PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Maressa”
Every Tuesday I turn over Midtown Lunch to a random worker, for their favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown. Today, it’s Maressa- a Magazine Editor who hates fried food (?!?!). Must… allow… differing… opinions… and yet… it’s… very… difficult… to… post this… profile.
Name: Maressa
Age: 23
Occupation: Magazine Editor
Where in Midtown do you Work?: The epicenter of this culinary wasteland, Times Square (But no, I don’t work in the same building as the reputed “Devil” who wears Prada.)
Favorite Kind of Food: Generally healthy twists on chicken, seafood, veggies, huge fan of the Tex-Mex (and by default, Chipotle) as well as Greek, Middle Eastern, Indian, & sushi. Fresh fillings wrapped up with some form of carb, be it a pita, tortilla, lavash, etc… I’m usually interested. Or, chocolate, but that’s a whole different story. ;)
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything fried, unnecessarily greasy, dark or red meat.
Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Sorry to say, Zach, but given my lack of nearby choices, I gotta go with Chipotle. I get the burrito bol (glorified salad, yeah yeah) with black beans, no rice, fajita veggies, chicken, all the salsas (sans the hottest one), lots of lettuce and sour cream OR guac on the side. But I gotta shout out to La Paloma on 45th btwn 8+9th. Muy bueno Mexican delivery!
The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Can’t speak for my co-workers; they’re all about Europa and I’m havin’ none-a-dat $11 salad BS. But my personal choice for default deli is Star Lite on 44th btwn 7th & 8th, where I usually get a chicken caesar wrap or salad. (They have a good low-fat caesar dressing, but make sure you say “low-fat”, cuz if you say “light”, then they just put a smaller amount of the regular kind. Drrgh.)
Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Kwik Meal & Pick-a-Pita! Yum and yummier! Unfortch, Chef Rahman makes fun of me when I want pita instead of rice on my chicken platter, and sometimes the street-meat-ness of it all skeeves me. And Pick-a-Pita is sorta a schlep, and on the pricier side. I know—I’m such a kvetch.
If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? West Village/SoHo. Because then a) I would be near my apartment and save $ by eating my non-existant groceries, b) I could get amazing cart Mex from Calexico, or c) there are just a helluva lot better places that deliver downtown. Like you didn’t already know that. (Ed Note: Still no word on when the Midtown Calexico cart will be arriving)
Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Where can I get decent on-the-cheap(er) Greek, namely a chicken gyro and tzatziki sauce?
Well… finally some common ground. I don’t know about Chicken Gyros… but a real honest to goodness Greek gyro is something I have yet to find in Midtown- and I’m not talking about the gyro they serve on the halal carts. The meat may look the same on that spit, but once you chop it up into bits, and saute it on a griddle, it becomes something else. Real greek gyro is left alone, rotated and cooked on the actual spit; cut off in slices *only* when it has become dark on the outside. And a real gyro has to be topped with tzatziki (greek yogurt sauce).
Forget about shawarma, and halal… I’m talking real honest to goodness Greek gyro. Anybody had one? I’ve heard rumors of two carts (one on 44th & 6th Ave., and one on 7th Ave. btw. 33+34th), but I haven’t been to either. If you have got a suggestion, post it as a comment 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: 11:30 am, August 28th, 2007 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
59 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
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59 Comments
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Well excuse me, but what makes you so damn interesting? :)
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When did “favorite kind of food” become a laundry list? It’s not “list every kind of food that you like.” Favorite kind of food – singular. Pick one. Or maybe two. Not nine. We want to know what you are really into.
Everything else was decent (not spectacular).
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No red or dark meat?….no fried food?
Zach, where are you getting these from? Bel Vue?
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yum! tzatziki! This is amazing, and I’m so glad you sent me the link! Ha ha ha. Too much. First stop, Midtownlunch.com (good domain, btw ;-) ), next stop, the world! Or at least Hearst or Conde Nast.
Love you!
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Do we have Maressa’s boyfriend PM’ing her in the comments section now? What the hell is going on here?
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there used to be a place on 45th and 6th called “Deli Burger” that made awesome real gyros. They closed some time ago and that spot is now Little Italy pizza. I am still bummed…
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It’s not PM-ing if it’s in the comments! It’s just TMI.
As to the Greek gyro question: I’m not sure how legit it is, and, as Zach has pointed out before, it’s slightly outside the Midtown Lunch perimeter, but there’s always the gyro at Famous Chicken Place on 3rd between 38th and 39th. LOVE it. I get it at least once a month. The price went up about 50-75 cents a few months ago, so you can’t get one for under five bucks with tax anymore, but you get a lot of meat, sauce, and onions.
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There used to be a great gyro place on 7th not far from the Ziegfeld. I stumbled over there in a famished stupor once before a movie but I’ve never been able to find that little deli again. Does anyone know what I am talkign about and if it still exists?
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OMFG I love you, too, Keith!!!
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ML Commentors want their profiled lunchers: single, bloated with fried meat, but still celeb-level beauteous. Otherwise they are boring. Why can’t you find these people week after week, Zach???? Aparantly Maressa’s cute smile and insistence on “fresh” food isn’t good enough for some ppl.
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I think I’m at the epicenter of Midtown food suck: 52nd and Madison. Everything good is a solid walk away.
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Well put Sarah.
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Looks fuck all like liv tyler either.
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Well, I’m a little afraid to mention it here for fear of Midtownluncher invasion, but there is a pretty good Greek place in Olympic Tower (51st or 52nd between Fifth and Madison) called Atrium Cafe. It’s sit-down but not pricey, most things under $10. I think the chicken gyro (yes, with lots of tzatziki) is around $7 or $8.
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A bit outside the midtownlunch perimeter, but Gyro II on 7th Ave between 33rd and 34th has amazing Gyro’s. Its right across from Penn Station. I’ve heard some people complain that their sauce isn’t good, but I thought the whole Gyro “package” was top notch.
That’s one of the two places I had mentioned hearing about. Now I’ll have to check it out… -zach
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“magazine editor” . . . . get real — maybe assistant fact checker. assistant copy editor would be a stretch — given the poor writing and inability to answer the questions posed.
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Zach – can you make it to 9th b/w 50th and 51st? Uncle Nicks has some of the best Greek food I’ve had in NYC – not just in midtown. Although it’s also a sit down restau, when you walk in, you can just go straightup to a front counter to get a takeaway sandwich. Lamb, chicken, and beef gyros are only $4.95 and the meet is perfectly done and seasoned to perfection. Sandwiches may not be officially on the menu – but they have become standard. Please try it out!
PS This blog is terrific!
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Awesome street cart: 47th btw 2nd and 3rd. Fresh grilled chicken breast, real gyros, souvlaki, and burgers. Also the salad and rice are both served fresh with a choice of dressing for the former. Good Tatziki (sp.) as well.
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Unfortch, Stan’s comment is just plain mean.
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She looks like the little guy from Fantasy Island.
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stan! and i thought i was plain mean.
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De plane! De plane!
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wow, i feel like I’m watching Laguna Beach or something.
the men of ML sure are catty. meow! -
No surprise she didn’t send in a full frontal picture… look at that long list of favorite foods.
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Whoa belly! It’s midtown lunch. Keep it together. Maressa looks perfectly lovely, but that is beside the point. And be real, has anyone here NOT gained 10 or 20 pounds since they discovered a new favorite spot thanks to ML? God bless Cafe Zaiya. In conclusion, be nice. Eat rice.
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As far as I’m concerned – you can’t get a GOOD gyro in Manhattan, especially midtown. I live in Astoria, I should know – the best gyros are at Romano’s on 33rd & Broadway, name sounds Italian, but they are 100% Greek. Now, that being said, there are a few places on the outskirts of midtown, just outside the realm of our office chaos that do serve up some tasty gyros…
Greek Corner – 7th Ave & 28th St.
Greek Kitchen – 10th Ave & 58th St.Good donar kebap @ Taksim on 2nd Ave & 54th – although Turkish, this is their version of the Greek gyro.
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it is out side of teh midtown lunch realm, but for a good gyro take the C or E to 23rd and 8th to Pita Pan. Best gyro I have had in NYC and they have these really great pita chips for free. Make sure you grad a handfull nad ask for the tadziki on the side. I work at 37th and 7th and is worth the trek.
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Strickly speaking Gyro is solely a grouned lamb dish, carved from an upright spit.It’s known as Doner in Turkey, ask for a Gyro in Istanbul it’d be a diplomatic incident
Chicken Cooked in the same way is ‘ Shaslick’
and oringinates from Turkey/Arabia/Mongols.She did look like Liv ya’know.
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I second the mention for Greek Corner……excellent food, prices are good…….what could be better?
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It’s a feeding frenzy, again. Burn the witch! WTF midtown lunch commenters? Who peed in your corn flakes?
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You know, if ever I wanted to be a ML profile, I definitely do not anymore. You guys are really freaking critical, why don’t *you* be profiled then? Jerks.
But I am a bit disappointed that she doesn’t like fried foods, dark meat OR red meat! I respect her choices (more for me!) but sheesh people. Rude comments on looks and weight… grow up or show us a pic of YOU.
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Lesbian
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I agree that many comments are over the line. Mock someone’s food choices with a witty remark if you like, or even the fact that some douchebag is PM’ing his girl on a public comment thread, but don’t disparage looks, jobs, grammar, etc.
It’s summertime. Chillax! -
Very clever, Rudy; just like every woman who rejects you is a lesbian, right? Riiight.
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Yvo, don’t let Rudy get to you, remember he might be a woman, and he allegedly lives in London.
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I used to think that Gawker commenters were the scum of the earth. Now that I’ve read some of these comments, I now know better.
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Wow! Be nice. This is a food blog. This profiled lady is beautiful. No, I am not a lesbian, Rudy, just stating the obvious. Stopping hiding behind the anonymity of a posting on a web blog and cut out the stupid, really stupid remarks. So childish.
And now I pose this challenge for you:
mareesa
Rudy McBagel
DDR
StacyYOUR TURN!!! It is your turn to be profiled. If I do not see these 4 profiles in the next few months, you will be know to all on midtownlunch.com as wuss. I can’t wait!!!!n Bring it on!
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Yvo, you wouldn’t get to the rejection stage.
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To bring the comments back to food for a moment, I just want to say I made a mistake and it’s not gyros but souvlaki at Atrium. It’s still very good though.
(Insert Liv Tyler mention here)
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Chowsue, Zach and I are in talks about my profile.
Obviously im waiting until Liv gets divorced from that yorkshire twat ,Royston, b4 we publish our pictures.
PS. Sarah i live in Shropshire, work in London.
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We’re in talks? Just fill out the damn profile I sent you! No talking necessary. The people have spoken…
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For a minute there it sounded like some favoritism was going on.
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I feel used.
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Chowsue: I was profiled on this site a few months back – you can look it up. But I feel compelled to defend myself and point out that I don’t make nasty comments about people’s personal appearances, don’t call people lesbians, etc. I did dis Maressa’s boyfriend (a total doucherama) for his lame comment/love letter, but that’s about it. I even have posted TWICE on this comment thread alone that people need to tone down their comments and stop being so neagtive.
So please don’t lump me with McBagel. I don’t deserve that! -
This is a blog. Why don’t you sensitive folks just get over it.
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Definitely check out DDR’s profile – what a hottie.
while some of these comments are over the line, I can’t help but laugh sometimes…ok, most of the time…it’s part of what makes this blog so good.
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greasy food, betrayals, cattyness, lesbians, republicans.
Oh how I love this blog. please do not stop the nasty yet tickling comments.
it is my dose of daytime soap operas at work. -
I know it’s the end of the summer and everyone’s cranky that they’re stuck in the office, but damn some of you have gotten nasty! I thought we were banded together in our love of lunch and hatred of all generic delis and co-workers who bring Lean Cuisines from home?
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intense.
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DDR:
“Comment from DDR
Time: August 28, 2007, 4:47 pm
De plane! De plane! ”uhhhhh… Yes, IMHO, you DO deserve to be lumped right in there.
Unless someone else posted that comment with your “name”…which does happen on this site I noticed….then I take it back.
Yes, it is great that you have been the biggest voice on this profile’s comment trying to redirect the comments back to what it is truly intended for…food! But then all those comments are washed away with one dumb misplaced and inaccurate comment.
So DDR steps up to the plate!!! Ready for the abuse!!! I don’t think Zach includes screen logins, so which of the profiled midtown lunchers are you, DDR, so I can go now and compare you to an odd character on some old tv show too.
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Chowsue: Wow. Words (nearly) fail me. Talk about hyper-sensitivity. There is abuse (see McBagel and Stan), and then there is riffing off someone else’s comment (me). Anytime someone mentions Herve Villechaize, the appropriate response is “De plane! De plane!” Who doesn’t know this?
But hey – If you will feel better about yourself by spending your afternoon “comparing me to odd characters on old tv shows,” go ahead – I think the lameness index just hit a new low.
And in order to help you on your quest, as to your brilliant question “which of the profiled midtown lunchers are you, DDR?” My answer is: I am DDR.
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Im DDR
and liv is his mum.
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Margot: “Good donar kebap @ Taksim on 2nd Ave & 54th – although Turkish, this is their version of the Greek gyro. ”
Taksim doesn’t do Donar anymore…
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23 year olds are not generally magazine editors. they are fact checkers, copy editors, assistants. i agree the point was petty, but if i am going to read a profile, i’d like it to be truthful.
she looks like a beautiful young woman. comments on appearance have no place here.
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For lying about her position as an editor, all bets are off.
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shooo.. DDR is the hottie lawyer. My bad. You can say “deplane deplane” all you want about any profiled luncher.
I sure don’t need a lawsuit dragging on for 5 years for defamation of character on the midtownlunch.com blog. LOL.Yes, hypersensitive, you may be right actually….Sorry to have grouped you in with the other nasties, especially when you were one of the first to blast the nastiness starting. I just was trying to stand up for this chick. I love this website, and didn’t want to see it turn into so many other websites out there full of flamers and nasty asses hiding behind their laptops.
We’ll all just wait for Rudy to be profiled. I know a lot of readers are polishing their dictionaries and thesauruses waiting for that Tuesday. LOL.
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Olive branch extended…and accepted. Mmm…olives…
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thanks DDR! mmmmm..back to the food!
Unfortch, snooze.