Jameatown,NY
Jamestown’s Andy Palermo is a man of many talents, finding his creative calling in both the kitchen and behind the camera lens. With over two decades of culinary experience and a growing passion for photography, Andy has made a lasting impact on the local community through his work and dedication to his craft. From his early roots learning family recipes to discovering therapy through photography, his path showcases a deep appreciation for life and the arts.
Andy grew up in Jamestown and found an interest in cooking at a young age. “I watched my dad cook dinner, and I was intrigued,” explains Andy. “I learned my way around the kitchen and with my Sicilian Italian background, enjoyed learning family recipes. My dad and my grandmother were huge influences on me going into culinary.”
Andy studied Liberal Arts receiving an Associate in Science Degree from Jamestown Community College. He then received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University in Bloomington and ultimately earned his Culinary Certificate in Denver, Colorado, at Johnson and Wales University. After working in Denver for a few years, Andy moved back to the Jamestown area where he worked in the food service industry for over 20 years. “I’ve been a grill cook, a sous chef, a head chef and a line cook,” explains Andy. “I’ve learned a lot about different facets of food service in these roles that helped me further my career.”
Upon moving back to the Jamestown area, Andy began working at Olives in Mayville and helped the restaurant transition into the Chautauqua Suites Hotel. “It was a standalone restaurant at that time,” explains Andy. “The moving process enlightened me and helped me realize all the literally moving parts of a restaurant; I jumped in with two feet and started learning early what it takes to really run a restaurant. We started with around 100 seats as a standalone restaurant and expanded to 200 seats plus banquet facilities. It was an exciting process.”
Andy furthered his culinary career as a head chef at Ironstone in Jamestown, which was in the same corporation as Olive’s restaurant. “It is an absolutely beautiful location in an old building,” explains Andy. “I was fortunate to work with one of my best friends, Mike Osgood, as bar manager at Ironstone. We worked really well together and were able to do some amazing things.”
Recently, Andy has taken a step back in his culinary career in order to find a pace that best fits his current lifestyle. He is still involved in the food service industry in the deli at Farm Fresh Foods in Jamestown. “I enjoy staying active in the community and creating masterpieces in the deli,” laughs Andy. “I needed to slow down and this suits the pace of my life right now.”
This career change has opened up Andy’s schedule and mind to new hobbies, including photography. “I feel fortunate to have found a hobby that is also my happy place,” explains Andy. “Photography allows me to slow down, take in my surroundings and be truly present in the moment. I re-energize and kind of meditate as I take photos. It’s free therapy for me.”
Andy enjoys photographing landscaping, nature and buildings among other subject matters. “A camera is really a time machine in our hands,” explains Andy. “We have the amazing ability to capture a moment in time and return to it, essentially transporting us back to this memory. It’s incredibly powerful, not only for special occasions and milestone events, but for landscapes and buildings as well. We take on a new perspective through the camera lens, and capture an angle. We can also return to these photographs to view how our surroundings have changed. Not everything will be around forever, and we have an artistic way to capture it. It’s a powerful way to reflect.”
One of Andy’s favorite places in Long Point State Park in Bemus Point. “I love coming here by myself. It’s so beautiful; the lake is gorgeous. Photography is an artistic expression but it’s also incredibly therapeutic for me.
Andy is proud to be a part of the arts community in Jamestown and finds inspiration in his fellow artists. “For the size of Jamestown, there is so much talent in the arts,” explains Andy. “Whether it’s the stage, drawing portraits, painting landscapes, or transforming repurposed material into art, I’m always taken aback at the creativity of the artists in our community. Jamestown has strong roots in the arts and performance, and even while we have our struggles, at the core of our community is strong, good, hardworking people that care about Jamestown and care about each other.”
Recently, Andy participated in a gallery showing at the Lakewood Memorial Library with photographer Lisa Schmidtfreick. “It was a privilege to be showcased with Lisa; she is an absolutely insanely talented as a photographer. I’ve always admired Lisa and it was a wonderful, full circle moment to be together at the event.”
For more information and to view Andy’s work follow on Facebook @Andy Palermo and Third Eye Photography.