Caribbean Chef Wins Space In Midtown Food Hall

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — A Caribbean chef who specializes in a homemade hot sauce will receive a custom-branded space in a Midtown Manhattan food hall after winning a culinary competition.

Chef Sonya Samuel will bring her business Bacchanal Sauce to the Urbanspace at 570 Lex, an Urbanspace spokesperson said. Samuel was named the winner of Urbanspace's inaugural Citi Urbanspace Challenge to "discover culinary entrepreneurs who have the potential to be the tastemakers of tomorrow," a company spokesperson said.

"I'm honored to have participated with the other chefs in this incredible competition and am beyond excited and proud to be bringing a fiery taste of the Caribbean to Urbanspace at 570 Lex," Samuel said in a statement.

Samuel's business specializes in a sauce made from habanero and scotch bonnet peppers, pineapple, guava, cinnamon and allspice which is served over Caribbean staples such as fried fish cakes, escovitch fish tacos and sweet tamales.

Bacchanal Sauce is expected to open in January at the food hall located within the General Electric Building on Lexington Avenue and East 51st Street.

The Citi Urbanspace Challenge launched in July with a call for nominations. Urbanspace then named three finalists — Bacchanal Sauce, Destination Dumplings and Soul-full Sandwiches — and gave the businesses spots at their pop-up fall food markets.

After a public vote, Bacchanal Sauce was named the winner of the challenge.

"For the inaugural launch of the Citi Urbanspace Challenge, we were excited to see so many culinary entrepreneurs with a dream," Eldon Scott, President of Urbanspace, said in a statement.

"Seeing the program grow from all of the online submissions, to the three very different finalists competing in our pop-up markets with thousands of public votes, was an energizing experience. Choosing Sonya Samuel’s concept, Bacchanal Sauce, did not come easy with two fierce competitors but her food speaks for itself,"

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