Description
Photographer: Chris Floyd · 2001 · Les Halles, New York
Image details
I photographed Tony about a year after his book ‘Kitchen Confidential’ was published. These were taken at Les Halles on Park Avenue South. I didn’t know much about him. I had assumed that he was going to be some gobby big mouth with a book to sell. BUT.... within 5 minutes of meeting him I realised that this guy was special.
He had a warmth and a wit that was overwhelming, similar to when you meet great musicians, he was in tune with the universe. That’s what Tony was like. He projected an aura of wisdom. Food was the door through which he explored the human condition. The act of sitting down with another human being and breaking bread was a holy sepulchre where homo sapiens could gather common cause and unite. Of course, this whole belief system came to fruition with the TV shows he made - ‘No Reservations’ and ‘Parts Unknown’ - but those shows weren’t born in a vacuum.
They were made possible by what he had learned from years of working in kitchens and feeding people. The tyranny of brunch was a phrase I first learned from Tony. After that first time I went to Les Halles quite a lot. I never asked for special favours but every time I went there some part of the meal was comped. The food, the booze, the dessert. The waiter would say, “Oh this is from Tony!” I subsequently photographed him 3 or 4 more times. He always greeted me like an old friend, once calling me before we were due to meet at some joint in Chinatown: “Listen, all the good shit at this place is gone by 12:30, so meet me out front at 11.45 and don’t be late.”
A date with Tony was something to relish. The man had a hell of a soul. I miss that.”
All prints are made to order and supplied carefully packaged.
Signed and numbered by the photographer.
Printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag ® 340gsm.
Each image is printed with a white border accommodating signature and edition number.
Comes with a certificate of authenticity.
Available editions:
- 11" × 14" Limited Edition of 20, signed and numbered by the photographer
- 16" × 20" Limited Edition of 10, signed and numbered by the photographer
- 20" × 24" Limited Edition of 10, signed and numbered by the photographer
