Located in Hudson River Park on West 15th Street, Pier 57 is a year-round community project that celebrates the culinary and cultural diversity of New York City. Originally built in 1907 as a shipping and storage terminal, it was rebuilt by the New York Department of Marine and Aviation in 1952. Over time, Pier 57 became a significant part of the city’s history and earned a place on the National Register of Historic Sites.
Thanks to the joint efforts of several entities, Hudson River Park Trust, Google, Jamestown, James Beard Foundation, RXR, Youngwoo & Associates and The Baupost Group, Pier 57 was carefully remodeled and now serves a community function that honors its history. There we find a multitude of projects linked to gastronomy, art, culture, nature, always with a stunning view of the waterfront and a strong sense of community and helping others.
On the ground floor we find Market 57, a multipurpose space where we find around 15 gastronomic concepts, as well as a mission-centered “community” kitchen called PLATFORM by JBF (James Beard Foundation), and a program called Good to Go by JBF, which Rotatingly features a chef where training and special actions are provided, always curated by the non-profit organization JBF. Market 57 functions as an incubator for small local businesses and entrepreneurs in the food sector, focusing on gastronomic concepts whose owners/founders are women and BIPOC – “Black, Indigenous and People of Color”.
Among the diverse gastronomic concepts we find – Ammi, Bessou, Bird & Branch, Due Madri, Local Roots, LoLo’s on the Water, Malai, Mijo, Mothershuckers, Nom Wah, Harlem Hops, The Galley by Lobster Place, The Good Batch and Zaab Zaab. We had the opportunity to taste the delicacies of some of the spaces, as well as speak a little with those who develop them, this is a concept that we are passionate about, collective food spaces, diverse but with a common mission, paying homage to traditions, culture, street food, the so-called real food and a sense of helping others that can be felt in every word, taste and smell.
LOLO’S ON THE WATER
INFO @ www.lolosonthewater.com
Chefs Raymond Mohan and Leti Skai Young share their passion for Caribbean flavors here, a “recreation” of their Harlem Mainstay, LoLo’s Seafood Shack. The experience is inspired by seaside restaurants, known as lolos, places that serve as a meeting point for locals and travelers, presenting daily fish combined with the island’s barbecue style. The menu is inspired by its Caribbean roots and the trips the owners have taken to over 50 countries. The unofficial meaning of LoLo is locally owned, locally operated. Empanadas, shrimp with coconut sauce, fish & chips and tacos are some of its specialties.
ZAAB ZAAB
INFO @ https://zaabzaabnyc.com
Zaab Zaab is a restaurant that represents northern Thai cuisine, serving true flavors from the northeast region of Isan. Other specialties include mieng pla pow, salt-and-charcoal-crusted braised tilapia marinated in cumin, garlic and white pepper stuffed with pandan leaves and lemongrass, and koy nuer, raw minced meat with khao klua (roasted rice powder), pepper and fried lemon leaves.
MIJO
INFO @ www.mijo.nyc
The Mijo concept was created by chef Fany Gerson and her husband, Daniel Ortiz de Montellano, both natives of Mexico City. During the pandemic, Fany and Danny began preparing meals for hospital workers and needy communities, later creating a surprising gastronomic concept they called “El Newyorkino”, preparing homemade Mexican dishes to be delivered directly to consumers’ homes with reheating instructions. Some time later, Mijo was born, which is a term of affection in Spanish that means “my son”, the concept is inspired by his docile son Gael and everything about Mijo is inspired by and for him. The menu is a mix of some of your favorite homestyle styles and Mexico City street food, using the best ingredients, from the best locations and producers. Tacos, Volcanes, Abrazadas, Totopos and all the delicacies that Mexicans… and we love this gastronomic feast. For more projects like this, bravo James Beard Foundation and partners, an example for the world from one of its capitals!
By Edgar Correia
INFO: https://pier57nyc.com