
HONORING BLACK LIVES MATTER MONTH
AND SOUL FOOD MONTH
By Great Performances
As we honor both Black Lives Matter Month and Soul Food Month, it is important to acknowledge the significant contributions of Black chefs and restaurant owners to the culinary world. From traditional Southern dishes to unique and creative fusion cuisine, Black chefs and restaurant owners have brought immense talent and creativity to the industry. We are honored to partner with Black chefs and restaurant owners who have made an impact on the culinary scene, both locally and nationally.
Join us as we celebrate their achievements, cultural heritage, and culinary mastery this month and every month.
Recent and Ongoing Collaborations Include:
JUNE FOOD FESTIVAL:
BERRY JAM
Our 2023 calendar theme, Preservation, is an ode to the art of preserving the harvest as well as a salute to the self-preservation of body and spirit. These have been challenging years! It’s fair to say we have been pickled and fermented, but that life goes on. It is the celebratory moments and the opportunities to come together that we relish.
This month, we’re celebrating with a Berry Jam recipe brought to you by Pastry Chef, Albert Bello.
Capture the best flavors of summer with this triple berry jam. You can use almost any combination of berries – and we encourage you to get creative! The jam is delicious on toast or pancakes, is perfect on ice cream, and can make a delicious sauce. We even love it in a cocktail.
Berry Jam Recipe
by Albert Bello, Pastry Chef
Yield: about 2 cups
INGREDIENTS
- 100g raspberries
- 50g blackberries
- 50g blueberries
- 130g sugar
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
PROCEDURE
- Crush the berries and macerate with lemon juice, sugar, and salt.
- Add berry mixture to heavy-bottomed pan and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring constantly, until thick and jammy. Test for doneness by running a heatproof rubber or silicone spatula along the bottom of the pan. If the space fills in quickly, continue cooking until the space fills in slowly.
- Jar, cool, and put aside for future use or give away as a gift!
More Food Festival Recipes
New Cameron Bakery
Cameron Bakery bakes fresh breads and pastries for Manhattan Chinatown locals and visitors alike for over 20 years, recently undergoing new management! We pride ourselves in our traditional bakes but are always innovating new things!
So whether it be a simple breakfast or special occasion we would love to be apart of your day!
Featured items provided by New Cameron Bakery
on Wednesday, May 17th, 2023:
Tiger Roll Cake
Matcha Roll Cake
Strawberry Roll Cake
Featured items provided by New Cameron Bakery
in celebration of the Lunar New Year 2023:
"Gok Zai" Chinese Peanut Hand Pies
and Sesame Balls
Photos courtesy of New Cameron Bakery
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KJUN
People’s Kitchen partners with KJUN to bring our guests innovative Korean-Cajun dishes by Chef Jae Jung.

Mission Chinese
People’s Kitchen partners with Mission Chinese to bring our guests unique Sichuan-style dishes Chef Danny Bowien.

Librae Bakery
People’s Kitchen partners with Librae Bakery to bring our guests unique treats by Dona Murad-Gerschel.

Wayla
People’s Kitchen partners with Wayla to bring our guests homestyle Thai dishes by Chef Tom Naumsuwan.

Éclair Bakery
People’s Kitchen partners with Chef Stéphane Pourrez to bring our guests authentic French pastries.

Ovenly
People’s Kitchen partners with Ovenly to bring our guests inventive treats by Agatha Kulaga and Erin Patinkin.
Pinklady Cheese Tart
Established during the summer of 2020, amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 global pandemic, a cozy shop in New York Chinatown, called Pinklady, is the latest home for the irresistible ooze of sweet molten cheese in Japanese Cheese Tarts, which has been spreading around the globe. Founder Jean Lim grew up in Malaysia, where shops selling individual Japanese cheese tarts had been very popular with her friends and family for years. It was only in 2019, on a trip home from New York City, that she tasted one for the first time. “It was okay,” she said, “but it could have been cheesier.” The attraction of these cheese tarts is that eaten fresh out of the oven, their creamy middles offer an alluring molten melt of cheese, making them an instant Instagram darling.
Lim had moved to New York for a Master degree several years previously but realized that wasn’t the path for her. She had always imagined running a business. Armed with 5QT Kitchenaid mixer and an oven at home, Lim started testing her recipes for 6 months. Neighbors, friends and family all agreed that the cheese tarts were delicious before Lim she took a giant leap in 2020 and opened the petite Pinklady. “Life is short,” says Lim, “you have to go for your dream.”
Lim’s version of Japanese cheese tarts is she says, “less sweet, fluffier, easy to eat, and not heavy.” All 200-300 a day are made in the tiny kitchen at the back of Pinklady. Lim started with the original cheese flavor, which is still the most popular, adding 7 more options in a range of natural flavors and hues, (green matcha, purple ube, cocoa chocolate, silvery black sesame, original with blueberry filling, fruit flavors such as lemon and pink strawberry). The name Pinklady came to her in a dream.
More like this:

KJUN
People’s Kitchen partners with KJUN to bring our guests innovative Korean-Cajun dishes by Chef Jae Jung.

Funk Foods Bakery
People’s Kitchen partners with Funk Foods Bakery to bring our guests inventive sweets by Chef Melissa Funk Weller.

Saigon Social
People’s Kitchen partners with Saigon Social to bring our guests Vietnamese comfort food made by Chef Helen Nguyen.

Thaimee Love
People’s Kitchen partners with Thaimee Love to bring our guests home-style Northern Thai dishes by Chef Hong Thaimee.

Laut
People’s Kitchen partners with Laut to bring our guests South East Asian Michelin rated dishes by Chef Salil Mehta.

Mokbar
People’s Kitchen partners with Mokbar to bring our guests traditional Korean dishes made by Chef Esther Choi.
MAY FOOD FESTIVAL:
RHUBARB CHUTNEY
Our 2023 calendar theme, Preservation, is an ode to the art of preserving the harvest as well as a salute to the self-preservation of body and spirit. These have been challenging years! It’s fair to say we have been pickled and fermented, but that life goes on. It is the celebratory moments and the opportunities to come together that we relish.
This month, we’re celebrating with a Rhubarb Chutney recipe by Chef Andrew Smith.
This tangy-sweet Rhubarb Chutney is a versatile and lively garnish. It pairs perfectly with grilled pork chops or served alongside ham.
Rhubarb Chutney Recipe
by Andrew Smith, Culinary Director
Yield: about 2 cups
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups medium diced rhubarb
- 1 cup medium diced red onion
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp finely diced fresh ginger
- 1/4 cup raisins
1 tsp five spice powder - 1/2 cup water
- 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- Salt to taste
PROCEDURE
- In a thick-bottomed sauce pan over medium heat, sweat onions, garlic, and ginger till they become translucent.
- Mix in the rhubarb, raisins, and five spice powder. Then stir in water, vinegar, sugar, and salt.
- Reduce to low heat and simmer approximately 30 minutes till mixture begins to thicken, occasionally stirring. Remove from heat and chill overnight.
More Food Festival Recipes
Damascus Sweets
Damascus Sweets first opened its doors in early 2020. This small Bronx bakery located in Little Yemen has become a favorite to many locals in the greater Bronx area.
Damascus Sweets specializes in Middle Eastern treats like baklava, kunafa, and much more. We are very excited to bring their delightful treats to you.
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Tris Pies
People’s Kitchen partners with Tris Pies to bring our guests pies baked by Tristan Trowers right in the Bronx!

Michaeli Bakery
People’s Kitchen partners with Michaeli Bakery to bring our guests Israeli style baked goods by Chef Adir Michaeli.

Funk Foods Bakery
People’s Kitchen partners with Funk Foods Bakery to bring our guests inventive sweets by Chef Melissa Funk Weller.

New Cameron Bakery
People’s Kitchen partners with New Cameron Bakery to bring our guests innovative Chinese items from this long-standing Chinatown bakery.

Lafayette
People’s Kitchen partners with Lafayette to bring our guests everyday French cooking by Chef Andrew Carmellini.

New Kam Hing
People’s Kitchen partners with New Kam Hing to bring our guests the best sponge cakes in Chinatown.
Librae Bakery
Librae Bakery is a labor of love from every corner to every layer of croissant.
Located at 35 Cooper Sq in the East Village, Librae is a Third Culture Bakery influenced by flavors from the Middle East using fermentation techniques from Copenhagen.
We take pride in being the first ever Bahraini female owned bakery in one of the most energizing cities in the world.
More like this:

Pi Bakerie
People’s Kitchen partners with Pi Bakerie to bring our guests contemporary baked items with Mediterranean roots.

Maman
People’s Kitchen partners with Maman to bring our guests delicious baked goods from the beloved local bakery.

Lilly’s Baking Company
People’s Kitchen partners with Lilly’s Baking Company to bring our guests Authentic Brooklyn baked goods.

New Kam Hing
People’s Kitchen partners with New Kam Hing to bring our guests the best sponge cakes in Chinatown.

New Cameron Bakery
People’s Kitchen partners with New Cameron Bakery to bring our guests innovative Chinese items from this long-standing Chinatown bakery.

Éclair Bakery
People’s Kitchen partners with Chef Stéphane Pourrez to bring our guests authentic French pastries.
Lilly's Baking Company
Since 1943, our Brooklyn bakery has crafted authentic natural baked goods. From a small kitchen in Brooklyn to the leading baker of babkas, cookies, cakes and breads sold through in-store bakeries, we continue to handcraft the best small batch, artisanal baked goods around.
In 2005, Lilly’s Baking Co. was born. The owner wanted to produce a separate line of natural products that were truly authentic. Lilly’s was created to primarily service the natural market with its tasty Brooklyn treats.
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Lilly’s Baking Company
People’s Kitchen partners with Lilly’s Baking Company to bring our guests Authentic Brooklyn baked goods.

Bite
People’s Kitchen partners with Bite to bring our guests mini donuts baked in Brooklyn by cousins B and Sam.

Librae Bakery
People’s Kitchen partners with Librae Bakery to bring our guests unique treats by Dona Murad-Gerschel.

KJUN
People’s Kitchen partners with KJUN to bring our guests innovative Korean-Cajun dishes by Chef Jae Jung.

Fan-Fan Doughnuts and La Newyorkina
People’s Kitchen partners with Chef Fany Gerson to bring our guests unique artisanal Mexican treats.

Dominique Ansel
People’s Kitchen partners with Chef Dominique Ansel to bring our guests innovative French pastries.
Chocobar Cortés
A FAMILY COMPANY
Chocolate Cortés is a 4th generation, family-owned, Caribbean, bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturing company. Originally established in the Dominican Republic in 1929 by Don Pedro Cortés Forteza, his pioneer spirit promptly moved him to export, and subsequently begin production of Cortés products from his native Puerto Rico; thus paving the way to fulfill his vision of developing Caribbean grown cacao to its fullest potential. Known for its rich and delicious hot chocolate, Chocolate Cortés quickly became a favorite of Puerto Rican and Dominican households to this very day.
The original Chocobar Cortés location, which opened in Old San Juan in 2013, often tops review and travel websites. In the Dominican Republic, Cortés has cocoa plantations and a popular brand, Embajador, that uses the Cortés logo. A visitor center, with a cafe led by Ricardo de Obaldía, the chef of the Chocobar in San Juan, opened in September at a Cortés factory in Santo Domingo.
The Bronx restaurant, modeled after the San Juan location, continues the company’s tradition of using chocolate in varied and often surprising ways.
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All’antico Vinaio
People’s Kitchen partners with All’Antico Vinaio to bring our guests famous Italian sandwiches by Tommaso Mazzanti

Lilly’s Baking Company
People’s Kitchen partners with Lilly’s Baking Company to bring our guests Authentic Brooklyn baked goods.

Dominique Ansel
People’s Kitchen partners with Chef Dominique Ansel to bring our guests innovative French pastries.

Au Za’atar
People’s Kitchen partners with Au Za’atar to bring our guests family-style Lebanese dishes by Chef Tarik Fallous.

Blondery
People’s Kitchen partners with Blondery to bring our guests distinctive handmade blondies by Chef Auzerais Bellamy.

Mysttik Masaala
People’s Kitchen partners with Mysttik Masaala to bring our guests Indian food, like it should be.
Branch Patty
Established in 2013, Branch Patty is a family owned business focused on the art of making Jamaican-style patties. As a Caribbean child, Samuel Branch grew up with a love of patties. He perfected his recipes and technique through his skill and perseverance as a professional chef. Branch Patty was re-launched in 2017 with his wife Lisa. Together they emphasize serving with kindness and integrity as primary ingredients. They don’t believe in serving anything they wouldn’t serve their own children! Branch patties are produced by hand in small batches. We look forward to serving you the “Branch Patty Experience.”
Our Core Values
We believe in using real foods & not cutting corners. We love creating Caribbean flavors that make you feel good.
We source with integrity to get the best ingredients from farms and suppliers that are committed to the same values as we are.
We practice sustainability because we know these decisions will change the world and affect our children’s children.
We firmly believe in supporting other small businesses & our local community.
We love our customers and will feed them with the same respect we feed our own family.
We believe in paying it forward & donating as much as possible.
Our culinary ambassador, Georgette Farkas, interviews Chef Samuel Branch about his culinary career and family-owned company Branch Patty. Read more about it here.
Featured Patty provided by The Branch Family
on February 25th, 2023 at Wollman Rink NYC:
Sweet Potato and Lentil with Beet Crust
Featured Patty provided by The Branch Family
on June 23rd, 2022:
Seasonal Greens Patty:
Collard Greens, Carrots, Tomatoes, Coconut Milk with Spinach Crust
Featured Patty provided by The Branch Family
on February 3rd, 2022:
Curried Squash & Chickpea Patty
Photos courtesy of Branch Patty
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Zanmi
People’s Kitchen partners with Zanmi to bring our guests Haitian dishes with a modern twist by Chef Wesly Jean Simon.

Jumieka NYC
People’s Kitchen partners with Jumieka NYC to bring our guests Caribbean specialties with a modern twist by Chef Kemis Lawrence.

Blondery
People’s Kitchen partners with Blondery to bring our guests distinctive handmade blondies by Chef Auzerais Bellamy.

Fieldtrip
People’s Kitchen partners with Fieldtrip to bring our guest rice-centric dishes by Chef JJ Johnson.

Sylvia’s Restaurant
People’s Kitchen partners with Sylvia’s Restaurant to bring our guests comfort food by the Queen of Soul Food, Sylvia Woods.

Tris Pies
People’s Kitchen partners with Tris Pies to bring our guests pies baked by Tristan Trowers right in the Bronx!










