Chef Marcus Samuelsson Brings Flavor to Atlanta for Black History Month #MacysCulture Tuesday 21 February, 2017
Macy’s always does an amazing job with their Black History Month presentation and this time we brought the flavors of Harlem to Atlanta. Chef Marcus Samuelsson, who is a proud ambassador of Macy’s Culinary Council, graced the stage for a live show-style cooking demo to feed the audience while giving us flavor of food and a mini black history lesson in the mix. Before the demo, we got some live jazz music performances by Harlem-based band The Rakiem Walker Project and NYC-based dance group W.A.F.F.L.E.! to give us a feel of Harlem style and a hint of the NYC and Harlem Renaissance Blue style. Real Smooth.
Who is Marcus Samuelsson? Chef Marcus Samuelsson took the culinary world by storm at age 24 after becoming the youngest chef to ever receive a three-star restaurant review from The New York Times! Born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden Samuelsson brings a unique fusion of culinary talents making his recipes anything but ordinary!
Macy’s Culinary Council Chef Marcus Samuelsson will had a special cooking event to Celebrate his new cookbook, The Red Rooster Cookbook: The Story of Food and Hustle in Harlem and Black History Month! He prepared 3 meals that are inspired by his restaurant and the Harlem area. Great dishes and all of the recipes are found in his new book. He gave so many great tidbits and answered amazing questions such as, ” Will African Food become as popular as other cuisines around the world”? His answer. “All food is African. Many of the foods you think is from that region, actually gets its root from Africa itself.”
For example: Belgium Chocolate is very popular but where in Belgium do the cocoa plants grow? They don’t, they have to import cocoa from Africa.
French Roast coffee is also considered very popular, but again where in France do you import coffee beans? Once again, you have to get coffee beans imported from Africa.
Mini Black History lesson in the form of food!
Double Dragon Rice with Grilled Shrimp
Uncle T’s Meatballs
Squash Salad with Crunch Quinoa & Pumpkin Seed Vinaigrette
Chef Marcus Samuelsson is helping out a future #SaltBae in the making
Chef Marcus also brought 8 year old inspiring blogger and future chef Sage to the stage to help cook a meal.
What I loved about the cooking demo, besides tasting the food of course, was the interactive presentation he had. The former Top Chef winner not only showcased us live how to cook these three meals, but also had two little young helpers to create these demo. It’s super sweet to get the youth involved. Shows like Jr.Masterchef and even just social media itself is breeding a little foodie generation and its so cute to watch them get in the kitchen and help.
After the cooking demo and tasting it was an opportunity for fans to get a copy of the book and get it autographed and photo ops too. The event was done in the Macy’s home goods area, and all a customer had to do was spend $30 or more to get a copy of the book for free along with an autograph and photo. He had several fans waiting for him to sign that book and take photos! No shocking…lots of kids who were anxious too!
Once again, another amazing turn out for Macy’s to celebrate Black History Month in a unique way. History isn’t always about a person or a place, we rarely talk about the history of food. Thanks Chef Marcus Samuelsson for we all walked away learning a little more about our food roots and flavors of Harlem.
Are you familiar with Chef Marcus Samuelsson?
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Oh I am super jealous! I LOVE Marcus Samuelsson! He is an amazing chef. I didn’t know anything about him until I started watching Chopped, and then I did a lot of background reading. 🙂
That looked like an awesome event. I am not familiar with him, but the food he put out there looks really delicious. I will have to get familiar with him.
Chef Marcus is awesome! It’s so nice that you got to watch him in action and for Black History Month too! That’s really great! I’m sure everyone had a great time.
I’ve been longing to try Red Rooster. I used to live in NYC and it was always on my list, but I never made it to Harlem. Next time I visit, I’m going to take a trip just so I can finally try Chef Samuelsson’s amazing cuisine.
yummy and delicious food. I love attending exhibit or food presentation like this one. Not just because i love eating but being with chefs is another way of learning how to cook.
Wow, that food looked great! Sounds like you had a really interesting time, and Marcus seems like a really great guy. History and food is a great combination!
That sounds like it was an amazing event. I love that they got the kids involved as well. That’s really the way to capture their attention and their hearts.
I love that Macy’s celebrates Black History Month this way. It’s so important for young people to know about their ancestors and their accomplishments.
What that is awesome to become a chef. These are some great photos. Sounds like you had a great time.
Oh I am super jealous! I LOVE Marcus Samuelsson! He is an amazing chef. I didn’t know anything about him until I started watching Chopped, and then I did a lot of background reading. 🙂
I love Marcus! He is so awesome! Looks and sounds like this was a really cool experience!
wow! everything there looked too good to eat! I have not been to Atlanta or a culinary event and both are on my list now!
This looks like a really neat event. Wow, the food looks incredible! Looks like you enjoyed yourself there.
That was awesome that he had young helpers. I’d love to be his taste tester.
What a fun experience! I have never heard of marcus, I am totally out of the loops, but i would have loved to be there for this!
That looked like an awesome event. I am not familiar with him, but the food he put out there looks really delicious. I will have to get familiar with him.
What a fun event, I would love something like this! That food all looks delicious and I would love to try something form a professional chef!
Omg so much yumminess!!! Food event are always the best!! Can’t have a bad time when you’re full of deliciousness
Chef Marcus is awesome! It’s so nice that you got to watch him in action and for Black History Month too! That’s really great! I’m sure everyone had a great time.
Looks like an amazing presentation of his skills! I bet it was awesome tasting all the food. He seems like a real inspiration to kids, too.
This looked like an amazing event and what delicious dishes Chef Sanuelsson shared with you!
I didn’t realize that Macy’s does events like this!! What a great way to celebrate history month, all the food looks amazing!
I’ve been longing to try Red Rooster. I used to live in NYC and it was always on my list, but I never made it to Harlem. Next time I visit, I’m going to take a trip just so I can finally try Chef Samuelsson’s amazing cuisine.
Super interesting! I never thought about the whole cocoa beans thing. That food looks amazing! Glad you enjoyed.
I love that they are celebrating black history month through a delicious assortment of food. That squash salad with the pumpkin salad sounds lush x
That’s a great food event to attend and I love that black history is involved in it. What a great way to learn!
I bet that was a delicious evening! Looks like a fun event to be invited to — congratulations! And I love that your kids got to be involved, too. 🙂
yummy and delicious food. I love attending exhibit or food presentation like this one. Not just because i love eating but being with chefs is another way of learning how to cook.
Such interesting information about imports from Africa! Those dishes look wonderful.
I’m in ATL too but I totally missed this! Looks like it was an amazing time, I’ll have to keep my eye out for it, maybe he’ll do another!
Wow, that food looked great! Sounds like you had a really interesting time, and Marcus seems like a really great guy. History and food is a great combination!
That sounds like it was an amazing event. I love that they got the kids involved as well. That’s really the way to capture their attention and their hearts.
Well, that’s pretty awesome. I love that his event combined fun as well as learning and interaction. Very cool.
I love these events at Macy’s! The food looks delish!
What a cool chef! I met hi a few years ago at a Birds Eye event, I am glad I got a celeb picture right as his career was taking off!
This is such a great way to celebrate black history month. I love watching people cook- I find it very entertaining.
That sounds like such a fun event! His shrimp dish looks super delicious!
This sounds like an awesome experience. I love his answer about how all food is African!
All of the dishes showcased looked so good! Hearing from Marcus must have been awesome. I really need to check out Red Rooster at some point.
I love that Macy’s celebrates Black History Month this way. It’s so important for young people to know about their ancestors and their accomplishments.
Wow, sounds like an awesome event you’ve been too. Lovely dishes, look so yum. I just read up about Marcus – an amazing and accomplished chef indeed!