According to news reports, Nicholas Ashford of Ashford and Simpson passed away yesterday here in New York.
Ashford, who was born in South Carolina grew up in Michigan. He moved to New York City in the early 1960s and met his future wife, Valerie Simpson in Harlem’s White Rock Baptist Church. They began collaborating musically with Ashford writing most of the lyrics, Simpson composing. They also recorded together. But it’s their work as songwriters for performers such as Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson and others that made them legendary. They also received writing credit on Amy Winehouse’s “Tears Dry On Their Own.”
They also co-owned the Sugar Bar where live performances are a big part of the menu.
When I moved to Harlem more than 10 years ago, you could count on one hand the number of restaurants and banks on 125th Street and surroundings and still have fingers left over. Now, I can sample Senegalese, Jamaican, Cuban, French, American, Italian, Ethiopian, Chinese, and some new fusion foods without having to take a subway downtown.
Oh, and now I have my pick of several branches of the major banks just on 125th Street alone.
Here are a few of my favorite restaurants, the same ones I recommend to friends who come from out of town.
Red Rooster – Chef and author, Marcus Samuelsson, brings his award winning cooking uptown to Red Rooster, his new restaurant which features traditional American fare. The restaurant got its name from a Harlem speakeasy that was located on 138th Street and 7th Avenue where Harlem’s glitterati like Nat King Cole, Adam Clayton Powell and James Baldwin used to meet and eat. Samuelsson was a Top Chef Masters winner, and guest chef at the first State Dinner of the Obama Administration. Red Rooster, 310 Lenox Avenue, 212.792.9001. I’ve been for lunch and brunch. The food was excellent but be prepared to wait. Reservations recommended for dinner.
Chez Lucienne – Next door to Red Rooster at 308 Lenox is Chez Lucienne. Before Red Rooster popped up, Chez Lucienne was the spot to go for good French food without the downtown prices. I’ve taken friends and clients here for lunch and dinner and was never disappointed. I’ve been promising to order the whole red snapper next time just so I can watch the waiter debone my fish. Drop by on Friday nights for the jazz as well. Chez Lucienne’s owned by Jerome Bougherdani, who worked at Le Bernadin and Daniel, downtown establishments. Chez Lucienne, 308 Lenox Avenue. 212-289-5555.
Ristorante Settepani – Opened originally as a café selling scrumptious pastries, Settepani underwent extensive renovations and reopened as a restaurant serving Mediterranean fare a little over a year ago. I fell in love with the seafood pasta dish that was cooked in parchment paper – had it several times — but it doesn’t seem to be on the latest menu. Not to worry, the owners, Leah and Nino Settepani, have maintained the same attention to detail as they did at the original café. Ristorante Settepani, 192 Lenox Avenue, 917-492-4806.
Ristorante Settepani
Native – Funky and unpretentious Native offers an excellent variety of foods – for vegetarians and those who still love some fried chicken or burger. Native Restaurant, 161 Lenox Avenue, 212-665-2525.
Native Restaurant
Mobay Uptown – Billed as a “Caribbean soul fusion” restaurant, Mobay Uptown has been in Harlem for about 8 years – one of the first upscale restaurants to open in the community. Combining Southern, Caribbean, Chinese cuisine, Mobay and its owner, Sheron Chin-Barnes, have been featured on Bobby Flay’s Throwdown. Mobay Uptown Restaurant, 17 West 125th Street, 212-876-2300
Melba’s – When I’m feeling for some comfort food, I head down to Melba’s Restaurant, named after owner Melba Brown. Melba’s been a fixture in the neighborhood since 2005 and is famous for their Southern Fried Chicken and Eggnog Waffles. Melba’s Restaurant, 300 W 114th Street, 212-864-7777.
Le Baobab Restaurant – Generous portions, good prices. Whenever I go to Le Baobab, I always have left overs. My favorite – the fried fish, whole fish fried crispy with a sauce on the side. I usually back that up with some couscous and friend plantains and top it off with a glass of their homemade ginger drink. Le Baobab Restaurant, 120 W 116th Street, 212-864-4700.
Amor Cubano – Yucca fries, ropa vieja, arroz con pollo, mojitos, and other traditional Cuban fare is on offer at Amor Cubano. So until the embargo on travel to the island nation is lifted, if you want a taste of good Cuban food, Amor Cubano is the place to go uptown. Amor Cubano, 2013 3rd Avenue, 212-996-1220.
Last week, the buzz was about Cedric, a new French bistro that had its grand opening on Monday night. Named after Cedric Lecendre, the general manager at Le Bilboquet, an eatery on the Upper East Side, Cedric is the latest chef to open an outpost in Harlem. Word is that on opening night, uptown and downtown, including Chris Noth of Law and Order, and Sex in the City fame met at Cedric.
If you ever come uptown, make sure to check out one of these restaurants. I’ll share more in another post later this week.
For most people, reggae is Jamaican music. But before there was reggae, there were other types of music, most notablyska. Guitarist Ernest (Ernie) Ranglin is one of the musicians credited with creating ska.
In addition to his involvement with ska, Ranglin created the soundtrack for the Bond film, Dr. No, which was
Jazz Guitarist, Ernest 'Ernie' Ranglin
filmed in Jamaica. Born in Jamaica 79 years ago, Ranglin started playing at an early age after listening to his musician uncles play the ukelele and guitar and practicing with their instruments. His style is a fusion of jazz and reggae. Ranglin’s worked with several musicians and recorded more than thirty albums.
A few years ago, I saw Ranglin perform at Aaron Davis Hall in Harlem. For most of the show, I felt absolutely giddy with excitement, a huge smile plastered on my face. Take s listen to one of my favorites, Below the Baseline.
Looking back at the photos I took at Stonehenge, the one of this stone always grabs my attention. Maybe because it’s separated by several feet from the main stone circle and seems to be keeping watch over the others or maybe because of its shape — it looks like a large animal — I’m not sure. I look for clues and see body parts where there’s only stone.
The youngest son of the reggae icon, Bob Marley, Damian Marley seemed to explode on to the music scene with
Damian Marley, image from the Internet
his double Grammy Award Winning CD, Welcome to Jamrock, which was recorded in 2005. But these weren’t his only Grammy Wards. Marley, who’d been singing since he was thirteen, also won in 2002 for his second CD, Halfway Tree.
Damian Marley was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1978. His mother, Cindy Brakespeare, is a jazz singer and a former Miss Jamaica.
I was pleased to hear Marley showcasing the unmistakable ‘old school’ reggae vocabulary on several tracks on this CD. One of my favorites and the featured song for today’s Soulful Sundays is There For You. Most of reggae is protest music, and songs about poverty and social injustice. It’s always a pleasant surprise when an artist slips in one that isn’t. There For You reminds me of the turn his father took with a little love song, which interestingly, was penned for Damian’s mother.
