PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Shauna”
I’m in England, so every day this week I’m turning over the site to one of you. Today’s Midtown Lunch’er is Shauna, a fashion research editor who would rather be lunch’ing Queens…
Name: Sha-Sha-Sha-Shauna
Age: 26
Occupation: Research Editor, Fashion Credits Extraordinaire
Where in Midtown do you Work?: On 50th Street wedged between 6th and 7th Aves, the heart of corporate America…
Favorite Kind of Food: Chesapeake Bay seafood, Lebanese delicacies, and big ass Southern breakfasts
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Capers, pint nuts, and fennel *shudder*
Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: It’s on Ninth Avenue (btw. 52+53rd), but Wondee Siam rocks the Thai fried rice with chicken, basil and chili dish (their peanut sauce is scrumptious, so I drizzle it on top). I’m also a sucker for the Jamaican Dutchy cart (51st & 7th)– the jerk chicken mini plate slathered in (recently toned down) crimson jerk sauce + crispy beef patty + the wonder that is Ting soda, and mama’s a happy camper. Also, Mondello’s (37th Street just east of 5th Ave) has a banging $6 chicken parm and Margon’s aptly potent cafe con leche (two heaping spoonfuls of sugar) always hits the spot.
The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: I drop bank at Cafe Duke (51st btw. 6+7th) in the a.m. for their fresh buffet of blueberries/raspberries/blackberries by the pound, but always find myself lured back on indecisive afternoons for $6.50 spicy ramen or udon with deep-fried tofu, pork and veggies. Weak, I know.
Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: That Bi Bim Bap counter at Ambrosia Deli, where occasionally I can scam an extra container of kimchi.
If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Sunnyside, Queens — seriously, just hear me out. If only my job could be located mere blocks from the best Irish deli in the area (Butcher’s Block, 41st Street just off Queens Blvd), where fresh sausage rolls permeate the air and a bounty of imported crisps, meats, and chocolates line the perimeter; the Colombian juice lady on Greenpoint (Pecas Y Mas,Greenpoint and 43rd Street) who churns out the creamyicyfruitygoodness that is the Super Cholado as well as a rockin Guanabanasmoothie; Alpha Donut (Queens Blvd and 45th Street) for the hugest, most tantalizing French cruller I’ve ever laid lip on; and El Shater Arabic deli (43rd Street and 43rd Ave, just a block off of the Blvd),where crispy schwarma, fresh tabouleh, and honey-drizzled sweets are made with love and sold for cheap.
Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? I’d kill for a luscious non-Jamba juice bar in Midtown.
Here’s a shocker. I actually sort of like Jamba Juice. It’s something that happened when I moved to L.A. (before coming here to NYC). If the fat Chinese food buffet eating Boston me, had met the poor, drinking smoothies at Jamba Juice in L.A. me, I’m pretty sure the Boston me would have kicked the L.A. me’s ass all over the place. That being said, I’m not exactly a smoothie connoisseur. Anybody got any recs for Shauna? One of those fruit trucks must be good. Post them as comments below…
And as always, if you want to be the next Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er, email me at zach@midtownlunch.com
Posted: 6:53 am, September 25th, 2007 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
38 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
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38 Comments
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If she really eats all that food in Queens – I am jealous of her metabolism.
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Is that a cone-shaped mound of rice or a slab of mashed potatoes? Because umm, I would eat either.
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Better than Jamba Juice are the fruit juice carts. I go to the one on 49th between 6th and 7th (parked closer to 6th). I love that their basic fruit shakes just have fresh fruit, juice, and ice. They are delish and cheaper than Jamba, I believe. I’m pretty sure they can add the other normal smoothie elements and energy burst stuff, but since I never add to the basic, I can’t say for sure.
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shades indoors because one should always approach thai coconut chicken soup and a cone of brown rice with an air of mystery….
that fruit shake cart on 49th/6th is rather close to me, i might have to make a pit stop today. thanks lisa! any other ideas people??
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Oye! I also HATE fennel! There’s a great smoothie/juice place downstairs from my office in a (overall great) health food deli spot. However, this place of which I speak is Park btw 29th and 30th so its a little far from your work…
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Hates pine nuts but loves Lebanese delicacies? Shauna, you’re a walking contradiction.
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ahaha…you may be right, DDR. for the record, i tend to favor the Lebanese pistachio’d pastries over the pine-nutted alternatives. :)
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and Sarah, i have no qualms hoofing it for a good smoothie. watch me end up in that ‘hood by week’s end in search of this smoothie haven you speak of… thanks!
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how about i make you a smoothie and bring it to you!
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Shauna, walk south on 7th to 38th St. and hit Health King. Smells like a garden inside and has FRESH fruits and veg galore. A bit pricey if you go Extra Large, but it is everything you’re looking for in a juice bar. p.s. Jamba is pure evil – all ice and frozen crap. Clinky noises in a blender have no place in the juice world. Don’t let that artfully displayed crate of oranges (which never get touched) make you think it’s good. Get the real deal at the carts or at Health King.
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Shauna, I think you may work a few floors below me, judging by your location and profession!
As for awesome Southern breakfasts, biscuits and sausage gravy is an amazing heartstopping treat :)
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I love your use of slang and desire for large breakfasts; is it too early in our relationship for marriage?
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Egg,sausage,black pudding,white pudding,back bacon,tomatos,beans(yes america, beans!!)2 toast,fried slice.
Huge cuppa Tea.Copy of the Times = Happy Rudy friday 6.30am breakfast.
(spend 5 days a week @ gym for this ……it’s worth it!!!)
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Wayne, I have heard tales of Health King… an oasis in the desert down there, no? Who’d guess that elbowing one’s way beyond Times Square could prove fruitful. Haha.
Hey Nate, I, too, am on the biscuits ‘n gravy train. In certain family circles, I also hear that scrapple with syrup’s makin a comeback, but being this far north, I’d like to think we’re safe for now.
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Rudy, have I heard that beans on toast is all the rage?
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Shauna,for you, anything.
And it is a Greasy Spoon standard, yes
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There’s a good fruit cart on 52nd and 6th (NW corner, past the Halal cart). One of my co-workers has a protein shake for lunch nearly every day. I had a mango-strawberry-blueberry smoothie, and it was deliciously creamy and refreshing. Better than I make at home, and $3 for 16 oz. (No affiliation!)
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oh snap, can’t beat $3! and anywhere with mango has my attention…
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How many beans make five?
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I have a trick with a mango.
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Bah! Sunnyside ain’t got nothing on Jackson Heights.
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true dat, JacksonH. true dat.
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(Jackson Diner dosas rock my world, and Sripraphai has the best Thai iced coffee yet)
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Isn’t scrapple from the Philly area? I would assume you could get it up here. We always ate it when I lived in Philly. Also, I vote yes on biscuits and gravy! I had it for the first time living in ATL and I LICKED the plate while IN the restaurant.
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fuck fennel! you are a weirdo though for not liking pine nuts or capers.
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it’s like there’s an imaginary line extending horizontally across the state of NJ… i haven’t seen scrapple any place north of the pork roll capitol of the east coast, Trenton. if i did see it, i’d get it triple deep-fried and smothered with maple syrup…but that’s neither here nor there. :)
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Maple Syrup can be included with the mango trick, infact, it’s mandatory.
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You might want to try Dosa Diner the next time you want S. Indian, as I suppose dosas would be more their specialty than Jackson Diner.
Sripraphai is in Woodside, though I think Zabb in Jackson Heights can be considered their peer. With the added advantages of being open much later and more importantly, BYOB!
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yeah, i do remember Sripraphai closed kinda early and i wasn’t impressed by the food, just that slammin iced coffee. DAMN. sorry ’bout the woodside/jackson heights mix-up, just knew it was further down the 7 train than sunnyside. :) i will totally track down zabb…
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slammin’bangin’totally,like yeah, i agree ,errr ,totally.
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For reasons I can’t imagine, Rudy’s breakfast’s reminded me of an amazing dish I once had that was a grilled cheese sandwich, topped with chili then a fried egg. You either understand the appeal, or you’ll be grossed out!
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oh my god Zap that sounds amazing. I might as well just go home now, there’s no way I’ll be able to get any work done today, I’ll just be fantasizing about cheesy….bready….chili….eggy…………….
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Dammit, I was enamored with this featured ML’er until she said “oh snap.” :( :(
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don’t hate. the way i say it, it comes off eloquent… haha.
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Not a hater at all. You’re still too appetizing. But the ’snap’ took the edge off my appetite, is all. *sigh*
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Try the guy on 48th and third (NW corner). This dude puts so much heart and soul into his smoothies it makes you feel for the tree hugging leftcoasters.
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u a hottie shauNa!!
Not like Liv.(lovely tho)
Why shades indoors tho? are you CIA? MI6?……hells kitchen contestant?