This Harlem soul institution is inviting award-winning Black chefs for a year-long series

Harlem has always been a cultural and culinary epicenter and chef Charles Gabriel has certainly been at its center. Cooking in the kitchens of Harlem since the '90s, chef Gabriel has long been a fixture of the neighborhood for his expertly pan-fried chicken and soulful cuisine, earning him a James Beard semifinalist nod along the way. Even in his late seventies, you can still find the chef behind the counter at one of his many Charles Pan Fried Chicken locations, frying up his birds with the best of them. As a standard bearer of Black excellence, chef Gabriel has opened up his kitchen for a series of pop-ups to celebrate the next generation of talent.

Charles Pan Fried Chicken is hosting the Guest Chef Series, a year-long pop-up that invites critically acclaimed Black culinary talent to Harlem. For one weekend a month, a new chef will visit the Harlem location to create a one-of-a-kind collaborative meal inspired by global flavors.  

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Kicking off the series are chef Camari Mick and chef Brittney “Stikxz” Williams of the coming Afro-Caribbean brasserie, L’Atelier Ébène. Taking over the kitchen from March 27 to March 29, the duo will be serving a special cornbread bread pudding topped with mascarpone and plantain caramel. To pair, chef Gabriel and chef Quie have created a Sweet Heat Yard Bowl with pan-fried plantains and chopped jerk chicken, finished with a rich jerk barbecue glaze and dices of fresh pineapple. The two-course meal will be priced at $25.  

The series follows with appearances by Top Chef alum Lana Lagomarsini (April 24 to April 26) and chef Ayo Balogun of Bed-Stuy's Dept of Culture and Radio Kwara (July 24-26). In August, Harlem will welcome 2024 James Beard Award winner chef Serigne Mbayé of Dakar Nola. To note: the pop-up will only be held at the Harlem flagship location, 340 W 145th Street. The event will be held on corresponding weekends with the following hours: Fridays from 5 to 9pm, Saturdays from 3-9pm and Sundays from 3-8pm.

Check out the full lineup of chefs below and keep an eye on Charles Pan Fried Chicken's Instagram for menu announcements:

• March 27-29: Chef Camari Mick & Chef Brittney “Stikxz” Williams of L'Atelier Ébène, New York, NY
• April 24-26: Chef Lana Lagomarsini, New York, NY
• May 29-31: Chef Adrienne Cheatham, Sunday Best Cookbook & The Chef's Cut Podcast, New York, NY
• June 26-28: Chef Shawn Osbey, Chef Shawn Osbey Catering, Atlanta, GA
• July 24-26: Chef Ayo Balogun, Dept of Culture, Brooklyn, NY
• August 28-30: Chef Serigne Mbayé, Dakar Nola, New Orleans, LA
• September 25-27: Chef Rasheeda Purdie, Ramen by Ra, New York, NY
• October 23-25: Chef Kareem Mr. Bake Queeman, Mr. Bake Sweets, Washington, D.C.
• November 13-15: Chef Andy Allo, Akone, Los Angeles, CA