I say, old man! Where did you get that tie?Photo courtesy Esquire
Has it really come to this?
Maxim and
Esquire are going at it hammer and tongs to see who can print more ridiculous images of chefs as fashion models.
Esquire started it, with a never-to-be-forgotten Simon Hammerstein–David Chang tough-guy shoot. This year,
Maxim released its April spread early to get the jump on
Esquire, but both mags shared a few models (formerly known as chefs): Michael Psilakis of
Anthos, Neil Ferguson of
Allen and Delancey, and Craig Koketsu of
Park Avenue Winter. Psilakis, for his part, is even wearing similar suits in both spreads. (Did he leave the
Maxim refrigerator and head straight to his
Esquire lunch at
Insieme?) Other chefs of note in the shoot include Ben Chekroun, the elegant maître d' of
Le Bernardin, whom
we interviewed for Ask a Waiter back in the day;
San Domenico's affable wine director, Piero Trotta; and the boyish Wesley Genovart of
Degustation, tucking into a plate of duck and soba noodles. We give
Esquire the edge for shooting the dapper John McDonald at
Keens. Though he’s more of a bon vivant restaurateur than a chef, Johnny Mac is a quintessential
Esquire man.
Man’s Gotta Eat [Esquire]
Related: Chefs Put on Something a Little More Comfortable
When Chefs Play Dress-Up
