Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari elevates coastal Indian dishes by presenting them in beautiful dishware and colorful, contrast-heavy sauces.  From their oversized dosas to gold-leaf topped scallops, it’s always fun to shoot with the Kanyakumari crew because I know they’ll be dishing something playful and fun to shoot.

Kancil

When shooting in restaurants, I’m often forced to use the environment of the space to capture the food but occasionally I’ll use backgrounds, such as these colorful cardboard stocks that the chef of Kancil insisted I use - which actually gave the dishes a bit of a brightness the space didn’t provide.

The Crane Club

The Crane Club is in a bit of a historical location, as it had previous beloved restaurant incarnations that were beloved, including Al Coro and Del Coro. The restaurant, operated by the Tao Group, lends itself to a bit of a classy party vibe. These photos were taken for The Infatuation’s review.

Laut

A restaurant usually starts firing the dishes a few minutes after I arrive to ensure that they look fresh upon my arrival, but sometimes the dishes can hold up under time and will look good for some time even after they’re prepared. When I arrived for our two-hour photoshoot at Laut, there were close to a dozen dishes waiting for me and the rest came out like a factory line. As I only had a limited time to shoot 40 dishes, I had to move through them quickly but still give each plate a unique sort of look.

Beef Bar

Founded in Monaco, the opulent Beef Bar caters to those looking for steak or more, with cuts costing upwards of $500 and presentations ranging from burgers to baos. These photos were created for web and social use.

Ambra

Beloved West Village institution Ambra serves Italian fare with colorful flare. From hosting a holiday Feast of the Seven Fishes to hand made pastas, restaurants like this one tend to stick around for awhile.

Shaw-Nae's House

Shawn-Nae’s House, in Staten Island, serves up soul food with a ton of soul. Their chicken wings are coated in marshmallow fluff and their fish is deep fried whole. The home cooking vibe permeates its atmosphere which feels like a knickknack filled living room.

Kyma

With multiple destinations in NYC, Kyma delivers Greek food and cocktails with an air of sophistication. Their enormous Hudson Yards location features multiple private dining rooms and a large white slab marble bar.

Bar Moga

After a stellar trip to Japan, one of my first shoots back in the city was at Bar Moga, a Japanese cocktail bar with accompanying bites. When I was in Japan, I had noticed the popularity of a rice stuffed omelette that I didn’t get to try but luckily it was served at Bar Moga and I was fortunate enough to savor a bite.

Cauldron Chicken

Cauldron Chicken was photographed for an Infatuation review which featured the pull-apart spicy chicken which is served with gloves to prevent patrons from burning their hands. For a shoebox-sized location in Greenwich Village, the space manages to serve up plenty of heat.

Raoul's

Raoul’s gets a nice line up every day as they provide a limited amount of their signature burger on a first-come first-serve basis. The Soho restaurant also serves up French cuisine which is reflected in its peppercorn-laden burger.

Sailor

Sailor is a very successful spot on a quiet corner in Brooklyn, from the team behind Joseph Leonard. The space almost feels like being in a glass-bottom boat in that there are mirrors and glass everywhere you look.

Jean's

Jean’s has a club downstairs, but upstairs feels just as much as clubby and night-time geared as an space. Jumping on the french-dip craze, Jean’s provides sandwiches, entrees and all sorts of foods that can be paired with/without a martini.

Ensenada

As someone who used to live in Williamsburg and frequent the former Black Flamingo, it was exciting to see the space reshape as Ensenada, a refreshing Mexican corner-spot that serves tasty and beautiful ceviches, aguachiles and other bright plates.

Cafe Chelsea

After years of being closed, the renovated Chelsea Hotel returned with a bang, and it’s restaurant Cafe Chelsea delivers on the experience of a classic French brasserie with traditional and new twists on menu items, like the delicious Maitake au Poivre, pictured below.

Sappe

I’ve been fortunate enough to shoot at Sappe a few times, and they have a very strong aesthetic that translates between their space and their food, transporting diners to a Thailand of a bygone past.

City Island Pizza Company

North of the city and east into the river is the City Island Pizza Company which I captured for The Infatuation. With it’s somewhat nautical themed design, and core selection of red-sauce pizza joints, CIPC delivers a unique experience in an island overrun with fish fries.

Cocktails On Fire

One of the current 50 Best Bars in the World, Mace, hosted an event, Cocktails on Fire, featuring renowned bartenders Shannon Mustipher, Dale DeGroff and David Wondrich, who all produced different drinks involving flames. The three also have collaborated with Mace parent-company Cocktail Kingdom, for whom I have also shared photos.

Fanny's

Bloomfield, NJ’s Fanny’s has a colorful palate of drinks and red-sauce powered food, with a sophisticated twist. The interiors, completed by Olivia Jane Design, were what brought me to shoot this space, but the restaurant utilized my food photography abilities as well.

Cena Dou

In the tree-laden hills of North Salem, NY is a wonderful French bistro, Cena Dou, which features fews of the hilly vistas and all sorts of seasonal-driven French cuisine. These photos were used for the launch of the restaurant and remain as marketing collateral.