Angel's Cafe, Albany,NY

The women in my United Sisters group have the kind of schedules that require appointment books and negotiating to find an hour of their time. So I figured it would be a hard sell when I casually asked if anyone would like to meet me for brunch at Angel's on Sunday.

The response: Just pick your time.

This from one woman who is working two full-time jobs and averages about four hours of sleep a night and another who has a full-time job, two kids, a baby on the way, and several volunteer commitments. There are schedules and then there is Angel's.

Angel's is only open twice a week: Sundays for brunch and Friday evenings for dinner and jazz.

Five of us met there at 1 p.m. just as the place was starting to fill up with the after-church crowd.

It's the kind of spot where friends tablehop while huge plates of fried chicken and greens whisk by and Regina Belle plays softly in the background.

Meet United Sisters president Tenika Wilcox.

Here's James Celestine, Jr. making the rounds. Yes, I am pretty sure the man knows just about everyone in Albany.

Most of the menu is mix and match, one meat and two sides for $7.95. My mom and I decided to share. As long as there were plenty of collard greens and hot sauce, I didn't really care what else we ordered. Mom got the catfish, greens and mac and cheese. I had grits, fried chicken and greens. Next time, I'm going to order my mom's meal. The mac and cheese was the best thing I tasted, rich and creamy with a hint of sharp and nice little crusty bits around the edges. (As someone who leans more to tofu and rice at home, I may not have much credibility as a judge of the real deal, but the soul-food raised ladies at my table were as happy as I was.)

My friend Lori couldn't decide between breakfast and lunch so she ordered both and took the leftovers home.

Camisha Pickens relaxs after our meal.

Jacqui Williams showed up magazine in tow.

What ever else you order, save room for dessert. I had a bite of Camisha's cake, and I got so lost in the thick, moist burst of lemon that I almost forgot the cake was hers. She had to nudge me and my fork out of a daze. (And I don't even like cake.)

(OK, except for my US sister Yolanda's coconut cake, which she made for me at our slumber party even though she doesn't even like it. It was like a one-way ticket to a small town in Georgia with lawn chairs out and the radio playing and the big fish-fry pot just starting to boil.)

And since I don't bake, I've recruited Yo to be Celinabean's baker. You will be meeting her and her Gram soon.

Here's the lemon cake at Angel's.

The details:
Angel's Cafe and B&B
96 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12202
(518) 426-4104
Angel's uses turkey and beef products only. No pork, and that includes the bacon.