Marcus Samuelsson's Perfect NYC Day
From Harlem to the lower tip of Manhattan
Food lovers, rejoice! Today we get to hear from one of my good friends, and one of the very best tastemakers in New York City (and the world!), Marcus Samuelsson. If you turn on the TV, you’ll see Marcus traveling around the country telling amazing food stories on No Passport Required. If you open up a fashion magazine, you’ll find Marcus wearing the coolest new clothes and style…if anyone says that dads can’t dress well, just show them a picture of Marcus!
And of course, if you’re in New York, you will be able to find some of the best food in the city at one of his restaurants. I’ve been lucky to be able to spend time with Marcus at Red Rooster, his very famous restaurant in Harlem, where he brings the flavors of America and the energy of the neighborhood together for an incredible meal. You can’t go and not try the Mac and Greens and the Yardbird chicken. And I haven’t been yet but I’ve heard great things about Hav & Mar, Marcus’s seafood restaurant in Chelsea that brings the best of sea with a taste Sweden and Ethiopia, his two homelands. I can’t wait to go.
And I should mention that Marcus has been one of the biggest supporters of my non-profit food relief organization World Central Kitchen over the last few years. Marcus and Red Rooster cooked for communities in need in Harlem, Newark, and Miami through the pandemic, and I’m proud to say that he’s one of the organization’s frontline advisors…he’s really an incredible guy.
Today, I’m excited to pass the microphone directly to Marcus, who shared his ideal day in New York. We’ve added his spots to our map—check it out and get on a train, plane, or the subway—or a bike—and get out there!
And now…here’s Marcus!
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An ideal day in NYC starts where every day starts for me: in Harlem, the place I am so proud to call home. What I love about Harlem is that it has a true community feel, where the brownstones - not high rises - are the center of the neighborhood. You can still see free music on stoops, or experience musicians walking from bar to bar. It harkens back to our history and rich past, but also signals our present and future. I will always feel an enormous amount of gratitude for Jose and the work he did with World Central Kitchen to keep our community fed during the pandemic.
Harlem is a celebration of immigrants, from the street vendors selling vibrant fabrics to small business owners. One of my favorite spots is Pastitalia - where you can get a great macchiato and the daily homemade pasta special for lunch. Grandma goes back and forth between Italy and Harlem, but if you’re really lucky she might be there making the freshest batch of pasta dough.