The Life-Saving Power of Chess, With a Side of Plantains

"In such a heavily saturated digital era, it is easy to curate your reach, but Z believes in the value of bridging community with our neighbors. "This is our game," Z says. "This is the game of life and we're all in this together." OurChess is a gathering rooted in inclusivity and accessibility, hosting other events in Harlem and Lower Manhattan, too. It is always free-to-the-public and celebrates learning-"each one, teach one.""

"Antilles Cafe, which OurChess calls home, is as much a part of the club's DNA as the players who come weekly. Chefs Erick Nicoleau and Dru Goicochea opened the cafe back in 2024, quickly becoming a neighborhood fixture and community-driven third space. The two friends have dedicated their lives to service and commemorating the African diaspora, marrying their Haitian and Dominican heritages with countless references to music, culture, and dynamic flavors."

"My Saturday routine means regular communing and camaraderie with my newfound chess family over plates of food. At Antilles, the flock of us feast on everything from griot, a classic Haitian dish of marinated-and-fried pork, to the pair's take on the classic Vietnamese banh mi, which embraces salt fish, a staple in the Caribbean diaspora. A quintessential accompaniment is a generous heap of housemade pikliz, a Haitian condiment of pickled shredded cabbage, carrots, sweet, and hot peppers, plus plenty of crispy, golden tostones."

OurChess organizes free, inclusive chess gatherings across Harlem and Lower Manhattan that prioritize accessibility and collective learning under the motto "each one, teach one." Regular attendees convene weekly at Antilles Cafe, a community-driven third space opened in 2024 by chefs Erick Nicoleau and Dru Goicochea. The cafe integrates Haitian and Dominican heritage through inventive menu items and cultural references, creating a welcoming environment where everyone is seen, served, and heard. Food and camaraderie—dishes like griot, a salt-fish–inspired banh mi, housemade pikliz, and tostones—anchor social connection and encourage newcomers to explore chess together.

Read at Bon Appetit