the good good | harlem.

a hot day in harlem with a full plate.

Hey friends,

Welcome to the first installment of Table for 1, my new series where I let my palate do the talking and point you toward places worth eating and drinking beyond your own neighborhood. Kicking things off felt easy once I remembered a trip that has been sitting with me for weeks.

Some getaways do not need to be far to feel like a full exhale. Boston to New York is about a four hour train ride (shout out to Amtrak), but the second I stepped off at Penn Station and made my way uptown, something in my shoulders dropped. I did not need an island or a passport this time. I just needed sidewalks that hummed with a different rhythm than my own city, and Harlem always delivers a cup filling vibe.

I started my day at the Studio Museum in Harlem, letting the artistry slow me down and the high ceiling ease my stress levels. After about an hour of walking through the museum and learning about the current exhibits and installations, I decided to walk through Harlem (it’s been a while) and that walk ended up being its own kind of exhibit.

It was extremely hot and the kind of thick July heat that makes the block feel alive rather than uncomfortable: from the speaker playing old school R&B loud enough to reach the corner, to teenage girls huddled over a phone laughing about something online, it felt good to be Black and unhurried in Harlem. Elders also sat on stoops fanning themselves and watching the world go by while I soaked in every second of it on my way to dinner.

That dinner was at The Good Good, and LET. ME. TELL. YOU: this restaurant turned out to be the centerpiece of the whole trip!

The space itself already sets a welcoming tone before you even enter through the curtain at the entrance. Upon entering, it felt like a group of people (hint hint) who love Harlem built a room that honors the warm and intentional vibes of Harlem without trying too hard. I walked in and was immediately greeted by the host who had such a friendly demeanor. I didn’t have a reservations but he was too kind and was able to accommodate me with a Table for 1.

So like a true Panamanian, I had the fried sweet plantains and they were exactly what a hot Harlem afternoon called for. Caramelized on the outside, soft and sweet in the center, the kind of dish that makes you close your eyes for a second before you even realize you did it.

I also went with the pan seared branzino. Fermented scallion, charred cherry tomatoes, wilted chicory, and a butter peri peri sauce that tied the whole plate together with just enough heat to keep things interesting. The fish was delicate, the sauce was bold, and the balance of it all felt like a conversation between comfort and craft. It was the kind of dish that reminds you good food does not have to choose between soulful and elevated. It can be both.

And you guys know I will primarily gravitate toward wine, so I paired the meal with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc from Starborough, Marlborough, 2021. Crisp, bright, with just enough citrus to cut through the richness of the butter sauce and cool me down after that walk in the sun. I also tried a cocktail special that they were featuring for the night (cocktail shown in image). I don’t remember the exact name of it but after the glass of wine and this special cocktail I was fully settled into the evening, in no rush to be anywhere else.

Sitting there, full and content, I kept thinking about how a good getaway does not always require extreme physical distance from yoru reality. Sometimes it just requires art to open your eyes, a neighborhood to remind your body what joy sounds like, and a table like the one at The Good Good to bring it all home on a plate.

Harlem, I will be back. The And Good Good, save me a seat at the bar!

xoxo,

Ty-Juana