In celebration of the legendary Sylvia’s Restaurant 55th Anniversary, The Woods Family teamed up with Coyote Outdoor Living for a “Grill Skills Show-Down.” This Harlemstyle block party was off the hook, or, should I say off the grill.
Tren’ness Woods-Black orchestrated a genius idea – utilizing the empty lot next to her famed Grandmother’s Sylvia’s Restaurant at 328 Malcolm X Blvd. Ultimately making “The Grill Skills Show-Down” one of the best block parties to date. Hundreds squeezed into the white draped lot where Crown Royal had a selection of tasty signature drinks. There were buffet food stations, demos on smoking meat, alternating MC’s, smooth DJ dance tunes and late night dancing.
Coyote Outdoor Living set up an impressive grill station for the flavor contest between the hottest and most diverse restaurant neighbors; Corner Social, Cove Lounge, Babbalucci, and Red Rooster. Grill Master Raphael Baccus from Corner Social and Julian Riley fired up the winning flavor and took home the title of Sylvia’s Grill Master + Coyote gave them each a grill!
Just so you know, The Grill Skills Showdown benefitted the Sylvia and Herbert Woods Scholarship Foundation, which awards students from Harlem, and surrounding communities, collegiate scholarships and assistance towards their pursuit of a higher education.
The American irony is that both main sponsors Whole Foods Market and grill gurus Coyote Outdoor Living were both started in Texas. Good food knows no state line and soul food is for everyone. Thank you Tren’ness for bringing together a flavorful mix to celebrate the 55 th Anniversary of Sylvia’s Restaurant, Queen of Soul Food.
