{"id":186203,"date":"2015-05-24T11:59:15","date_gmt":"2015-05-24T15:59:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/?p=186203"},"modified":"2015-05-24T09:53:11","modified_gmt":"2015-05-24T13:53:11","slug":"harlemeatup-at-harlems-the-five-and-diamond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/?p=186203","title":{"rendered":"HarlemEatUp at Harlem’s The Five and Diamond"},"content":{"rendered":"

As you may or may not know the\u00a0Harlem EatUp! Festival<\/a>\u00a0was last weekend’s invitation to try one of the many Harlem restaurants. \u00a0Dinners were sponsored by many organizations and often in conjunction with guest chefs from around the country. \u00a0The event was organized by Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster fame and the first annual Harlem EatUp! Festival took place May 14-17.<\/p>\n

As I’ve previously written, <\/a>I’ll be writing more about the event and my reflections thereon in the following weeks. \u00a0However the first thing I need to mention is my Friday night experience at The Five and Diamond.<\/p>\n

Now five years old, The 5 and Diamond serves New American food in Lower Harlem. \u00a0 It is located at2072 Frederick Douglass Boulevard. \u00a0Some people call the area South Harlem (SOHA). \u00a0HarlemCondoLife.com coined the strip on which is is located HarlemRestaurantRow (there are now many distinct Restaurant Rows in Harlem<\/a>). \u00a0 The May 15 evening features Chef Joseph Hayes III and Guest Chef Marvin Woods. \u00a06pm and 8:30pm seatings were available for $85.<\/p>\n

I arrived for the second seating. \u00a0The place was packed and buzzing. I was greeted warmly by owners who were kind enough to seat me at their table. \u00a0 I was immediately offered a glass of satisfying red wine and then the food started flowing. \u00a0 The featured chefs Joseph Hayes III and Guest Chef Marvin Woods did an amazing job. \u00a0Sadly I missed out on the Citrus Salad but I really enjoyed the Duck Duck Dua, the Caribbean\u00a0Seafood Sancocho, the Mahogany Lacquered Rack of Lamb, and the Fig & Tart Cherry Bread Pudding. \u00a0Each course was better than the last,. \u00a0And as I am a sucker for duck, lamb and bread pudding, all my\u00a0favorites were covered, and covered well.<\/p>\n

Entertainment was provided on an ongoing basis by Kersten Stevens and Gail Blanche-Gill. \u00a0Local musicians and their band who serenaded us with uplifting sounds throughout the eventing.<\/p>\n

All in all it was a magical experience.<\/p>\n

We have always been big fans of The Five and Diamond. \u00a0They are pioneers, survivors and innovators, \u00a0in so many senses of these words.<\/p>\n

We wish them nothing but continued success and all the best.<\/p>\n