TravelWorld International Magazine Winter 2023

While Sylvia passed away in 2012, her
legacy lives on through her children who
work at the restaurant and also through
her recipes that continue to satisfy
customers from all walks of life.
Sylvia’s is known for a wide range of
dishes, but I decided my soul needed
chicken and waffles, (which is what many
of my neighbors were also having for
brunch). You get a very filling portion
with half of a Belgian-style waffle and
two pieces of chicken topped with a
generous scoop of butter and a filled
canister to top with as much syrup
as your heart desires. The waffles are
light and fluffy with crispy edges that
compliment the chicken that’s very
tender. I ordered their sweet tea to drink
which was lightly sweet with the perfect
punch of zest afterwards.
Looking at the seats next to me it seemed
that Sylvia’s had positively impacted
my fellow diners who had smiles on
their faces. I saw a family of three
generations: a father, his daughter,
Serena and his granddaughter who was
eager to eat with her family. I spoke
with the family and discovered that they
were visiting from Upstate and decided
to have lunch before returning back
home. “We like the ambiance and the
food. I like the fact that it’s black owned
and the happiness the area attracts”, the
grandfather said. “Soul to me means
family time, getting together and is the
essence of our blackness. Makes me
think of the holidays.” Serena said.
Speaking to another visitor named Alan
I had gotten similar responses. He said,
“I love the food, laid back atmosphere
and the home-y vibes. They do a lot
for the community. It’s always nice
to support a restaurant that’s heavily
involved in where they are."
An entree of chicken and waffles
The
sweet tea
has the
perfect
punch
An entree of catfish, mac and cheese and collard greens
Ma' N Pop restaurant front
Ma N’ Pop
The vibe of Sylvia’s is very similar to Ma N’
Pop, another soul food place in the heart
of Bed Stuy that was founded by family.
The restaurant is a quaint room adorned
with vinyl, instruments and photos on
the walls, and carries good energy. I had
their signature catfish with collard greens,
mac and cheese, and corn bread with half
and half tea on the side. The catfish was
perfectly crisp with just the right amount of
succulence and perfect with a dash of hot
sauce and tartar sauce. The mac and cheese
was very tender with a sharp cheesiness and
the collard greens were seasoned with a nice
bite to them. Finally, the half and half is a
perfect blend of tangy and sweet to
wash everything down.
The hostess, Tajee, has been
working there for 4 years and enjoys
helping out because it speaks to
the family legacy. To her soul food
means “history because [there’s]
a background story to every dish
on the menu”. Ms. Rose, a local
customer who has been coming to
the restaurant for ten years, said,
“They’re always very open and they
welcome you. They talk to you all the
time. It’s like coming home.”
As winter approaches, and people stay
indoors, it's uplifting to remember
that there are millions of stories to be
found in restaurants all around New
York City. The beautiful thing about
‘Soul Food’ is that while it holds firm
roots in the South, it’s a proud product
of all perspectives, is influenced by and
inspires people from all over the world.
Food will always connect people so
the next time you visit New York City,
venture out to one of these restaurants.
There is something for and a seat for
everybody at the communal table.
Famous cornbread
Ma' N Pop restaurant table
Ma' N Pop restaurant interior
Ma' N Pop restaurant interior
40 41