Their way of expressing themselves, from clothing to overall body language, are urban, yet hearing them speak of their lives, from their passion for telling stories through food to their appreciation for art, one immediately realizes that there is a lot more to these guys than the typical narrative attributed to black men from communities like the ones in which they grew up.
Growing up in an urban city, Newark, NJ, I realize how powerful this is — the idea that you can make it out of the hood without rapping or playing a sport. There are other pathways to making it in America. Young urban youth from communities like Newark or the Bronx can also be world-class chefs, artists, entrepreneurs, architects and curators. These interviews were recorded as Armstrong, an acclaimed young artist, former member of the Coast Guard and a friend of Ghetto Gastro, painted portraits of each collective member, asking them questions about their lives during his painting process.
Alvin Armstrong — Pierre, how did you and Jon meet? Pierre Serrao— He and I were neighbors. We met in the gym. We developed a relationship as friends for a couple years before we got into business together. AA — You were working in the kitchen at that time? PS — I was doing a lot of private work at that time. I had my own company. I was doing events and things along those lines. I had clients in Central Park, and clients with big yachts in south Florida.
I had left restaurants maybe a year or so before. I was tired of that grind. PS— But yeah, we were homies before we actually got into business together. AA — My favorite dish that I had from you guys is definitely the caviar with the cornbread.
What else is on that one? That shit was so fire. I had that at Basel two years ago. AA— Did you guys come up with that collectively? How does that work? PS— All three of us work on our signature dishes. Ideas get tossed around. Conversations are had, and then we go to the lab and cook up and create. These are ways that we continue to refine the craft. AA — These joints be quick, but they be fire. I just love the speed of it. Like today, being able to do three portraits really quick in one session is why I like it so much.
