West African Restaurant ‘Teranga’ now open at The Africa Center ~ Harlem

We were delighted to read about the opening of Chef Pierre Thiam’s Senegalese restaurant, Teranga, at The Africa Center..  Not because of a lack of African restaurants in Harlem, but because it’s a sure signal that movement is afoot, with the Museum opening set for February 9, 2019. Check out their menu here. along with the December, 2020 news of Teranga opening in Downtown Brooklyn at Dekalb Market Hall!

Although Chef Pierre Thiam and his wife and children live in Brooklyn, he is no stranger to Harlem, and was a guest chef at Marcus Samuelsson’s second and third annual Harlem EatUp! Festival (below).

His most recent cookbook, Senegal: Modern Senegalese Recipes from the Source to the Bowl, was a finalist for the James Beard award for Best International Cookbook. and he is keen on the gluten-free ancient grain ~ Fonio – what Thiam calls a “miracle grain.”  It appears that we will be in for an education and exploration of African superfoods, possibly foods of not only Senegal, but also Nigeria, Mali, Ivory Coast and Guinea. The new restaurant will occupy about 2,000 square feet of the 70,000 square foot space that overlooks Central Park.

There are more exciting things going on at The Africa Center – like their Artist-in-Residence, Victor Ekpuk, creating new ephemeral artwork inspired by the neighborhood.

After a successful year, Teranga announced that they will be opening two additional locations. One of the new locations will be inside Dekalb Market Hall in Downtown Brooklyn, and the second restaurant location is yet to be decided – noted in Eater New York, January 30, 2020.

Follow The Africa Center on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

We can also follow Chef Pierre Thiam on Facebook.

Above, Portals live cam.

And read this delightful TEDBlog with Chef Pierre Thiam and food blogger Ozoz Sokoh.

Follow Chef Thiam to Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD for the Event ~ Cooking as Inheritance: Beyond Soul Food in the African Diaspora on November 14.

The Africa Center is located at 1280 Fifth Avenue. It was designed by architect Robert A.M. Stern and is located at 110th Street at The Duke Ellington Circle, across the street from Central Park at 110th Street and The Harlem Meer.

December, 2020 Update ~ Teranga opened in downtown Brooklyn at Dekalb Market Hall, 445 Albee Square West.