Category Archives: restaurants

Harlem’s Chocolat in hiring mode, plans to open soo

Jul 5, 2010 @ 7:30

By HarlemGal

For those of you who inquired about whether Chocolat was continuing with their hiring process, we were told they still are. We stopped by over the holiday weekend to ask and a person on site said they are taking applications today, Monday, July 5 at the home of where Chocolat will be, which is at 2217 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

If your interested in working there, head on over. They are hiring cause they expect to open in about three to four weeks according to a worker on location. From the photos below, looks like they’re on track! Excellent. Another place for us to hang!

Marcus Samuelsson wins Top Chef Masters

Jun 10, 2010 @ 2:02
By HarlemGal
HarlemCondoLife would like to congratulate Marcus Samuelsson, celebrity chef, owner of the up and coming Red Rooster and Harlem resident, for winning Bravo TV’s Top Chef Masters. Way to go Marcus!

http://www.hulu.com/watch/153860/top-chef-masters-its-about-time-for-marcus

5 & Diamond in Harlem launches supper club and cooking class

Jun 6, 2010 @ 18:03
By HarlemGal
Ever wondered about how to learn to butcher, prep, cook and serve lamb? Well, now is your chance to pick up that skill right here in Harlem at 5 & Diamond located at 2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd.
Starting Monday, June 7, Five & Diamond is launching its first bi-weekly supper club/cooking class. For $55 bucks a person, you can learn all the attributes of lamb! And the interesting part of this course aside from learning about the lamb,  is you’ll get to learn from bad boy chef Ryan Skeen. Hmm…could be fun and interesting! Let’s just hope the cooking class is much better than his hand/keg stand shown below.

Five & Diamond flier

Photo by Joannie

UPDATE: Bier International in Harlem aims to open soon

Jun 2, 2010 @ 12:24

By HarlemGal

We reached out  yesterday to the folks at Bier International, which will be located at 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd., to see what’s up with the planning around Harlem’s first beer garden. Here is what they told us:

“Thanks for your support. After some delays, we anticipate opening in about three weeks.”

Yes! That means Bier International in Harlem will be open during the 2010 World Cup! Folks, get your beer drinking hats ready! We Harlemites will soon have another place to hang those hats, relax, and drink our brew!

Workers seen on site in Harlem at expected Bier International

Jun 1, 2010 @ 7:30

By HarlemGal

A month ago, we mentioned that 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd is expected to be the home of Bier International, Harlem’s first beer garden; and that we didn’t think it would open at the end of May. The opening did not happen in May. However, we’re happy to report we have seen work activity on site recently. Over the Memorial Day weekend, we saw workers outside of the property and one side of the rolling steel doors up.

From the photos below, there is something happening inside the retail space. However, the real question is what type of deadline are these workers on? We asked when the beer garden in Harlem is scheduled to open, one replied “a month from now.”

What a complete bummer-if in fact that is the case! With the 2010 World Cup starting on June 11 and lasting for several weeks, that is prime beer drinking time. Maybe the worker on site meant to say “we’re opening in two weeks for the World Cup or midway through the World Cup.” We are keep our fingers crossed hoping that one of those scenarios is the case! If you have heard otherwise, chime in!

Red Rooster lands on Lenox Avenue, Marcus Samuelsson to be cooking in Harlem Fall 2010

May 7, 2010 @ 18:07

By HarlemGal
Can I just say from the start, I adore and appreciate our HarlemCondoLife.com readers very much! They’re like a Tonnie’s cupcake! Awesome! Seconds from when the Crain’s New York story broke about Red Rooster landing at 310 Lenox Avenue, a HCL reader notified us right away with the news! A big thank you to Tero!
As soon as I received that heads up, what did I do next? Aside from responding to our reader, I picked up the phone and called Marcus Samuelsson’s flack. Here’s the chisme!
The lease was just signed this week so the ink is barely dry. Samuelsson and his team are aiming to have Red Rooster open for customers this Fall. I probed a bit further. The PR rep did not want to comment on why 310 Lenox Avenue versus other locals throughout Harlem nor say anything about length or amount of the lease? The rep said “those type of details are for Marcus to answer and that’s not possible right now since he’s out of the country.” Hmm, I wonder if our celebrity chef and local Harlem resident gave those folks quoted in Crain’s the green light to say something about the location of Red Rooster? Given that Marcus is not available to confirm this wonderful news himself, I seriously doubt it. It seems like someone or somebody stole a little bit of Samuelsson’s thunder! If so, that’s not cool!
As for my thoughts on the Red Rooster location in Harlem, to be honest I was keeping my figures crossed that it would land on Frederick Douglass Blvd., however, after walking over to Lenox Ave to check out the space tonight (Friday), I can see why Samuelsson choose that location. It’s right next to Chez Lucienne, Sylvia’s and the planned Hyatt Hotel backed by Emmitt Smith and partners. Also, 310 Lenox Avenue is right by the 2/3 subway line. Uptowners and downtowners can easily get to Red Rooster. In addition, all those Bravo TV viewers, who watch Samuelsson on Top Chef Masters-Season 2, and plan to or regularly visit the Big Apple will trek up to Harlem. Double hmm. Can you say the words “tourist invasion is upon us…soon…again!

Just Wingin It in Harlem is open

Apr 21, 2010 @ 21:08

By HarlemGal
I stopped by 2190 Frederick Douglass Blvd. tonight (Wednesday), the home of Harlem’s Just Wingin It, to see if they were open after they were profiled on The Discovery Channel’s Construction Intervention last night (April 20)…and THEY ARE! They opened up for business yesterday (April 20).

Tonight when I waked in, they were very busy! While I was waiting for my order, I purchased the curry chicken sandwich…yum, I caught a conversion about how some folks from Queens saw Construction Intervention last night so they decided to drive on over and try the food. When I walked in the folks from Queens were there eating away on their second batch of wings. I also met a principal from a local Harlem school while at Just Wingin It. The principal saw the show last night too and was there to order some food to go! And I met Walter Lewis tonight, the owner and NYC fireman! He was super, super, super nice and working way…in the fireman’s suit!!!

Walter, HarlemCondoLife.com congratulates you on your reopening and wishes you much success with your business.

For the rest of us, let’s get out there and support Just Wingin It; and the rest of our Harlem local gems!

What’s up with Stephanie in Central Harlem?

Apr 16, 2010 @ 10:34

HarlemCondoLife

By HarlemGal

Two readers have reached out to us asking que paso con Stephanie, the bodega located on the northeast corner of 116th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd? One reader writes “the corner deli appears to be going through a major overhaul internally possibly to keep in step with their new neighbors on the boulevard.” Maybe so? I just hope they do not change the exterior. I love the colorful signage Stephanie, the corner deli wears. It makes her look unique and colorful. As for the inside, change is probably a nice business strategy in order to generate more customers. If anyone else has the scoop on what is happening with our bodega, diganos! Pronto!

HarlemCondoLife

Top ten reasons on why Harlem is one of the best places to live in New York City

Apr 14, 2010 @ 7:19

By HarlemGal
This is a blog that writes about all things positive about Harlem. We tell our stories from “nuestros corazones.” Unfortunately, we don’t have data, grids or a fancy magazine to back up our stories. We only have words, life experiences and a love for all things Harlem. And what better time to use these descriptions and tools than right now-especially given the recent edition of New York Magazine.

To profess our reasons on why we believe Harlem is one of the best places to live in New York City, we created our own Top Ten List. Sorry Dave. We have to borrow a page right out of your playbook to make our point. Here we go….

Top Ten Reasons on why Harlem is one of the best places to live in New York City:

10. Harlem is almost 400 years old. And guest what?….we will still be around for another 400 years! Isn’t lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn suppose to sink under water?

9. Harlem is very green. We are near several three parks: Central Park North, Jackie Robinson Park, Morningside Park, Riverside Park, Riverbank State Park and Marcus Garvey Park. Harlem also has St. Nicholas Park, which a reader told us “is one of the most historical (along with Hamilton Grange, City College, Hamilton Heights and Striver’s Row near).” Shouldn’t we count Riverside Park too? Then that would be four parks we are near.

8. We are home to the highest institution of higher learning in the State of New York, Columbia University. Park Slope kids will be living in Harlem when they get older and head to Columbia.

7. We have many different neighborhoods and some of their names are sweet, like sugar, or romantic as Spanish.

6. We are one of the happiest according to a recent survey. To tell the truth, we are very happy in life. However, we are not happy with New York Magazine right now….

5. Because you can have a date with red, not Red Butler, but red as in red velvet cake at Lee Lee’s Baked Goods on 118th Street. Delicious!

4. We have famous songs about or that mention Harlem that are as diverse as its people. Harlem River Quiver is by Duke Ellington. Angel of Harlem is by U2. Spanish Harlem Incident is by Bob Dylan and Across 110th Street is by Bob Womack.

3. We have some serious wide sidewalks where there is plenty of elbow room for you and your baby stroller. Parts of the Village are like walking through a football field.

2. We have the famous Apollo Theater. Need we say more.

1. And the number reason on why Harlem is one of the best places to live in New York City, because This blog is going to go negative for once on its blog. We don’t believe or give a flying hoot about Nate Silver and his recent findings. Politics done right does not necessarily mean neighborhoods done right!

Nate, come up and visit us any time. We will show you all the great things Harlem has to offer!

Chocolat to be Harlem’s next restaurant on Frederick Douglass Blvd

Apr 7, 2010 @ 12:56

By HarlemGal
I would like to introduce you to the space that will house Chocolat Restaurant Lounge at 2217 Frederick Douglass Blvd. There has been all this speculation about this space pictured below, but speculate no more! I have spoken directly with the owner of Chocolat and he tells me this corner space will be his second restaurant on FDB, also known as 8th Avenue. I believe Chocolat was previously located on 5th Avenue and the first place was Moca Lounge, which was one of the early establishments to open on FDB way back in the day. It is safe to say Moca Lounge is the pioneer on FDB!!!

As for additional details, the owner shared that Chocolat will offer mixed cuisine and will open soon. Exact date to be announced later!

Now that the restaurant rumors are a little bit more clear. I guess this means Red Rooster will now open at….?