NYC’s first ever restaurant focusing on Peranakan cuisine, Kebaya, has officially opened in the heart of the Flatiron District, and it’s offering a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

Peranakan cuisine, also referred to as Nonya cuisine, comes from the Peranakans–descendants of early Chinese migrants who settled in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The cuisine is a combination of Chinese, Malay, and Indonesian cuisines, which is to say it’s a mouthwatering combination of tang, spice, herbs, and aromatics.

The name Kebaya comes from the intricate and vibrant garment worn by women in Southeast Asia and is a symbol of the Peranakan and Malay communities.

At Kebaya, acclaimed pioneering chef, Salil Mehta, and renowned NYC-based food consultant, Margaret Goh serve traditional Peranakan plates with a modern take on the classics.

Highlights on the menu include Hoppers with Coconut Chutney, Tamarind Sambal, and Podi Ghee, which are fermented rice batter hoppers, similar to dosa, Sate Lilit with Chili Kicap Sambal, mince beef wrapped over lemongrass root and grilled to perfection, and Nasi Ulam with Charred Macherel, a mouth-watering Jasmine rice with toasted coconut, herbs, torch ginger flower, sambal, and dry shrimp.

A selection of handcrafted cocktails make for the perfect accompaniment to your meal, and also showcase Malaysian, Singapore, and Indonesia’s myriad of flavors.

Cocktails include The Girl from Ipoh, a Rum-based pandan milk punch, Umami, a mushroom infused whiskey with ameri, and a citrus concoction, and Tiger Stripe, a tantalizing combination of guava, tequila, spicy gunpowder, and lime, among others.

Beers, wines, champagne, and Peranakan tea are also available to order.

Kebaya is the newest addition to Fungi Hospitality’s restaurant portfolio, which includes restaurants such as Laut, Singapura, and WAU.

Representing rich history, vibrant culture, and endless ingredients, Kebaya offers guests a unique journey through Southeast Asia’s diverse and vibrant flavors.

You can learn more and make reservations on their website.

Kebaya, 20 E 17th St.

Tuesday-Thursday 5p.m. – 11p.m., Friday 5p.m. – 12a.m., Saturday 1p.m. – 12a.m., Sunday 1p.m. – 10p.m.

The post NYC’s First Peranakan Restaurant Is Bringing Chinese, Malay, & Indonesian Flavors To Flatiron appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Harlem Bespoke: The Children’s Art Carnival started in 1969 by the Museum of Modern Art as part of an outreach program for youth in the community and now is also showcasing emerging local artists with exhibits at the Hamilton Heights townhouse. 

* This article was originally published here

Broadway royalty and overall Hollywood fixture Neil Patrick Harris will take on many different roles on when joining the cast of Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre for a limited time later this month.

Starting Tuesday, April 11 through Sunday, April 30, Harris will play Francis, a member of the Cornley Drama Society that portrays the show’s narrator and a bunch of other parts on the show. Note that the actor will not appear on stage during the April 21 show and the April 22 matinee performance.

“I’m a massive fan of Team Mischief and physical comedy in general, so I jumped (fell?) at the chance to join their genius on stage,” said the 49-year-old actor about his guest starring in an official statement. “That said, the role of the Narrator mostly sits in a chair and reads a book, so apparently no rehearsals are required. I guess that’s fine… what could possibly go wrong?”

Harris is just the first of a number of special guest stars that the Broadway production has promised will appear every so often during the run of the show. No word yet on who, or when, is part of that roster just yet—but it’s safe to say that their very first pick is a solid one.

In addition to his Emmy Award winning work on Glee, Harris took on the role of Hedwig in the Broadway rendition of Hedwig and The Angry Inch, a part that earned him a Tony Award in 2014.

We’re sure Harris will only add spirit to an already lively show.

* This article was originally published here

Harlem Bespoke: One of grand local African-American churches went up for sale at 147-149 West 123rd Street for $6.25 $5.95 million in October 2019 and a contract is now out as of May 13th, 2022 and there is finally a new update on the sale. We received information from the broker that everything closed for $4.3M and the buyer was another religious organization.  

The Greater Metropolitan Baptist Church which is a 9,418-square-foot neo-Gothic church in the Mount Morris Park neighborhood is actually protected as an official New York City Landmark since 1994.  This means any new developer that comes in can not demolish the site but would have to make some sort of adaptive reuse effort either as a combined residential development or maybe even some sort of event space.  Everything out front would have to eventually be restored accordingly and maybe the stained glass will come back one day.  More details can be found on the broker site: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2023

* This article was originally published here