Alyah Horsford-Sidberry

Cove Lounge

Alyah Horsford-Sidberry is known throughout Harlem for her work within real estate. Lately she has begun to make a major splash on the Harlem scene with her latest business venture within the restaurant and lounge industry. Cove Lounge provides the foundation of what Harlem nightlife and dining should be, sophistication mixed with an urban edge. 

She decided to make her next business venture one that would not only benefit her, but the Harlem economy and community as well. Harlem is also the place this New York native spent most of her childhood and where she called home since 1994. A career within real estate and nightlife fits within Horsford-Sidberry's business motto of building relationships, a lesson she learned from her Grandfather who started the family real estate business in the early 1940's. Alyah also learned the lesson to "stay the course, do not be discouraged and always trust your instincts." These major lessons have helped to make both Cove Lounge and Horsford Group a success.   

Inspired to dream back at an early age, Alyah hopes to encourage others by empowering younger individuals to work hard to achieve their goals, so they too, can do exactly what they love. Alyah an energetic and innovative owner, lives daily by the mantra "faith plus work equals success" and that "networking helps to build solid relationships." Alyah has press accolades from:  Essence, Food Network, TheRoot and other media outlets.

She proudly resides in Harlem, NY, with her husband and two sons. 

Chaiwali

Anita Trehan

Anita Trehan created Chaiwali out of her passion for food, design and wellness. Part New Delhi, part New York, she grew up experiencing a rich tradition of home cooking. Food at home and on the street united rich and poor, just by being tasty. Upon moving to New York, she discovered tastes from all over the world - a global food bazaar! - and she taught herself to cook. After a career in hospitality and philanthropy, Anita decided to create Chaiwali, to combine flavors she grew up with, with new ones she discovered in New York. She wanted to address health through food, but in ways that incorporated wellness without being trendy. When her daughter developed severe food allergies, Anita discovered new ways to cook and to heal, thereby creating a Chaiwali menu that caters to all.

Humberto Guallpa

Row House

Growing up in rural Ecuador, Humberto and his family managed a small farm of vegetables and livestock for the sole purpose of feeding the family. With the exclusion of rice and salt all the family’s ingredients were home grown. This future chef displayed his intense interest in the culinary arts by assisting his grandmother in the kitchen and learning everything he possibly could about the preparation of healthy and balanced meals.

Humberto has worked and perfected his craft alongside many of New York’s top rated chefs including Mario Batali, Marco Polo, Paul Zweben, Larry Forgione, Marcus Samuelson, Rocco Dispirito, Julian Alonzo, Franklin Becker and Steve Frapoli. Chef Humberto’s unique style can be generally described as French but is greatly influenced by his eclectic knowledge and Spanish culture creating an extraordinary French American Bistro.

Norma Jean Darden

Miss Mamie's Spoonbread

Norma Jean Darden has had a long and versatile career in the food and fashion worlds.  As a Wilhelmina model, her photos appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Mademoiselle, Seventeen, Glamour, Ladies Home Journal, Esquire, New York Magazine, Life, Newsweek and The New York Times.   She was a favorite model of Essence Magazine and also worked for European magazines, such as Italian Vogue, Italian Bazaar and Elle. 

Darden is also co-author, along with sister Carole, of the Award-Winning Doubleday book “Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine, Recipes and Reminiscences of a Family”.  The book is a Historical Collection of Family Heritage, including recipes handed down for generations.   The work became the first cookbook to come to the live stage when Darden toured the country with her one-woman show, Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine, for over a year.

Today Ms. Darden owns and operates SPOONBREAD INC. which includes SPOONBREAD CATERING, New York’s largest African American owned catering company and two thriving restaurants in Manhattan, Miss Mamie’s at 366 W. 110 St. and Miss Maude’s at 547 Lenox Ave.  Spoonbread has a diverse and impressive client list, ranging from Fortune 500 majors like Time Warner, Microsoft, Viacom and Citibank to individual celebrity clientele and long time personal devotees.  Oprah Magazine called owner Norma Jean Darden the “Secret Weapon Of Some Of New York’s Savviest Party-Givers”.  The company is on the “Approved Caterer” list for many of NY’s hottest venues including The N.Y. Public Library, N.Y. Historical Society, M.O.M.A. and the Brooklyn Museum. Darden has appeared on TV’s Food Network and on Martha Stewart Living.  O, Oprah Magazine called Darden the “Secret weapon of some of New York’s savviest Party-Givers”.   Darden’s SPOONBREAD INC. has been selected to work as consultant with New York’s largest caterer, GREAT PERFORMANCES, on the opening of Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, one of three performances venues at the world class Jazz at Lincoln Center Facility in the new Time Warner Center in New York City.

Ms. Darden sits on the Board of the Salvation Army and recently co-chaired, along with sister Carole, Community Access’ Annual Gala benefiting homeless men and women with mental illness.

Melba Wilson

Melba's Restaurant

Melba Wilson was “born, bred and buttered in Harlem.” Today she proudly represents her New York neighborhood as one of the most successful African American women in the restaurant and catering business. Her achievements are countless and her reputation in the food service industry is stellar. Her style, poise and love of entertaining have made Melba’s Restaurant a New York landmark frequented by music, TV and movie stars, New York City’s elite, locals and travelers from around the world.

Melba’s drive to succeed started at an early age with a sharp eye and impeccable insight. Her first opportunity to learn about the restaurant business was at Harlem’s famous Sylvia’s Restaurant, where she held a variety of service and managerial positions. It was Melba who conceptualized and launched the popular Sunday Gospel Brunch, which was so successful that the restaurant industry’s elite quickly came calling.

Michael Lomanco, former Executive Chef of 21 Club and Executive Chef of Windows on the World Restaurants contacted Melba in 1999 to produce and manage a weekly Sunday brunch. Within six months the Champagne Gospel Brunch generated a sixty-five percent increase in revenue. This experience combined with her ability to organize, produce and execute promotional events led to partnerships with renowned restaurateurs, Drew Nieporent and Robert DeNiro of the Nobu empire, Corton, Centrico and TriBeca Grill – as well as the late Artie Cutler and Godfrey Polistina of Carmine’s, Virgil’s, Cesca, and Quest Restaurants.

In 2004, Melba decided to strike out on her own. Today she is the proud sole owner of two Harlem based businesses, Melba’s Restaurant, and Melba’s Catering. Melba’s Restaurant has won rave reviews from New York Magazine, Time Out, The New Yorker, The Daily News, Zagat and Interview Magazine. The restaurant was also named Best Brunch for Kids by Time Out New York, Best Soul Food by Zagat and New York.com and has featured recipes in the “Go Green East Harlem” Cookbook as well as the “Bobby Flay’s Throwdown” cookbook. Melba’s Catering has an extensive list of clientele including Target, Nike, American Express, Pfizer, Time Warner, Bank of America, The NFL, NBA, Transport Workers Union, Universal Records, The Archdiocese of New York and several recording artists including DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, the Zac Brown Band and Katy Perry.

Melba appears on national news and cooking shows. She was previously featured on The View, The Today Show, Good Day New York, NBC’s “New York Live”, the Sundance Film Channel in a documentary entitled, "Love, Lust and Comfort Food,” CBS “The Morning Show”,  the Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay”, Food Network’s “Savoring Harlem” (which Melba narrated), “The Next Food Network Star”, “3 Days to Open with Bobby Flay”, "Beat Bobby Flay", "Restaurant Divided" with Rocco DiSpirito, The Insider, and she was the lead judge on “My Momma Throws Down” on TV One. Designer Isaac Mizrahi handpicked Melba as one of his Favorite ladies to represent his Liz Claiborne line in a series of national advertisements entitled, REAL Women.

The proud mother of a 19 year old son, Melba has a cookbook that was released in April, 2016 with Simon & Schuster and was honored twice by Ebony Magazine with their Taste of Ebony  Award. Melba is the recipient of the Westside Spirit Award, The Entrepreneur Award presented by Congressman Charles Rangel, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce Award, The Thurgood Marshall Prestige Award, The "Shero Award 2015" and the Heritage Award, to name a few. She is a member of the Board and in 2019 was elected the President of Board of Directors for The NYC Hospitality Alliance. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Opportunity Charter School and Harlem Park to Park. Melba donates to and supports many causes including Alzheimer’s, The Girl Scouts of America, diabetes, literacy, senior citizens causes and takes time to help community outreach organizations in Harlem and throughout New York City.

In 2019 Melba’s celebrates 15 years in business, and has served over 2.5 million guests.