Harlem resident and Columbia School of Journalism grad student Neha Singh Gohil passed along her article on wine tastings at Harlem Vintage, the boutique wine shop on Frederick Douglas Boulevard and 121st Street. Neha gave us permission to post the whole article, and we are more than happy to take up that offer.

After reading the article, you will want to check out Harlem Vintage's February events calendar. In addition to Saturday events covering winemakers of color (4:00pm to 7:00pm on the 10th, 17th and 24th), there is a Rose Champaign tasting on Tuesday the 13th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and a Valentine's Day bubbly tasting on Wednesday the 14th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

Wine tastings serve as meeting place for Harlem residents, old and new

By Neha Singh Gohil

Just before dinner on a recent Saturday evening, people assembled around a long wooden table in Harlem. Edmund Floyd, a black bodyguard in a beanie, has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 20 years. Next to him, Pablo Joo and Nelson Rosado, Latino roommates who moved in just three months ago, clutched shopping bags from Citarella, a gourmet grocery store. Kyla Kupferstein, a black Jewish educator who freelances for magazines in her free time, stood at the end.

These people hadn't met before, but they all shared this: All are Harlemites, and all love wine.

Wine tastings at Harlem Vintage, a boutique wine shop on Fredrick Douglass Boulevard and 121st Street, have always served as a gathering place for West Harlem locals. In an area where almost everyone has an opinion about the new neighbors, nobody brings up gentrification here. The small wine shop became one of the first places where Harlem neighbors - new and old - can come together to enjoy a sip of wine and a laugh on the weekends.

Continue reading "Sunday Reading: Harlem Vintage" »

Posted by Chris at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Harlem Fur tipster John let us know that Melba Wilson, of Melba's on Frederick Douglas Blvd. and 114th Street, is the person buying Native on Lenox Avenue and 119th Street. Melba tried to re-open Minton's Playhouse with Robert De Niro in 1999. Will she have better luck with Native?

Posted by Chris at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Posted by Chris at 09:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

An article in today's New York Times about the restaurant situation in Harlem mentioned something I had not thought about before. State law prohibits serving alcohol within 200 feet of a school or place of worship, and as the article points out, "in some sections of Harlem, there is a church on nearly every block."

I live in one of those sections.

Most of us are familiar with some version of the equation Brian Washington-Palmer, the owner of Native on 118th and Lenox, gave in the article: "food pays the rent; alcohol pays the profits." I had assumed when I moved here that when Harlem reached a critical mass, bistro style restaurants like Native and Elle & Lui would start popping up. Given the number of Harlem churches in my area (Lenox between 116th and 125th), that might be a little more complicated.

But for those who mistakenly think that Harlem is a culinary desert, I politely direct you to Uptown FLAVOR.

Posted by Chris at 07:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm not sure what this place is actually named. "Les Ambassades" is on the menu and signage out front, and "Patisserie Des Ambassades" is the name for looking it up on Switchboard and Yelp. Who cares. It's a high diplomatic mission of Senegalese flavor to the French pastry kitchen. The place deserves nomenclatural immunity.

Plus, the restaurant also has breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a weekend brunch.

Whatever the official name, it's at 2200 Frederick Douglass Blvd, right around the corner from Elle & Lui.

Gratuitous confection photos after the jump.

Also, UPTOWN flavor spots a new restaurant on 145th, El Puerto, and is looking for reviews.

Continue reading "Culinary Plenipotentiaries: Patisserie Des Ambassades" »

Posted by Chris at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Last Saturday, when I was walking Scott's dog to Morningside Park, I passed Elle & Lui, a Moroccan restaurant on 119th Street between Frederick Douglas and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards.

Cheryl and I decided to stop in tonight, and it was the best random decision we have made in a long time. The place looks great, and the food was incredible. Elle & Lui is worth it for the hummus alone, and they have a hookah if you decide to stick around.

I have photos of the interior and our excellent dinner after the jump.

Continue reading "Elle & Lui Is A Real Moroccan Delight" »

Posted by Chris at 11:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (1)

When taking Cimbi to Marcus Garvey Park yesterday, I noticed that opposite Settepani on 120th off Lenox is a recently opened Champaign and caviar bar, Emperor's Roe.

Cheryl and I asked our friends Greg and Sara to try it out with us last night, and we gave it a thumbs up.

The owner told us it has only been open a week, and it shows great promise for summer, as the sides open up onto the sidewalk. Plus it also offers sushi, wine, beer and liquor, which might be a more frequent choice than the caviar, which quickly shoots up to $220 for a serving.

So, I guess whomever was overheard saying this was wrong.

Posted by Chris at 05:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)