Category Archives: food

Make plans to attend East Harlem Harvest Festival happening October 27

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The second annual East Harlem Harvest Festival is happening this weekend, October 27, at 116th Street and Park Avenue. The event starts and 10 am and will last until about 6 pm. See full list below of what to expect at this years East Harlem Harvest Festival.

And check out last year’s coverage of the Festival as well. We attended and had a wonderful time. See you there this weekend!

  • Flea Marqueta’s 30+ Local vendors
  • Urban Garden Center’s pig roast series called El Boar-rio featuring sauce infused with Riazul Tequila
  • Beer Tent pouring the Harlem Brewing Company’s Sugar Hill Beer
  • Live Music by Blue Maky a blues band from Columbia
  • DJ Mellow G will be spinning all day at La Marqueta’s “Placita”
  • Bohemia Realty and Tutubell are hosting a Children’s Zone…Face Painting, Pumpkin Painting and lawn games
  • There will be a Soul Food Hut, an Empanada stand, a Popcorn stand, Cookies by our 9-year-old entrepreneur Mr. Corey’s, Coffee and Desert by La Bella Torte, a food truck
  • Composting and Urban Farming workshops hosted by Dr. Eluem Blyden the creator of Phytopod (manufactured right at Urban Garden Center)
  • NYRP and MillionTreesNY teamed up with Urban Garden Center to give away 100 FREE trees starting at 10

Spend Halloween in Harlem, Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance to host event October 31

Need plans for Halloween? How about spending Halloween on Harlem’s restaurant row? The Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance (FDBA) is organizing a Halloween in Harlem party along Frederick Douglass Blvd. Several businesses shown below with their logo will be handing out candy to trick or treaters and decorating their windows for all passerby’s to view.

For those without little ones, select restaurants will have $5 drink specials from 5 pm – 10 pm and be handing out 10 percent off coupons good retail partners with their logos listed below as well, such as BebeNoir, Bibi Salon, Harlem Flo, Franz James, Harlem Shambles and more!

See you along the boulevard for Halloween!

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Harlem’s Yatenga Bistro remodels kitchen and menu, view new menu

Did anyone notice that Yatenga French Bistro in Harlem was closed recently? Apparently, they were. The owners of Yatenga and now Silvana tell HarlemGal Inc that Yatenga’s kitchen was closed for about a week for remodeling and redesigning of their new menu! No worries. Yatenga in Harlem has reopened and we have their new menu. Take a look! Available no more are the classical French bistro items, but “more Mediterranean influences from Greece, Spain, France, Morocco, Italy and more!”
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Save the date: Second Annual Harlem Hospitality and Culinary Conference set for October 23

The second annual Harlem Hospitality and Culinary Conference, featuring top industry tastemakers and influencers from the worlds of food, hotels, nightlife and real estate, will be happening Wednesday, October 23, from 8 am – 2:30 pm, at The Studio Museum in Harlem.

Panelists this year include Richard Notar, Managing Partner, Nobu Restaurants, Serena Bass, Celebrity Caterer, Serena Bass Inc., Executive Chef, Lido Harlem, Richard Coraine, Managing Partner, Union Square Hospitality Group, Christina Grdovic, VP and Publisher, Food & Wine Magazine, Jennifer Baum, Founder, Bullfrog & Baum, Adam Saper, Managing Partner, Eataly New York, Artie Thompson, Catering Director, Chef Roble & Co./Bravo TV and Faith Hope Consolo, Chairman, Retail Group, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, among others.

The conference, will explore strategies for developing and sustaining successful businesses in Harlem within these key industries. Topics will include Game Changers: Winning Strategies in the Culinary Industry Today; Branding: Creative Strategy Behind a Successful Culinary Brand; Homegrown Restaurants/Eateries: Thriving as David in the Land of Goliath; Event Catering: Untapped Potential for Restaurant/Culinary Business Growth; Artisanal Foods: Creating a Successful Neighborhood/Regional Culinary Brand; Cocktails and Nightlife: What Makes a Great Bar?; and NYC’s Wake Up Call: Meeting Growing Demand for Harlem Hotels.

See details below on how to attend. And read more here about Harlem restaurants.
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Food For Life Supreme closes in Harlem, Red Chili Indian Cafe opens in same space

A reader of HarlemGal Inc wrote in over the weekend informing us that there is a new Indian restaurant in Harlem that recently opened on West 116th Street near Lenox Avenue. It’s called Red Chili Indian Cafe. Apparently this new restaurant opened in the same space where Food For Life Supreme used to be located, ie 108 West 116th Street. Food For Life Supreme is closed or maybe it relocated? If anyone has the scoop, chime in!

According to our reader, they ordered take out from Red Chili Indian Cafe in Harlem “and it was really, really delicious, good-sized portions, and very nice staff.”

So there we have it! Another dining option in Harlem!
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Indulge in African teas at Serengeti Teas & Spices in Harlem, now open on Frederick Douglass Blvd

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At the recommendation of a longtime reader of HarlemGal Inc., I stopped by Serengeti Teas & Spices in Harlem yesterday, which opened a week ago at 2292 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 123rd Street. A big thanks for the recommendation. My visit to Serengeti in Harlem did not disappoint. And as one Facebook friend said, “it’s a must stop on FDB! The attention to details and explanations are great!” I couldn’t agree more.

Serengeti in Harlem offers all the tea imaginable, loose or bagged, strong or light, from the continent of Africa. And the staff is willing and ready to provide any guest a tutorial on the variety of teas offered. Plus Serengeti offers samples to taste if one is not sure what to purchase. I owned up to being tea illiterate and the staff person who assisted me (and by the way I did not disclose I was a local blogger) was extremely helpful and knowledgeable in all the teas offered. This staff person walked me through every inch of the products available. Overall, my experience at Serengeti in Harlem was completely delightful! I ended up purchasing two canisters of tea, the Bassa Blood Orange Organic Tea for $12 and Berry Rooibo’s 20 Tea Bags for $10.

If you’re walking along Harlem’s restaurant row, aka FDB, HarlemGal Inc recommends a quick stop by Serengeti Teas & Spices in Harlem at 123rd and FDB. They offer pastries and coffee as well. Serengeti in Harlem is open from 10 am to 9 pm. A website will be available at a later date.

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Village Voice names 10 Best Fried Chickens in NYC, two Harlem restaurants make list

Who makes the best fried chicken in New York City? According to the Village Voice, Charles’ Country Pan Fried Chicken at 2839-2841 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem is ranked first out of all the five boroughs! The Voice says “Charles Gabriel seasons his chicken three separate times before it gets to the warming tray at this renowned Harlem buffet.”

Next up, is Amy Ruth’s at 113 West 116th Street in Harlem. Amy Ruth’s is ranked fifth in the City. The Voice says “this Harlem fried chicken hotspot in a neighborhood teeming with quality birds gets it right on many levels, including a closing time of 5:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.”

To read the full article on The 10 Best Fried Chickens in NYC, go here.

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Attend artist reception at Chocolat in Harlem September 24th

Next Tuesday, September 24th from 6-9 pm, Chocolat Restaurant in Harlem will be hosting an intimate reception for two exhibiting artists, Anton and Bai. Some of Anton and Bai’s paintings and mixed-media work has already been on view at Chocolat this past summer. At the Sept. 24th artist reception, guests can meet and socialize with the artists and see more of their creative works.

To learn more about the art at Chocolat go here. Or stop by Chocolat in Harlem at 2217-23 Frederick Douglass Blvd. at the corner of 120th St. or call at (212) 222-4545.
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Say goodbye to summer at The Corner Social in Harlem

This coming Saturday, September 14, The Corner Social in Harlem is saying “adios” to summer. Yes, it’s that time of year where another summer will pass, however, let’s send it off in style by celebrating at The Corner Social on 126th Street and Lenox Ave.

The Corner Social in Harlem is offering a $25 Prix Fixe Brunch, Complimentary Belvedere Cocktails & Music by DJ GETLIVE as part of their send off to summer.

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Didn’t make it to Italy over the summer? No worries, head to Lido Harlem for Sept wine tasting event

For those of us Harlemites who could not travel to Italy this past summer, can now escape to Italy’s wine country in Harlem. Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar on 117th Street and FDB is hosting another a wine event in September. On Tuesday, September 24th from 7:30-9:30 pm, Lido Harlem is offering a five course wine tasting dinner featuring Italian wines and food.

Wine educator and sommelier, Andrea Wobensmith will once again take guests through the wines and help them learn more about pairing tips, grapes, differences in growing practices and more, all in an intimate and relaxed setting. Wobensmith has been teaching wine classes for over 7 years. Her passion began after visiting Italy and tasting wines throughout the countryside. Wobensmith earned her Sommelier Certificate with the Sommelier Society of America.

The price is $105 per person plus tax and gratuity. Space is limited, call for reservations at: 646-490-8575 or 917-733-9413.
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