A Second Taste of Home: Alla Supper Club Feeds More Than Hunger
Walking into Rosa 299 in Williamsburg, I wasn’t reminded of a physical address but of a sensory memory. The lingering smell of food after a backyard cookout in Kingston, the rhythm of a Buju Banton hook floating through the speakers, the warmth of voices raised over plates and hearts just as full.
This was my second time attending Alla Supper Club and somehow, it felt even more personal.
The Vision Behind Alla Supper Club
Curated by Chef Nicollette and hospitality curator Raven Henderson, Alla isn’t just a supper club. It’s a reclamation.
It feels like Sunday dinners reimagined for the diaspora, carrying echoes of my grandmother barefoot in the kitchen with Bob Marley on the radio, and flavors I didn’t even know I missed until they reawakened my palate.
More than a meal, Alla is a cultural homecoming.
Ghetto Caviar and the Sacred Start
The evening began with an amuse-bouche: smoked herring mousse piped onto a golden scallion beignet, topped with pickled scotch bonnet. Chef Nicollette called it “Ghetto Caviar.”
One bite and I knew. This meal wasn’t just food it was protest, memory, and love, all served at once.
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From there, we traveled through:
Pepperpot Soup with creamy dasheen leaf, callaloo, and okra
Oxtail Bao Bun
Crab Back Royale
Smoke & Silk
By the time Course Four arrived ravioli filled with jerk pork mousse and caramelized onions in a tomato-coconut beurre blanc. I was floating somewhere between memory and imagination.
We ended with “Dreaming in Devon House,” an ode to Jamaica’s iconic Devon House ice cream. Layers of grape nut ice cream, chocolate cake, sorrel gel, and coffee rum anglaise reminded me that joy, like heritage, is best when layered.
Dreaming Devon House
A Table Made for Us
Alla isn’t just about the food. It’s about the people.
Though I arrived solo, I left with new friends. At the table were tastemakers sipping Barbancourt Rum, couples reminiscing about Port of Spain, and culture bearers shaping Brooklyn’s creative pulse.
Among the evening’s guests:
Careese Kwok: fashion creative and storyteller, known for blending cultural roots with modern style.
Storm Rate : food and travel creative experienced reviews, known for bringing energy and perspective to the table.
Tulie Yaito: co-founder of the Yaito brand, recognized for her vibrant designs that weave Caribbean heritage with contemporary streetwear culture.
Markie Markland: entrepreneur and cultural connector, bridging the Caribbean and New York communities.
Chef Les Walker: respected culinary artist, championing heritage-driven cuisine.
Ike Slimster: Nigerian-American artist and creative force, using humor and visual storytelling to connect diaspora culture.
Brooklyn Mavens : the influential digital collective spotlighting Brooklyn’s Black-owned businesses, voices, and experiences.
Destiny Owusu: model, creative entrepreneur, and advocate for diversity in beauty and fashion.
Each brought their own energy, stories, and perspectives, enriching the conversation as much as the dishes themselves.
The playlist wove in Sizzla, Bob Marley, and Beres Hammond, while laughter carried over the clink of forks and glasses. Every detail from tropical greenery on the table to the linen-draped altar of dishes, felt like a reminder of the islands.
This was more than dining. It was community, restored.
Why I’ll Keep Coming Back
This was my second Alla dinner and it won’t be my last.
Chef Nicollette and Raven are building more than a supper club. They are creating sanctuary:
- A place where food tells the truth.
- Where heritage isn’t diluted but elevated.
- Where culture is honored and connection feels natural.
The next dinners are happening September 27 and 28. If you’re lucky enough to find a seat, take it. Bring your tastebuds, your stories, and your appetite for connection.
And if you come alone, don’t worry, you won’t leave that way.
Alla Supper Club Details
📍 Williamsburg, Brooklyn
📅 Next Dinners: September 27 and 28
🔗 allasupperclub.com | @allasupperclub
Honoring heritage. Elevating flavor. Creating community.
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