I know Chef Marcus Samuelsson as the rockstar behind Aquavit and a regular on Top Chef. Every foodie friend I know raves about his restaurant Red Rooster in Harlem. I have been getting serious about crossing off restaurants on my hit list. It was about time I take the 2/3 express train to 125th in Harlem. I walked into the restaurant at 6 pm and it was already bustling. There was an eclectic mix of people from every background and age. I loved the vibe of the place, it felt like I was in Marcus Samuelson’s apartment and we were all over for dinner. The food is like a scrapbook of his life, from Ethiopia where he was born to Sweden where he grew up and finally Harlem. I’ve never felt more of a connection to a chef’s personal experience through his food than at Red Rooster. When I ate Helga’s meatballs, I could taste his childhood. The meatballs ended up being my favorite dish. I loved how the savory meatballs were paired with the sweet lingonberries. It was a great dinner with a lively ambiance. The best part was meeting Marcus Samuelson and talking to him, what a cool guy!
{People watching at the bar}
{Fried yard bird}
{Helga’s meatballs}
{Dirty rice and shrimp}
{Sweet potato donuts}
{Warm chocolate hazelnut custard}
