Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. I’m pretty excited about this weeks lunch’er. Meet James Oliver Cury, the Executive Editor of Epicurious.com– a sushi lover who isn’t above eating at Cafe Manhattan (when he’s not supping at the Conde Nast Cafeteria).
Name: James Oliver Cury
Age: 40
Occupation: Executive Editor of Epicurious.com
Where in Midtown do you Work?:Condenet, Manhattan
Favorite Kind of Food: My wife’s Polish chicken matzo ball soup
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Cottage cheese (I don’t like the look or sound of it)
Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Whatever the chef recommends at Sushi Yasuda—usually including a comparison of two types of the same fish (tuna, yellowtail, etc.)
The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Café Manhattan (on 45th btw. 5+6th) is just down the block and has enough diversity to keep me interested (salad bar, sushi, pizza, prepared entrees, sandwiches) and enough turnover (massive crowds) to convince me that everything’s fresh. I always prepare a salad with Brussels Sprouts, caramelized cauliflower, tomatoes, olives, string beans, and some protein (salmon, chicken, beef). I take friends and colleagues (writers mostly) to The Conde Nast Cafeteria because it’s nearby and it’s cool inside—like being inside some sci-fi movie set. Selection isn’t bad, but it’s not as good as at the new Hearst Building where my wife works. I never see anyone famous so I must be going at the wrong time.
Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: $10 lunch at Utsav. I’d only been here for giant banquets in the past and always ate too much. Now I don’t have to consume three apps, four entrees and five sides in one meal. The samosas are delicious.
If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Prince and Mott would allow me to be near some terrific quick-and-cheap spots like Café Habana, Cafe Gitane, Rice, Ruby’s, Ray’s Pizza (the original original), Bread, Soho Park, and Caffe Falai.
Cafe Mahattan seems to be a favorite go-to for many Midtown Lunch’ers. I’ve never eaten there, but I’ve walked in and out many times- and contemplated getting the stuffed focaccia back by the pizza station, which came highly recommended. I also am really into caramelized cauliflower right now, so that sounds pretty good too.
My favorite cauliflower in New York City, after the jump…
Read more »
Posted by Zach Brooks at 10:30 am, November 27th, 2007 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
18 Comments