During New York African Restaurant Week, there will be a wide variety of special menus for guests to try. Some of the restaurants participating include the GRASS VBQ Joint, Buka and Joloff. The menus will feature traditional dishes and some of the restaurant’s signature dishes. Guests will also have the chance to see the restaurant’s chefs prepare the dishes as well as meet members of the restaurant’s staff.
Alkebulan
Developed by Harlem-based chef and visionary Alexander Smalls, Alkebulan is the world’s first African food hall. Located in Dubai, the hall is designed to showcase African food and culture. It features a variety of cuisines, from barbecue to seafood. The cuisines are influenced by East African and West African styles. It also features fusion fare.
Alkebulan’s food hall is a platform for new and up-and-coming African chefs. It aims to promote African food to a global audience, and offers opportunities for investment. Smalls is eager to build food halls that reflect African culture in cities around the world. He is motivated by the desire to share joy with generations of Blacks who work in the kitchen.
Smalls, who is also the founder of Minton’s, has been working on his Alkebulan concept for the last five years. It was inspired by his passion for African cuisine. He has a great uncle, who was a professional cook in New York and Philadelphia. He also learned Geechee cuisine, a traditional South Carolina dish.
He had originally planned to open Alkebulan in Harlem. However, the pandemic shifted his timeline. Instead of opening a food hall in Harlem, Smalls decided to open a concept version in Dubai as part of Expo 2020.
In addition to the food hall, Alkebulan also offers a retail shop featuring products from African nations. Visitors can also buy books by African chefs.
Buka
During New York African Restaurant Week (NYARW) African restaurants in New York City will come together to showcase their food and culture. This is the second time the event has been held in the city, and it will continue October 15 through October 31.
New York African Restaurant Week is sponsored by A Taste of Africa USA and James Beard Foundation. It will feature special menus and chef dinners at participating restaurants. It will also include cultural performances and lifestyle events. The event is a great opportunity for African restaurants to promote their cuisine and reach a wider audience.
The James Beard Foundation is the key partner for New York African Restaurant Week. They are also partnered with Immersive Journeys, Food-X, Saveur, Mahir N. Nisar Law Associates, Food-Tank, and South African Airways.
In addition to the James Beard Dinner, NYARW will feature special events including the Food and Tech Convo Event, a Kids’ Zone, Vocal Day, and cooking classes. Each event will benefit a community organization.
Among the most popular restaurants during New York African Restaurant Week are Bar Omar, Madiba, and Buka. All three have been participating in the event since it began.
Buka is a Nigerian restaurant located in the East Village. The menu features big plates of goat and fish, and goat pepper soup. The restaurant is a true small business success story.
