Registration: 9:00 am

Meet at the Cook-off Tent to sign all release forms for photography and recipes at 2800 Main and Newman street. The Cook-off will take place at the Hyatt Park Elementary School Cafeteria from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

 

The judging will take place at 2:00 pm, and a winner wll be announced. There will be an autograph session with our celebrity judge from 2:00 - 3:00 pm.

 

Please contact Shirley Mack for any additional information, in regards to the Cornbread Cook-off via cell: 803-360-3574 or email:  shirleym6318@yahoo.com 

Melba Wilson

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 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 three Harlem based businesses, Melba’s Restaurant, Melba’s Catering and a 350-seat dining hall and cafeteria on 125th street called Melba’s 125. 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 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, The Weinstein Company, Pfizer, Time Warner, Bank of America, Columbia University, Universal Records, The Archdiocese of New York and several recording artists including Ne-Yo, Jay-Z and the Zac Brown Band.

 

Melba appears on national news and cooking shows. She has been 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” WPIX news, and she is a lead judge on TV Ones, “My Momma Throws Down”. 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 12 year old son, Melba has been 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 and the Heritage Award from the BCA, just to name a few. Melba donates to and supports many causes including alzheimer’s, obesity, diabetes, illiteracy, and takes time to help community outreach organizations in Harlem and throughout New York City.