Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er “Vanessa” (& Big Apple BBQ Fast Pass Giveaway!)
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 Vanessa, a marketing person who has the enviable position of being involved with the Big Apple BBQ Block Party this weekend in Madison Square Park. She even snagged us a Fast Pass to give away to one lucky Midtown Lunch reader. ($100 value, the pass will entitle you to food, and shorter lines.)
Name: Vanessa
Age: 38
Occupation: Associate Publisher Marketing, Every Day with Rachael Ray
Where in Midtown do you Work?: 34th and Madison (just close enough to the Treats Truck and not too far away from Gramercy Tavern) I work at Every Day with Rachael Ray so there is definitely no shortage of excellent food. It seems like you’d never have to leave, but sometimes you do have to.
Favorite Kind of Food: Asian (sushi, chinese, the like–anywhere that serves sticky rice), also love just about everything else including sweetbreads.
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Peanut Butter & Jelly and Yogurt (just can’t get past the first bite)
Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: I like the chicken rice bowl at Au Bon Pain. When I have time to travel, I’m quick to get soup at Hale & Hearty. Feeling like I need food fast, I’ll do chicken dumplings at Eden Wok (34th btw. Mad+Park), which may be Kosher but seriously they have the best chicken dumplings. If it’s a sit-down fast lunch I’m looking for, I like Todai (32nd btw. Mad+5th), the one city block Japanese all you can eat buffet. It’s the best buffet I’ve ever encountered. Finally, when I want to go out with a group for a fun Friday lunch it’s always Blue Smoke (27th btw. Park+Lex). I know it’s out of Midtown Lunch boundaries, but it’s the best BBQ in the city. This weekend I might get my fill though, given that I’ll be eating the best BBQ in the country at Madison Square Park for two days.
The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Why and Gallard?…(really Guy & Gallard, but constantly asking myself why I can’t go a block or two further to wich craft)
Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? Woorjiip (32nd btw. B’way+5th) literally makes me feel like I’ve left New York and ventured to another country. Once you can navigate the space, its the best lunch ever. Love, love, love the eel.
If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I have to say, I miss working close to Dishes on 45th. Although it is perhaps one of the priciest go-to lunches I never got bored. Sushi on Friday, soup anytime and summer rolls when you could time it correctly. It was my all-in-one. If I really had to dream though, I’d say Paris (although I’d probably eat a little too much)…the bread alone is worth working there for, not to metion, pate and L’aduree. (I didn’t mean to rhyme)
Now for the good stuff. It’s not Midtown, but if you read this site (and you’re not a vegetarian), I’m guessing you like BBQ, and if you like BBQ the Big Apple BBQ Block Party is the biggest NYC BBQ event of the year. Some of the best pitmasters from around the country converge on Madison Square Park and sell the best dish they have to offer (go here for a complete list of pitmasters and the dish they’ll be serving.) The event is free, and you only pay for what you eat- but the lines can get pretty long. That’s why we’re giving away a fast pass, after the jump…
The Big Apple BBQ Block Party sells a limited number of fast passes, which give you $100 worth of food, and allow you to skip the lines, but they stopped selling them this past Friday… there may be limited number available at the event on Saturday, but if you don’t want to leave it chance, Vanessa has graciously donated a Fast Pass for one lucky Midtown Lunch reader courtesy of Every Day With Rachel Ray. All you have to do is comment below with your favorite BBQ dish and place (from anywhere in the country… doesn’t have to be Midtown), and you’re entered to win. Make sure to include your email address in the “email” field. It won’t show up on the site, but I’ll need it to contact the randomnly drawn winner. Good luck! This contest is now closed. The winner was chosen at random and has been contacted. Thanks for entering!
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
Posted by Zach Brooks at 11:25 am, June 3rd, 2008 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
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160 Comments
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The Backyard in Marine Park on east 31st street has the most slamming St.Louis style smoked ribs with a rum/pineapple/chipotle glaze applied after cooking and just seared on the grill with the glaze afterwards.
Oh and their Smoked Roast Turkey breast with Maple and Honey glaze? excellent.
The Keilbasa is always pretty decent. The Brisket needs work, based on the suggestion of the assistant chef (my girl) it was way over cooked, even for brisket!
the head chef there? Me. :) I love my smoker I bought from Costco :D
ZACH!!!! I need the BBQ pass, I’ll even trade you a rack of my ribs the next time I do it up.
But as far as REAL restaurants goes, The Ranger BBQ in Jackson Heights is great.
Short Ribs, Baby Backs, Brisket, North eastern Style Carolina Pulled Pork ( vinegar based and I believe they SMOKE THEIR SAUCES!).I love their Beef Short Rib Flaunta’s, deep fried smoked short ribs in a tortilla… need I say more?
The smokehouse is in the BACK OF A BAR!!! Called Legends Bar.
I seriously reco their BBQ, no frills and just great food.chowhound discussion on the spot:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/368353addy:
RANGER TEXAS BARBECUE at Legends, 71-04 35th Avenue, Jackson Heights, Queens; (718) 803-8244. -
daisy may’s dry rub memphis ribs…..they are so good that after you eat them you’re in a coma for a day
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The onion loaf at the now defunct southern house in point pleasant New Jeresy… it’s not a bbq dish, but it was served at a bbq restaurant.
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The absolute best was this Mom & Pop type stand in somebody’s front yard in the outskirts of Miami, Fl…GOLDEN RIBS! Man I might make another trip down there just to get those ribs again…slammin’!!!
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pulled pork from daisy may’s
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My dearest Vanessa:
I sense something deep and perhaps even meaningful hiding behind those mirrored glasses. By the way, I have a pair myself. Foster Grants circa 1973. So I can relate. There is more to me than meets the eye, as well.
I am intrigued with your association with Ms. Rachael Ray. I am a regular contributor to her RR Show message boards. I do so fear for Ms. Ray’s physical and mental health (I am a PhD, should that interest you). Please convey my thoughts and prayers to her.
Let me say also that although I will NOT eat asian food of any sort, I do find myself gravitating to the peoples of asia, particularly enchanting women.
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all the ribs from blue smoke
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favorite cue place is RUB
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sloppy joe sandwich. from my mom’s !
Tommy Gunn’s in Philadelphia is a close second though. -
best bbq dish (in nyc) imo are the st. louis ribs from blue smoke WITH (and this is a must) a side of mac and cheese. blue smoke’s mac and cheese makes me weak in the knees.
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The 3-Way Combo at Dr. Hogly Wogly’s Tyler Texas BBQ in Van Nuys, CA. And not just because of the name….ok kinda because of the name.
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Aw man, Cait just reminded me about Bullock’s. My mouth is watering, my stomach is growling, and I’m having visions of the BBQ I grew up on. I think I just might have to call in sick tomorrow, go back to Durham, and let my inner Carolina girl roam free.
Doc, just this once, shut it. This is for the Holy Grail Fast Pass!!!
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The Ode to Elgin platter at Dinosaur in Harlem is my fave. It includes pork ribs, beef brisket and sausage. Mac & Cheese is my favorite side dish.
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A tub of Lloyd’s, meat isle, Key Food.
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Everything Texan!
MeatFest ’99, as we call it, begins sometime during wedding season each year when all my old high school buddies all head back to Dallas and tackle Dickey’s, Sonny Bryan’s, Peggy Sue’s, Pappas Bros. BBQ- finishing up with a trip down to San Antonio. Though we make a pit stop over at The Salt Lick in Austin, the culinary battle royale takes place at Kreuz Market where everyone tackles the entire menu before swinging on by to Shiner for the best brew in the state.
Back up here in NYC, I’ve got to give it up to Hill Country and my love for their moist brisket (though the new roast boar is excellent)- so much so that I moved to an apartment above the place not long after it opened!
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full rack from Rendezvous in Memphis. dry rub. awesome. but, also pretty much any pulled pork from memphis will make me incredibly happy – and of course coleslaw should go on the sandwich.
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brisket from hill country is mighty tasty.
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Pulled pork sandwich at Stamey’s in Greenboro, NC. Amazing.
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The pulled pork and spicy sausage from Fette Sau are almost godlike.
I’ve been to the dreamland outpost in Birmingham, good stuff, I agree.