When I first started drawing restaurants, I never imagined it would one day take me to the heart of Philadelphia’s food scene. Or that the work would help raise money for a place as important as the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). But this spring, it did just that.
From April 29 to June 2, “The Art of Philly Dining” exhibition took over the walls of Gleaners Café in South Philly, showcasing 76 hand-drawn restaurant prints I’ve created of iconic Philadelphia eateries. Some were historic institutions. Others were neighborhood gems with deeply personal significance to the people who dine there. All were chosen with intention and drawn in my one-sitting, no-erasing style.
And for me, this show felt like something more: a love letter to a city with a rich culinary identity and a powerful sense of community.
I started the Philadelphia collection during the pandemic by drawing Fork. This contemporary American Old City eatery is known for its seasonal focus and eclectic wine list. In 2023, chef owner Ellen Yin was named “Outstanding Restauranteur” by the James Beard Foundation Awards, making it an even greater honor to return years after my first visit and have her sign a canvas print for the show.
On a later trip, during a Memorial Day soccer tournament for my daughter, I had the chance to draw Dalessandro’s Steaks and Hoagies. I briefly met the owner and misplaced her contact info. When you’re trying to draw all the restaurants in a city, it’s hard to keep track of everything! But that moment stayed with me. It was a quiet, ordinary memory that sparked something.
Since then, I’ve returned to Philly many times, often at the request of locals who wanted to see their favorite places brought to life in ink. It’s been a joy to meet so many passionate restaurant-goers and hear about the meals that shaped their lives.
Thanks to Steve and the team at Gleaners Café, we filled the space with 76 hand-drawn restaurant prints. The show was part gallery, part neighborhood gathering spot. People would walk in and light up when they saw their favorite corner bar, sandwich shop, or anniversary dinner destination on the wall.
Some prints were so popular we had multiple requests for them. Those additional orders will continue to benefit CHOP, a cause close to my heart.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this show was the series of seven prints co-signed by me and the chefs or owners of the featured restaurants. (All seven sold out during the event!) These chefs are some of the most acclaimed in the business and are all linchpins of the Philly dining scene:
Getting the canvases signed took some legwork: meeting chefs between services, coordinating visits. But every single one of them showed up with enthusiasm. Greg Vernick welcomed me before dinner service one afternoon. Jesse Ito had me sign prints right at the sushi bar. But one moment stands out above the rest.
Nok Suntaranon, the chef and owner of Kalaya, invited me into her home. We sat in her art-filled living room, chatted, and she shared her love for the drawing I’d made of her restaurant. Then she did something extraordinary: she offered $1,000 for her canvas print, with the full amount going to CHOP.
That moment — gracious, heartfelt, and generous — captured everything I had hoped this project would be about.
I was grateful for the attention the show received, too. Publications like The Philadelphia Inquirer, Eater Philly, and Philly Mag took notice, sharing the story with their audiences in either article or newsletter form.
It’s always gratifying to see this work resonate with others. But what sticks with me most about the event are the visitors. People who came in, saw a restaurant they recognized, and smiled because it reminded them of someone they love or a meal they cherish.
The success of this show affirmed something I’ve believed from the beginning: hand-drawn restaurant prints aren’t just art. They’re memory made visible. They’re a tactile way to hold onto a moment in time.
So, thank you to everyone who stopped by, bought a print, supported CHOP, or just said something kind during the event. (I’ll be back!)
If you missed the show, you can still browse the Philadelphia Collection here. And if your favorite Philly spot isn’t part of it yet, I’m always open to new suggestions or a commission to capture the place that means the most to you.
