Media Event at Cheri, Harlem

This post is in collaboration with Cheri.

Earlier this month, my friend Sanne aka the one and only Mitzie Mee was invited to a media event, and she invited me along as her plus one. Cheri is a French bistro located in the heart of Harlem, and in just 14 months since its opening, TripAdvisor has named Cheri the #1 restaurant in Harlem. The event was a celebration with plenty of cocktails and small bites.

As you enter Cheri, it feels less like entering a restaurant, and more like entering someone’s home for a home cooked meal. At Cheri, there’s a touch of classic French elegance and the whimsy of pop art. The fireplace, grand piano, photo collages, and cozy armchairs add to the relaxed, homey feel. It’s like stepping into Chef Alain Eoche’s living room.

The most charming part of the restaurant was the garden. I always love mixed textures and blurring the interior and exterior. The white chairs add a nice contrast to the long dining table. A mirror is used to expand garden space. However, the talk of feng shui and Buddha statue in the garden is odd for a French restaurant.

We nibbled away on finger foods and crostini, while sipping on champagne and sangria. The sangria had a lovely hint of ginger and cayenne, which I’ll have to remember next time I’m making sangria at home.

After politely declining several items with meat, the staff surprised me and another vegetarian attendee with plates of tasty meatless treats. At the end of the night, we enjoyed the most addictive little desserts, which were reason enough to come back.

The man behind Cheri is Chef Alain Eoche, who ran a successful restaurant in Paris for over 20 years, before deciding to embark on a new adventure in NYC. Incredibly passionate and humble, Chef Alain spoke to every attendee at the event and shared his love for food. You can tell that Alain and his team have all poured a lot heart and soul into this place.

On the weekends, you can catch jazz singer Lady Leah while you’re enjoying a home style French meal at Cheri. Lady Leah performed solo at the event and was later joined by Chef Alain!

Note: This post is in collaboration with Cheri. I was invited as a guest to this event and received a complimentary meal. This was not in exchange for a positive review and all opinions expressed here are my own.