| p>Mélange Caterers takes on the Restaurant | | | | Pudding and the Sweet Potato Cheesecake. But once |
| Biz in Jersey City | | | | again, I have to mention my personal favorite (can you |
| The Neighborhood | | | | tell I had a good time eating here?). The warm peach |
| Soul Flavors, a newbie restaurant in Jersey City, lies on | | | | cobbler with a crusty pastry top sprinkled with just a |
| a lovely tree-lined street in this up and coming area. | | | | hint of cinnamon sugar served in individual ceramic |
| The block would easily fit into Soho or Williamsburg | | | | cups reveals the same clean style coupled with |
| Brooklyn in New York City, where you would find a | | | | amazing tastes that permeate throughout at Soul |
| mix of eclectic restaurants and artist haunts, but from | | | | Flavors. |
| the moment you step into the door of the Soul Flavors | | | | The Staff |
| Restaurant located at 354 Grove Street in Jersey | | | | The staff is professional, yet warm and friendly, |
| City, New Jersey, you will know that no matter where | | | | attentive from the moment of your arrival. There is |
| you are, you have surely arrived someplace special. | | | | warmth exuded from everyone here as though they |
| The Décor | | | | were welcoming you into their own homes. |
| The décor is wonderful with a style mix of old | | | | The Minds Behind the Masterpiece |
| world Spanish and art deco. Simple, clean, airy and | | | | The presentation of the meals, the flavors, and the |
| modern with beautifully tiled floors, artwork on the walls | | | | décor, all let you know you are dealing with |
| featuring local artists, cable lighting and a lovely tiled | | | | true culinary artists with a history in delighting the palate |
| and modern powder room that any homeowner, let | | | | as well as the eye, and with good reason. While Soul |
| alone restaurateur, would die for. | | | | Flavors is a newbie in the restaurant game, the |
| The Food | | | | management is no stranger to creating culinary |
| There is something for everyone's palate here. You | | | | delights. |
| can count on silence at the table because the focus | | | | Soul Flavors is owned by husband and wife team |
| will surely be on the food. The appetizers include | | | | Wayne and Jill Lyons. Wayne is half of the dynamic |
| dishes like Aunt Nita's Cod Fish Cakes and Cuban | | | | duo known as Mélange Caterers, a catering |
| Chicken Brochettes Served with Roasted Garlic Aioli | | | | company with 18 years under its belt. Wayne Lyons |
| & Red Pepper Coulis--and this is just for starters | | | | and Shawn Santana teamed up 15 years ago in Hollis |
| folks. | | | | Queens and well, the rest is history. Their client list |
| There are entrees like Braised Oxtails in Port Wine- | | | | reads like a who's who including artists like Kanye |
| Served with Scotch Bonnet Polenta, Orange Ginger | | | | West, Spike Lee, Ashford and Simpson and the list |
| Glazed Slow Cooked Pork Ribs. However, my | | | | goes on. In their own 15 minutes of fame, they also |
| personal favorite was the Curried Crab Cake | | | | appeared on an NBC cooking segment and a |
| Garnished with a Ginger Carrot and Cabbage Slaw | | | | Discovery Channel show called The Party Planner. |
| served on a bed of lettuce. Not only was the taste | | | | While movie and video production make up the bulk of |
| wonderful, the presentation was amazing as well. | | | | their experience, their signature style is one of |
| Do not make the mistake of ordering only diet soda or | | | | elegance and panache which they definitely bring to |
| water here because the beverages are a delicious | | | | Soul Flavors. |
| experience all by themselves. You must try the | | | | The food is truly a soulful mélange of flavors, |
| homemade lemonade and ginger beer. | | | | no pun intended here, that will surprise and please you |
| Last, but certainly not least, if you find room for | | | | at every turn. Even if you do not frequent the Jersey |
| dessert you will know that it is not an afterthought | | | | City area, I suggest you do go out of your way to |
| here. On the menu are items like Carrot Cake, Lemon | | | | experience Soul Flavors. It is a trek worth making and |
| Pound Cake, Ms. Vicky's Bourbon Glazed Bread | | | | one you do not want to miss. |