Category Archives: restaurant row

Cook recipes from Chef Stephen Putnam from Lido Harlem, two recipes available

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Chef Stephen Putnam from Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar in Harlem recently participated in Macy’s Cellar Kitchen series cooking some of his recipes offered at Lido Harlem, located on the southeast corner of Frederick Douglass Blvd and 117th Street! If you’ve ever wanted recipes from Chef Putnam from Lido Harlem so that you can enjoy some of his creations at home, HarlemGal Inc has two recipes to offer up right now! And these recipes are simple too!

If you try these recipes below, let us know how the dish(es)came out! Bon appetit!

Spaghetti with roasted veal meatballs and San Marzano Tomatoes
6 cans San Marzano Tomatoes
1 bunch celery
2 Spanish onions
5 carrots peeled
¼ c. chopped garlic
Hand full of basil
¼ cup EVOO
Salt and pepper to taste
In a bowl of a Cuisine Art place the washed vegetables into the bowl and chop the vegetables fine. Place a medium size stainless pot on the stove and preheat pot over medium heat add olive oil and sauté garlic and vegetables until translucent. Place the tomatoes in a food mill and put the tomatoes in the pot and cook roughly an hour over low heat. Place in the refrigerator to cool. Sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Sauce can also be frozen.

Veal meatballs
5# ground veal
½ cup parmesan cheese
2 whole eggs
½ bunch basil
¼ artesian bread with the crust removed cut into small cubes and soaked in ½ cup milk
½ bunch Italian flat leaf parsley
1 TBL chopped garlic
4 shallots chopped fine
2 oz. EVOO
1 pinch red pepper flakes
Combine all ingredients. Mix by hand or use a kitchen aide with paddle attachment. Mix well or the ball will fall apart. Using a 2oz scoop make all the mixture and place on a sheet tray lined with parchment and bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes or until cooked through.

Octopus Salad with sausage, potato and orange
1-2-4 # octopus (I like the one’s from Spain)
1# peanut or fingerling potatoes
1# Fennel sausage (sweet or hot) ground
3 bunches Frissee cleaned and rinsed
1 ½ cups Orange juice
Pinch red pepper flakes
Red wine vinegar
¼ tsp. cumin
Olive oil
Gaetta olives

Fill pot with water and add salt until the water tastes like the ocean bring to a boil and add octopus and two corks from a wine bottle to the water. Place the potatoes also in salted water and cook until soft and cool in the fridge. Saute your sausage in a sauté pan until cook through and set aside. Meanwhile place your oj, cumin and pepper flakes in a small sauce pot and reduce until the oj is the consistency of syrup and set aside to cool.
To plate:
Heat a skillet on high heat when hot add olive oil and a pich of salt to the oil and place the octopus in the sauté pan and brown on all sides, you can brown you potatoes and heat the sausage at the same time. In a small mixing bowl put the vinegar, oil and reduced oj and mix well. Toss frissee, potatoes, olives, and sausage together and dress the salad place on plates and slice your octopus and place on top and drizzle a little more dressing on the octopus and serve.

Broccoli rabe pesto
2 bunch basil
16 oz. olive oil
1 tsp garlic
Handful parmesan cheese
1 qt. broccoli rabe
¼ cup lemon juice
S&P
Place everything in a bowl of your Cuisine Art and puree.

Onion Jam
6 Spanish onions
1 qt. white balsamic
½ cup sugar
Slice your onions and cook until lightly brown and all the vinegar has evaporated. Place everything in a bowl of your Cuisine Art and puree.

New bar coming to Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem

Harlem’s well-known Londel’s Supper Club is expanding their presence in Upper Manhattan by planning to open up a bar right on the northwest corner of 115th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd. That’s the word directly from them to HarlemGal Inc. And from these photos below workers have been present at 2131 FDB address carrying in materials.

A representative at Londel’s said they are hoping to open the new place by the end of the year. This drinking establishment would be their second on FDB. Their first place of business is at 2620 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

As for the Livmor Condo’s, their retail space is practically full. I believe they have one more retail space left?

Congrats to Londel’s on expanding their presence in Harlem. I’m looking forward to checking out their new cocktail establishment! What about you?

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Harlem attracts cool crowds of NYC downtown says Guest of a Guest



Guest of a Guest, the website co-founded by one of the Winklevoss twins whose been battling Mark Zuckerberg for what seems like ages now, has a feature on Harlem this week. It is quite complimentary, however, it doesn’t say anything new that we Harlemites know already. The article names a list of places to check out and most of them mentioned I agree are great places to visit. However, a true Harlem native writing about Harlem would have dug a bit deeper.

For example, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar gives Red Rooster a run for its money, not only in food, but in ambiance as well. The same goes for Cedric French Bistro and Bar in Harlem! What about mentioning a place in East Harlem? Milk Burger has been endorsed by Anthony Bourdain and his lovely Mrs! Also, when you visit Shrine one can’t miss Yatenga, which is a fun place to hang.

Again, as most of us Harlemites know, there are a ton of cool places to hang in Harlem. Guest of a Guest apparently is just coming around (a bit late) and finding out, but hey, let’s welcome it!

To read the full article, click here.

Harlem Shambles Grand Opening, you’re invited

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Harlem Shambles is having their grand opening this week and we are all invited! The local butcher shop on Frederick Douglass Blvd between 115th and 116th Street is hosting its official grand opening this Thursday, December 1st. All guests will be able to check out Harlem Shambles’ products prepared by several local chefs. Food and drink will be prepared by bier international, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, Nectar Wine Bar and many more! Shop tours and cutting demonstrations will also take place. Below are the exact details! See you there!

Harlem Shambles Grand Opening
Thursday, December 1, 2011
6-9 PM
2141 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

Harlem Tavern starts to build roof for outdoor space

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Back in September, HarlemGal Inc. blogged about how Harlem Tavern, located on the northwest corner of 116th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., had plans to weatherize its outdoor space. According to these pictures taken last night (November 15), the work has begun!

Having a roof cover their outdoor space is a great idea. I am so happy that Harlem Tavern is taking this approach! Now we just need to see evidence of heating lamps to go along with that new roof!

Chocolat in Harlem reopens after health violation by the City

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A reader informed HarlemGal Inc over the weekend that Chocolat Restaurant and Lounge, located on the corner of 120th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd, was closed and had a big old health violation sticker slapped on the double doors. I went by to check out it over the weekend and someone on site told me they would reopen Saturday night. I went by yesterday (Sunday) and Chocolat was definitely open with people inside dining.

My guess is the Health Department came by announced and found several health code violations. Then slapped them with a fine and closed their doors until they corrected the violations. That’s my guess. What do you think?

Harlem Shambles, your local butcher, is open for business

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Vegetarians turn away and don’t read this blog post! I was walking along Frederick Douglass Blvd today, who wouldn’t give how beautiful it is outside, and noticed that Harlem Shambles had a sign board outside announcing it is open for business. I walked in and locals were already inside checking out the selection of meats they are offering to start. According to their sign, they offer all meats that are local grass fed and all natural. Harlem Shambles is open every day from 10 am to 8 pm, Monday thru Saturday, and from 11-6 pm on Sunday. Stop by your new local butcher shop in Harlem at 2141 Frederick Douglass Blvd and check them out on Facebook as well!

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Head to the Caribbean tonight at 5 and Diamond’s Sunday Supper Club


So the snow arrived earlier than expected and the cold temperatures are upon us. How to deal with the weather change? I have one solution! Head to the Caribbean tonight. Not literally. Go there via cuisine by attending the Sunday Supper Club at 5 and Diamond Harlem, located near the corner of 113th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd.

Tonight, 5 and Diamond Harlem will incorporate cuisine and music from different parts of the Caribbean with a modern vision. The meal will be cooked by Darryl Burnette and here is what is planned for the menu:

  • House made Caribbean chips with mango guacamole.
  • Mini chile glazed Shrimp Tacos
  • Crab crusted Red Snapper tostones habanero ginger oil
  • Slow roasted Suckling Pig with Coconut Moros y Cristianos (black beans & rice)
  • Upside down Pineapple gingerbread cake with Jamaican Rum Carmel

Caribbean music will be served up as well. Steel pianist Winston Theobold from Trinidad and Tobago will perform. Winston is a versatile performer, arranger, and composer of steel band music and plays everything from classical to Calypso on his Tenor pan. Joining Winston will be folk singers from the Caribbean-American Chorale, directed by Gail Blache-Gill.

Dinner seating begins at 7:00 p.m. and prix fixe is $65. To attend, call the restaurant at 646 684 4662.

A flea market to open March 2012 on 117th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd. in Harlem

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On Saturday (October 22), I walked by the empty lot on 117th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem and noticed there were workers leveling out the ground. I quickly stopped and asked the person, who appeared to be supervising the work being done, what’s happening with this lot? The gentleman responded with “the space is being prepped for a flea market.” He said a flea market, which will sell anything and everything, will open in March 2012. This person also stated they were handing out fliers earlier in the day to people walking by. Hmmm…I did not receive a flier cause apparently they were out when I walked by. Drats. Let’s see what happens. Stay tuned.

Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month continues, don’t miss it!

Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month is happening right now and there is still plenty of time to get out there and enjoy the benefits.  The month-long event which takes place twice a year in the Spring and Fall, showcases Harlem’s premiere restaurants all located in area of Central Harlem, from Morningside to Marcus Garvey Parks and 110th to 125th streets.  During this month, diners can enjoy a prix fixe meal at any of the participating restaurants for $20.11; and shoppers can purchase select items at retail stores for $20.11.  The promotion runs to October 31.   

The restaurants that are participating include: 5 and Diamond Restaurant, 67 Orange Street, Chocolat Restaurant Lounge, The Harlem Tavern, Lido Harlem, Moca Lounge, Native Restaurant, Nectar Wine bar, Red Rooster Harlem, Ristorante Settepani.

And for retail, the following places are participating: Bikram Yoga East Harlem, Brownstone Fitness, EG Bodywork, Franz James Floral Boutique, Harlem Flo Floral Atelier, Harlem Flo Lifestyle Boutique, Harlem Skin Clinic, Harlem Vintage Wine Store, Karrot Health Food Store, Katrina Parris Flowers, Land Yoga.