Midtown Lunch

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. Today it’s Rachel, an editor and writer who tries to be healthy, but obsesses about cupcakes (in blog form). 

 Name: Rachel

Age: 32

Occupation: Editor/Writer (and blogger, as one of the three ladies who run the site “Cupcakes Take the Cake“)

Where in Midtown do you Work?: I work above Madison Square Garden

Favorite Kind of Food: Mexican food, sushi (it’s a tie)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Pasta

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: I feel like I’m being sacrilegious here, but I have to give a shoutout to the Macy’s salad bar downstairs from where I work. I try to eat pretty healthily (most of the time) and they have some great, fresh stuff in their salad bar. I also go to Charleston’s on 7th Avenue when I’m meeting anyone for lunch – I think it’s technically one block below the Midtown Lunch’ing boundaries, between 30th and 31st, but they have everything and with the hot meals you get a really big lunch.  There is a Korean place on 32nd between 6th and 7th, near 6th, on the south side of the street. I forget the name, but it’s open 24 hours and really yummy and pretty quick.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: The Pump — it’s on my way back to work from my gym, Crossfit NYC, and I love it because you can get anything on the menu and it’s cheap and healthy. And for any naysayers who think “no oil, no fried foods, no white flour, no sugar, etc.” means it tastes bland, that’s so not true. Plus they have fun names like “Big Arms” and “Lean and Mean.” And hot sauce. Mmm…hot sauce. Really, everything I’ve gotten there is delicious, and I go so often they know my name. I’m very much a creature of habit and really like having one place where I know what my favorites are and it’s cheap and easy and also healthy; I am not a health freak but after I work out it makes sense to me to eat something not drowned in oil. Plus I like vegetables but don’t always eat enough of them so most anything I get from the Pump has spinach or broccoli. (Four Locations in Midtown)

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: I’m still looking! I didn’t discover it via Midtown Lunch but I am a big fan of Kati Roll and plan to check out your Indian food suggestions.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Hmm…this is tough. I might have to say San Francisco for the abundance of good burritos. I could eat Mexican food every day (see above, creature of habit). If we’re sticking to New York, I’d have to say the Lower East Side for its proximity to sugar Sweet sunshine, my favorite cupcake bakery in New York, if not the world. Not that I’d eat just cupcakes for lunch, but I also happen to really like the kale at Earth Matters. Kale and cupcakes sounds healthy, right?

Since you co-author the site “Cupcake Takes the Cake”, I’ve got to ask the obligatory cupcake question, right?  Best in Midtown.  Go: Unfortunately, the pickings are few and far between around here — there’s Burgers and Cupcakes on 9th Ave. btw. 35+36th, which is great if you’re craving that combination of comfort food. There is also a place on 8th Avenue btw. 30+31st, Daiuto’s (http://www.newyorknewyorkcheesecake.com/home/) that makes massive, delicious chocolate cupcakes, the kind you need to split with someone but are so worth it.

Alright, before we talk about cupcakes we gotta mention your goto lunch… the infamous Pump.  My wife has been trying to convince me of Pump’s greatness for a long time.  I’m certainly not looking to beef up, and lord knows I don’t exercise- but the notion of eating french fries that are “good for you” is certainly intriguing.  Do they have those?  You know… the “air cooked” french fries that those places usually have?  If they do, I may check it out.

Sorry about that momentary lapse.  Back to the cupcakes!  I’m not a huge cupcake person, but I certainly don’t have anything against them.  Miniature cakes, topped with frosting.  How can that be bad?  What’s your favorite cupcake in Midtown?  Post it as a comment below…

And as always, if you want to be the next Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er, or you’d like to nominate somebody in your office, email me at zach@midtownlunch.com