Business Details
13 Years
experience
Authentic Soul Food Catering in Harlem, NY
At Mel & Libby's Catering, we honor the rich traditions of soul food while embracing innovation through our passion for culinary excellence. Founded in 2013, our journey began with a single catering event in Harlem, NY, and has grown into a trusted name for authentic, high-quality soul food experiences. Our owner, Jewe'l C. Hardy-Mallory, draws on decades of family knowledge passed down from her grandmother, Christine Hardy, to create dishes that blend heritage with modern presentation. We specialize in transforming traditional soul food into elegant hors d'oeuvres and full-course meals for weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings. Our commitment to using fresh ingredients and time-honored cooking techniques ensures every bite reflects our dedication to quality and authenticity.With a reputation built on reliability and exceptional service, we take pride in making every event memorable through unforgettable flavors. Our menu features classic favorites like tender BBQ ribs, crispy fried fish, and homemade desserts, alongside creative adaptations that surprise and delight guests. From intimate family celebrations to large-scale functions, we approach each event with the same attention to detail and warmth that defined our grandmother's kitchen. Our team understands the importance of food in creating connections, and we strive to deliver not just meals but meaningful experiences that honor tradition while meeting contemporary expectations.
Services
Wedding Catering
Corporate Events
Food Truck Service
Hors d'oeuvres Menu
Birthday Parties
Details
- Year established: 2013
Highlights and features
- We offer generations of soul food culinary expertise
- Our team provides responsive, reliable event coordination
- We transform traditional recipes into modern presentations
- Our catering services span weddings to corporate events
- We maintain consistent quality across all service levels
What people say
Delicious food
Huge success
Responsive and reliable
Best food truck
Tender BBQ ribs
Services
Wedding Catering
Our wedding catering service transforms traditional soul food into elegant dining experiences for special occasions. We create customized menus featuring dishes like tender BBQ ribs, crispy fried fish, and homemade desserts. With experience serving events for The New York City Court System and DC37, we ensure flawless execution for weddings of all sizes.
Corporate Events
We provide professional catering solutions for corporate functions including board meetings and conferences. Our service includes menu consultations, portion management, and timely delivery. Clients praise our reliability and ability to create memorable dining experiences that exceed expectations while maintaining budget consciousness.
Food Truck Service
Our food truck brings authentic soul food flavors to various locations with convenience and quality. The menu features both traditional full-size meals and innovative bite-sized options. The mobile service maintains the same high standards as our event catering, offering favorites like mac & cheese and collard greens prepared with family recipes.
Hors d'oeuvres Menu
We specialize in transforming classic soul food dishes into sophisticated hors d'oeuvres for special events. Our creative adaptations include potato salad shooters and banana pudding pops that maintain authentic flavors while offering modern presentation. This service demonstrates our culinary innovation while honoring traditional recipes.
Birthday Parties
Our birthday party catering combines traditional soul food with festive presentation to create memorable celebrations. We offer menu customization for different age groups and party themes. From 50th birthdays to baby showers, our service includes portion management advice and menu planning to ensure perfect quantities and variety.
People
Jewe'l C. Hardy-Mallory
Owner & Chef
Jewe'l began her culinary journey at age nine, learning traditional soul food techniques from her grandmother in Maysville, NC. After launching her catering business in 2013, she has served prestigious clients including The New York City Court System while maintaining the authenticity of her family recipes.
Questions
What types of events do you cater?
We cater weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, corporate events, church functions, and repasts. Our experience includes serving The New York City Court System and DC37 events.
Do you offer customized menus?
Yes, we create customized menus for each event while maintaining our traditional soul food foundation. We work with clients to adapt our offerings to their specific needs and preferences.
What makes your soul food special?
Our recipes come from generations of family tradition, perfected over decades. We use time-honored cooking techniques while innovating through modern presentation methods like our hors d'oeuvres adaptations.
How do you handle large events?
We have experience managing events of all sizes, from intimate gatherings to large corporate functions. Our team ensures proper portion quantities and maintains consistent quality across all service levels.
Do you have a physical restaurant location?
We operate primarily through our food truck and catering services. Our mobile presence allows us to bring authentic soul food to various locations while maintaining the quality of a traditional restaurant.
