BY JULIA MORO
An independent photographer
from Queens has recently
released a collection
of photos and stories from
chefs who have overcome
difficulties brought on by
the pandemic.
For the past year, Drew
Kerr traveled around the
borough to photograph
chefs, asking each person
to pose with a significant
object in their kitchen or
restaurant. Kerr, who grew
up in Flushing and Howard
Beach, started the project
in February 2021 and was
originally inspired by the
perseverance of the food industry
during the COVID-19
pandemic.
“I’m looking for pictures
that show joy; I’m not here
to show sadness,” Kerr said.
“I’m here to show that these
people came through. They
love what they’re doing and
they have fun with these objects.
I wanna bring people
up.”
Kerr’s website, Queens
Chef Project, compiles the
photos of 50 chefs and their
chosen, meaningful objects.
In addition to playful photos
of the chefs, the website also
shares their personal stories
along with audio and video
of them explaining their
craft.
Alejandro Osorio from
Arepa Lady in Jackson
Heights tells the story of his
mother immigrating to New
York City from Colombia 25
years ago. She started the
famous food cart and Osorio
took over to open the brickand
mortar shop in 2014.
Osorio and his wife are photographed
with a flour measuring
cup that his mother
used for as long as he could
remember.
“It’s not like they grew
up and went to go work at
a restaurant, but somehow
fate intervened and they end
up there,” Kerr said. “People
have found their way into
this business which they’ve
come to love.”
Kerr said that he loved
being able to picture chefs
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.4 COM | FEB. 11 - FEB. 17, 2022
in a different light, especially
after surviving the
pandemic which he knew
was such an emotional time
for them.
“I’ve managed to persuade
them to do funny, unconventional
things with
their objects,” Kerr said.
“The spirit of this is fun.”
Kerr pointed out one
photo that stood out to him
of Ardian Skenderi from
Taverna Kyclades in Astoria
that shows him holding up a
fish and laughing.
“Here are these chefs who
are usually taken so seriously
having so much fun,” Kerr
said. “There are moving stories
there but also photos
and comments that are just
really fun.”
According to Kerr, the
takeaway of this project is
that there is a lot of ingenuity
and love in the Queens
food industry that has
helped all of these restaurants
remain open during
the pandemic.
“What are the odds of 51
restaurants over the course
of one year, with everything
going on, still open and
thriving,” Kerr said. “This
project shows that there’s
not just the resilience but
there’s more than what’s
served on a plate.”
The project has been
sponsored by Queens Together
and Queens Economic
Development Corporation
and has received support
from popular Queens-based
food writer Joe DiStefano.
Queens photographer shows appreciation
for restaurant industry during pandemic
Ardian Skenderi from Taverna Kyclades, located at 33-07 Ditmars
Blvd. in Astoria. Courtesy of Drew Kerr
$3,200 per month