Chef’s Lab at Refettorio Harlem
39 w 119th Street | New York, NY 10026 I Inside the Emanuel AME Church
Chef’s Lab x Queens Night Market
MAY 11, 2026
(6:00 pm VIP) | 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
All Ticket Proceeds Support Free Food at Refettorio Harlem
“Nourish” General Admission ($120 pp)
6:30 pm
Chef's Lab x Queens Night Market brings the spirit of New York City's legendary open-air feast to Harlem for one night only.
“Creators” VIP ($180 pp)
6:00 pm
Join the Chefs and Event Organizers for a lively pre-event discussion and toast.
About the Evening
Chef's Lab x Queens Night Market brings the spirit of New York City's legendary open-air feast — 100+ countries and over a decade of celebrating the world's most diverse food cultures — to Harlem for one night. Queens Night Market has assembled the most democratic food gathering in America. Filipino sisig next to Trinidadian doubles next to Colombian arepas next to West African suya. Collaborating chefs Myo Lin Thway of Burmese Bites, Prince Torre of Chickn Rotonda, and Ginela Smith of G&G Cuisine will prepare a multi-course tasting menu drawing from the Queens Night Market's extraordinary breadth of global culinary traditions.
Jill Newman Productions Presents live Music by the Incredible RAY ANGRY (of The Roots) & PATIENCE HIGGINS (Harlem Legend)!
The Chef's Lab is an opportunity to showcase the mission and raise support for Free Food at Refettorio Harlem's three course dinners with dignity program — currently serving 700 meals weekly, addressing food insecurity, food waste, and more importantly social isolation. The program also runs a culinary training initiative for justice-impacted individuals, providing professional kitchen skills and a pathway to meaningful employment in the food industry. Free Food at Refettorio Harlem was recently featured in the New York Times and presented on the floor of the United States House by Rep. Jim McGovern.
Guest Chefs
Myo Lin Thway - Burmese Bites - Myo Lin Thway is the chef and founder of Burmese Bites and one of the Queens Night Market's original vendors, having been among its very first applicants when the market launched in 2015. Originally from Hinthada, Myanmar, Myo spent years perfecting his palatas — traditional Burmese flatbreads — at church food fair fundraisers in Queens before turning his passion into a business. Today, Burmese Bites is a New York institution, known for its Keema Palata, tea leaf salad, and coconut chicken noodle soup, and has expanded from the Night Market to a food cart and a Queens Center Mall location. Myo describes Burmese cuisine as "Chinese food plus Indian food plus Thai food divided by three, with a Burmese twist" — and every dish proves it.
Prince Torre- Chickn Rotonda - Born and raised in the Philippines, is the chef and founder of Chickn Rotonda. An alumnus of Institute of Culinary Education's work-study program, he's been in the food and service industry for almost 2 decades, notably as the Sous Chef at the Metropolitan Opera House before shifting his focus on his business ventures. He opened his first pop-up at the Queens Night Market in 2018 with the vision of putting Filipino Food Forward.
Ginela Smith – G&G Cuisine - Ginela is the chef and founder of G&G Cuisine, a beloved fixture at the Queens Night Market known for bringing authentic Panamanian street food to New York City. Her menu features traditional dishes including hojaldre and carimañolas — recipes rooted in Panamanian culinary heritage and served with the warmth and pride of someone who carries her culture in every plate. G&G Cuisine has become one of the market's most recognizable stops, a testament to the power of honest, home-rooted cooking in one of the world's most diverse food cities. Ginela opened a food trailer, Casa Carimañolas y Más, in Brooklyn this past September.
Menu
May 11, 2026
WELCOME STATIONS & PASSED APPETIZERS
Carimañolas Station
Fried yuca fritters with seasoned beef — G&G Cuisine (Ginela Smith)
Shan Tofu Station
Burmese chickpea tofu with tamarind sauce — Burmese Bites (Myo Thway)
Turkey Lumpia w/ Sweet-chili sauce — Chickn Rotonda (Prince Torre)
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FIRST COURSE
Tomato Salad
Burmese-style fresh tomato salad — Burmese Bites (Myo Thway)
Chicken Adobo - Filipino braised chicken, string bean, crispy garlic over crispy Rice —
Chickn Rotonda (Prince Torre)
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MAIN COURSES
Pan-Seared Salmon
Silky plantain purée and passion fruit glaze — G&G Cuisine (Ginela Smith)
Chicken Curry
Traditional Burmese preparation — Burmese Bites (Myo Thway)
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DESSERT
Tres Leches Cake
G&G Cuisine (Ginela Smith)
Puffed Rice "Champurado' pudding w/ grated Tibuok Salt
Supporting Partners
Need to know
Donation ticket is final and non-refundable
Event is wheelchair accessible
Allergens and General Questions to Refettorio team hello@refettorioharlem.org
Location
39 119th Street, New York, NY 10026 (inside Emanuel A.M.E Church )