Category Archives: food

Attend Guiltless Gourmet for a Healthy Harlem, an event to help stop hunger

Melba
According to a news release by Beth-Hark Christian Counseling Center (BHCCC), there is an estimated 1.4 million New York City residents who are food insecure and rely on the city’s network of emergency food organizations. BHCCC hopes to VanKline223raise $20,000 through their second annual Guiltless Gourmet for a Healthy Harlem Celebrity Food Tasting and Silent Auction. Funds raised will help the organization keep pace with an increasing demand for emergency food services driven by food insecurity. Guiltless Gourmet for A Healthy Harlem takes place Friday, March 22 at Harlem’s Gran Piatto d’Oro on Fifth Avenue and brings together the celebrity chef triumvirate of Melba’s Melba Wilson (Food Networks’ former Fat Chef), Kimberly Van Kline of Passion for Palate Catering and Ronaldo Calle of Gran Piatto d’Oro.

Guiltless Gourmet for a Healthy Harlem will open with a VIP Reception/Chef Rolando2_smallerMeet and Greet followed by Food Tasting and Silent Auction. Guests will sample a range of celebrity chef gourmet delights from appetizers to main dishes and bid on auction items from jewelry to vacations with starting bids as low as $50. Two-tiered priced Guiltless Gourmet tickets are $65.00 for Food Tasting and Auction. The $75.00 tickets include admission to the Guiltless Gourmet VIP event. Tickets can be purchased at God’s Answer Bookstore and BHCCC offices co-located at Bethel Gospel Assembly, Inc. BHCCC is the social services arm of Bethel Gospel Assembly, Inc. For more information visit www.bethharkccc.org.

1Forno Pizzeria in Harlem joins the red awning club

20130310-225519.jpg
Most of the Harlem businesses love the color red when it comes to their outdoor awnings with signage, such as Red Rooster Harlem, Harlem Food Bar, Cedric French Bistro, etc. 1Forno Pizzeria at 135 West 116th Street near Lenox Avenue decided to do the same and has installed a big bright red awning with their logo, phone number and address. I walked by the pizza place yesterday (March 10) and noticed the signage. I also noticed in the new awning the Harlem pizza place goes by the name 1Forno Pizzeria, instead of Il Forno.

If you haven’t tried a pie or a slice of pizza from 1Forno on 116th Street, give it a try. I order from them all the time and love that one can create their own toppings from a varied list of toppings! 1Forno also gets good reviews on Yelp. See contact details below.

1Forno Pizza Harlem​
135 w 116th St
New York, NY 10026
212- 222- 3030

20130310-225607.jpg

Harlem locals invest in where they live, The Grange Bar & Eatery coming to Harlem’s Hamilton Heights

272685_108468342656296_171968014_o
I love it when readers write in to tell us another set of Harlem locals are opening up a business right where they live, such as Harlem Tavern, Yatenga and more. Rita Royer-Henley and Roy Henley have been living in Harlem’s Hamilton Heights area for more than eight years and they’re the couple behind The Grange Bar & Eatery, which will be a farmer’s kitchen bistro and bar located right in the heart of West Harlem, Hamilton Heights– at 1635 Amsterdam Ave (Corner of 141st st) to be exact. Opening date is set for mid-April-May 2013

Guests of The Grange Bar & Eatery will be able to enjoy comfort food made in a 2350 sq ft, 75 seat setting with local produce and organic seasonal ingredients when possible, according to the Henley’s. The bar plans to provide “a mixology-driven selection of balanced cocktails.” “We want to go beyond the traditional cocktail and move away from those overly sweet and overpowering drinks. To do so, we will be incorporating in-house naturally pressed juices, herbs and bitters,” says the Henley’s. “We want to feature and support spirits from local small and artisan distilleries from all across the country.”

As for beer and wine, The Grange Bar & Eatery plans on using a 16-Draft Beer system, which is 80 percent craft beers and 20 percent traditional beers; seasonal beers included. The wine will be a balanced selection of international as well as local wines. Overall, guests should plan on “picturing themselves in a farmer’s country kitchen,” says the Henley’s. Oh, and The Grange Bar & Eatery plans on having outdoor seating, subject to City approval.

Out of all the many places in Harlem to open a business, I asked the Henley’s why Hamilton Heights? “We have been living in Hamilton Heights for a combined 8 years and have witnessed how much this beautiful section of Harlem has changed and grown especially in the last 5 years. We soon discovered out of our own need to have more places to go to that were within walking distance. We believe so much in this [part of Harlem]. “We are thrilled to make this happen and setting the standard for this portion of Amsterdam Ave that has so much potential in becoming the next restaurant row in Harlem.”

Congrats to the Henley’s on the opening of The Grange Bar & Eatery in Harlem’s Hamilton Heights. To learn more about the upcoming establishment, go to their Facebook page.

Wanna work at Harlem Shake? Yes, the real Harlem Shake

Interested in working at the real Harlem Shake in Harlem on 124th and Lenox? Here’s the lowdown. Harlem Shake will be doing their hiring through a NY Job Bank. It’s part of a NY state program. Prospective employees may contact Ms. Jai Popat at jpopat@grantassociatesinc.com for more information on job listings and details on sending job applications, starting on or around March 21st, which is coming up soon!

So there you have it. If you wanna work at Harlem Shake, you have the scoop! Good luck to those applying!

20130308-084322.jpg

Harlem’s Seasoned Vegan aiming to open by April, menu available online

20130305-111806.jpg
Did anyone notice that Seasoned Vegan in Harlem did not open in February? They were hoping to open Feb. 23, but couldn’t cause they’re still waiting on a few more permits to be cleared. Not surprised. This kind of stuff happens all the time with new restaurants. From what I hear Seasoned Vegan, which will be on the corner of St. Nicholas Ave and West 113th Street (55 St Nicholas Avenue), plans to open by April. That’s not that far away!

In the mean time, Seasoned Vegan does have their website up and running. Check it out. They have their menu on display as well so that when they do open, we will be ready and will know what to order.

Don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to the opening of Seasoned Vegan in Harlem! Stay tuned!
20130305-111700.jpg

Tweet of the Week: Have you dined at Harvist Harlem?

20130228-115742.jpg

20130228-115759.jpg
In this weeks Tweet of the Week, I’m singling out followers @leagoldman, @nikkimmascali and @iamjcrack who recently asked: have you dined at Harvist Harlem? If so, how was it?

Answer: yes, I have dined at Harvist Harlem located inside My Image Studios Harlem (MIST Harlem) on West 116th Street between Fifth Avenue and Lenox Avenue.

I shared the Grilled Cheese with Gruyère on sourdough bread. This item was extremely tasty and very heavy. I recommend it! I tried the Kale Salad with endive and pears. This salad is extremely healthy. I ordered the Kale Salad because I knew was I was going to have the Berebere Rubbed Filet Mignon as my main dish, which was delicious! The Filet Mignon was juicy, tender and seasoned to perfection! I ended my meal with the Red Velvet Soufflé! It was fancy! I liked it, but I’m more of a cheesecake kind of gal, so I’ll probably try the apple crisp the next time I return to Harvist Harlem.

As for price point, small plates range from $10 to $14 and large plates start at $18 and up to $25.

And an interesting feature about Harvist Harlem is that it is extremely spacious. When dining there it won’t feel crowded or small. Plus it’s easy to get to by taking the 2/3 subway to 116th Street. Check it out and enjoy!

20130228-115832.jpg

20130228-115849.jpg

20130228-115902.jpg

Is Indian cuisine coming to Harlem’s restaurant row?

Frederick Douglass Blvd., aka Harlem’s restaurant row, will soon have a Turkish restaurant through Savann. 2280 FDB will be the address. Then FDB will soon have a dining place that will offer Israeli food at Silvana on 116th Street. Now comes word that Harlem’s restaurant row will be getting a restaurant that serves Indian cuisine at the corner of 114th Street and FDB. Remember where Questan’s was located? That’s were a new restaurant is opening that will serve Indian cuisine. Two reliable sources have come forward to HarlemGal Inc. Plus workers were seen on site tonight and all the permits on the doors outline work is being done for a restaurant. Yippee! I love Indian food! Stay tune…

20130226-191456.jpg

20130226-191503.jpg

Yatenga owners confirm opening of another restaurant in Harlem, Silvana to serve Israeli food

20130225-080344.jpg

20130225-080352.jpg
The owners of Yatenga French Bistro at 2269 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd and Shrine Bar located next door will be expanding their presence in Harlem. Sivan Baron Ouedraogo tells HarlemGal Inc that they will be opening a new restaurant in Harlem at 300 West 116th Street, right across the street from Harlem Tavern. The new dining establishment will be called Silvana and hopes to open this April.

The first floor of Silvana will be a cafe and boutique. Silvana will sell local, domestic and international home decor, accessories gifts and more. Wine and beer will be served as well. The restaurant and bar will actually be located in the lower level and will have acoustic live music. Silvana will serve Israeli food, such as shawarma, falafel and other vegetarian dishes.

If Silvana food and service will be anything like Yatenga French Bistro, this place will be good and a nice diverse addition to Harlem’s restaurant row.

To read my review on Yatenga, click here.

The Fourth Annual Spring Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month starts February 15

Harlem Park to Park kicks off its fourth annual Spring Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month tomorrow (Feb 15) with an impressive list of restaurant and retail establishments in Central Harlem. With food options like Ristorante Settepani’s Braised Monkfish, and the Chicken and Red Velvet Waffles at 67 Orange Street; along with services that include a week’s worth of Unlimited Led Classes from Land Yoga, and the popular Men’s Razor Relief Treatment at Harlem Skin Clinic, Harlemites and visitors alike can experience a variety of options and opportunities to sample Harlem’s finest offerings from February 15 – 28.

Twenty businesses are participating, including:

Restaurants
67 Orange Street, Bleu Violin, Chez Lucien, Chocolat Restaurant and Lounge, Corner Social, Cove Lounge, Harlem Food Bar, Harlem Tavern, Lenox Coffee, Moca Lounge, Native Restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem, Ristorante Settepani, Sylvia’s/Sylvia’s Also Lounge

Retail Services
Brownstone Fitness, Doggedly Devoted, Franz James Floral Boutique, Harlem Flo – A Floral Boutique, Harlem Skin Clinic, Land Yoga

For more information about Spring Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month and a full list of offerings, visit Harlem Park to Park on Facebook or link below for prix fixe menus and retail/service items.
HP2P-RandR-week-2013-Poster

Harlem Shake goes viral, real Harlem Shake coming to Harlem at 124th and Lenox Avenue

A9rMcOWCcAIhAq8.jpg-large

124_LenoxAve_SW_090212
The Harlem Shake by New York deejay Baauer has gone viral twice over. It’s everywhere! While everyone is doing the Harlem Shake, don’t forget the Village of Harlem is actually getting a Harlem Shake, which will be a restaurant that will serve “burgers, shakes and good times, [the] Harlem way.” The restaurant will be located on the southwest corner of 124th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem. It’s in construction right now, but progress is being made and will open soon. Just follow them on Facebook or Twitter to view their progress.

And if you haven’t seen what the Harlem Shake looks like under water, here’s a view.