-to-day schedule is quite hectic, as he balances both his work as a police officer and running his restaurants. He starts his day as early as 6 a.m. preparing for his shift at the police department.

When he is not at the police department or patrolling the streets, Ford can be found at his restaurants where he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the business. He often finds that due to the long hours and hard work in the kitchen after his day job, some nights he doesn’t go to sleep until 3 a.m. Despite all this, Ford enjoys every moment of it.

Regarding his busy year-round schedule, Ford wouldn’t have it any other way. He is proud of the work that he does as a police officer and a chef and feels that both of his careers are a true reflection of who he is.

“In life, we’re all constantly being presented challenges and obstacles,” Ford said. “What they are is a form of manifestation, a way for you to rise up and get around certain things and be the better version of yourself.”