PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Ana”
Every Tuesday I turn over Midtown Lunch to a random Midtown worker, for their favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown. Today, it’s Ana- the Geekanerd who was first to the Kwik E Mart scene yesterday. She’s a little west of the Midtown Lunch boundaries, so hopefully this will be helpful for those of you on the western outskirts of Midtown (or for people who like to take extra long lunch excursions.)
Name: Ana
Age: 23
Occupation: Filmmaker. And founder/co-writer of Geekanerd.
Where in Midtown do you Work?: Brainstorm Inc. A production house on 35th & 9th
Favorite Kind of Food: Sushi, legit Mexican (I have a Mexican dad), smoothies, BBQ and paradoxically, vegetarian stuff
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything at a diner that’s not breakfast
Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Daisy May’s is unbeatable for BBQ sandwiches, particularly the pulled pork. I can only eat there once a month because the experience is so intense that I need 30 days to recover. I go to the mothership location on 11th ave and 46th instead of the cart, since I live near by. Special notice should also go to the Starlite Deli on 44th between 7+8th, which has my favorite sandwich in New York: the Star Lite Vegetarian. I should make it clear that I am not even a vegetarian, and this is my favorite sandwich. That’s saying something. It features breaded eggplant, fresh mozzarella, sundried tomatoes, crunchy salad, in a pita. It was one of the first things I ever ate in New York, on my first trip to the city almost seven years ago.
The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Burgers and Cupcakes (9th btwn 35+36th). Right down the street from the office, SUPER good and suprisingly cheap. The only downside is the burgers are small, but I am too so it’s not an issue. All their burgers, including the salmon and veggie options, are outstanding. Also 99 Cent Pizza on 42nd & 9th, but that is more an after-work snack than lunch. I eat there several times a week, which means I’m probably going to die in a year.
Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: A bunch…my girlfriend swears by Midtown Lunch and is always making me break my set routines. Tehuitzingo definitely passed my stringent Mexican food authenticity standard, and Cafe Azuri did a great falafel with cool atmosphere. We also visited the now closed Ressie Mae’s and Mandlers, but my favorite has been Market Cafe, which did the best gnocchi I’ve ever had for just over ten dollars! (Note: I don’t think I ever wrote about Market Cafe, but it is a great place for dinner.)
If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Washington Square…I went to college down there, and it’s great to be able to choose between the East and West Village for lunch. I like eateries where you can order at a counter and eat at a table without being waited on – I haven’t found many of these in Midtown, but there are tons in the village: Blue 9 Burger, Chickpea, Dojo’s, BB Sandwich Bar, Mamouns, Velselka, Momofuku Saam Bar…an embarrassment of riches!
I’m glad you mentioned the 99 Cent Pizza being an after work snack. My wife and I have this ongoing argument regarding that very place. She says, a slice of pizza is a meal for many people, and under no circumstances can it be considered a snack. Granted, she’s really only arguing for my well being (pizza as snack may be dangerous)- but that shouldn’t be taken into consideration when arguing semantics!
I say, if something costs $1 it is automatically a snack, no matter how big or small it is. In other words, price determines what a snack is, and will simultaneously limit the size of said food item. The Devil’s Advocate responds- “What if an entire pizza only cost $1? Would it then be a snack?”. My response would be- an entire pizza would never cost $1. The price will limit the size, therefore making anything that costs $1, a snack.
What do you think? What determines a snack? Price or size, and is it relative (5 hamburgers may be a snack for a 600 lb. man) or absolute. Sound off in the comment section below.
And, as always, if you have news, suggestions, or you want to be next week’s Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er- email me at zach@midtownlunch.com
Posted by Zach Brooks at 9:42 am, July 3rd, 2007 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
11 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
11 Comments
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If you can eat 4 of them and call it a meal, it’s a snack. It’s all relative. But if you can eat 4 of them, call it a meal, and be only $4 poorer, it’s a staple.
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A snack is a snack, doesn’t matter how much it costs. Pinkberry medium 3 topping is $6.50 and it’s a snack. The awesome rolls at the cart on 46th and 6th are 2 for $4 and are definitely a meal. Whatever fills you up. Sad that Kati Roll is relocating, but I actually prefer the rolls at that cart.
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Something that cheap is a snack. Once i reach the 4 or 5 slice range its a meal and i’ll probably have a stomachache to boot.
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It was not that long ago when $1 was about all I could afford to spend on pizza, and I considered it a meal. My budget for lunch used to be $2, so if you are a broke college student, or just broke, $1 food is totally a meal.
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I’m not saying a $1 slice of pizza can’t be considered a meal. I’m saying that anything that costs $1 could be considered a snack if you so choose.
I just want to be able to eat a slice of pizza at 4pm without feeling like a fatzo who shouldn’t eat dinner.
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2500kcals for a man,2000kcals for a woman,Daily.
If your snacking takes you over this regulary you will end up alone, obese and washing yourself with a sponge on a stick.
And 20 firemen will have to carry your Coffin.
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I tend to think of a snack as something less than 150 calories. I also think of a slice of Pizza as a meal, albeit it a small one. If you consider a slice of pizza a snack, and 4 slices of pizza a meal, it is time to go on a diet and re-educate yourself about healthy eating.
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that pizza place next to the Port Authority is DEFINITELY a snack. The best snack place in NY. How convenient to eat some cheap pizza..I often pull over and grab a slice when in my car, or walk over and grab a slice on the way to the subway or bus. Definitely not the best pizza…nowhere even close. But definitely an awesome, convenient, snack. And right next to the second best snack in NY: the $1 hot dog store. Two $1 snack shops side by side. Who can decide??
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good question.
Growing up when i only had a $1 for lunch…i used to go to the Chinese deli…I’d buy 2 packets of those Drake’s cookies…you know the ones that were 4 cookies for 25 cents. They had Oatmeal or Chocolate Chip…maybe coconut too…can’t remember. Anyway, I’d get two packets of cookies and two 25 cent pint drinks…the ones that were pure sugar and food coloring…red, orange, purple, blue…
Now while i had a huge appetite and that wasn’t technically a meal, it constituted a meal for me since i only had a $1 (and pizza back then was $1 per slice). So I’d have to say it all depends on the situation (if you’re eating the items as a meal or a snack).
Just my 2 cents…or 99 cents…
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I went on a first date one time where the guy only had 1 slice of pizza, and I had my usual 1 bianca and 1 with some kind of meat and tomato, because it’s impossible for me to decide between the two options, I can’t resist both. After the whole 1-slice-order thing I was not at all surprised when he suggested going dutch on the meal. Maybe it’s because pizza is usually so delicious, but I just can’t imagine eating only one slice! Is pizza a low glycemic food, maybe that’s why… ;)
If it’s a buck, it’s a snack. That’s blasphemy calling a slice a ‘meal’.
3 Slices and a bag of chips? THAT’S a meal.
A single slice is what I warm-up with while waiting for my steak n’ cheese.