PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Ranjan”
Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week, it’s Ranjan an ‘Emerging Markets Trader’ with a taste for the spicy food.
Name: Ranjan
Age: 28
Occupation: Emerging Markets Trader
Where in Midtown do you Work?: Bank of America, right on Bryant Park
Favorite Kind of Food: All types of asian food, spicy foods, and fried chicken (I heard a rumor that Bojangles is finally coming to town!).
Least Favorite Kind of Food: A boring pasta with red sauce
Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: A secret i will reveal for spicy food lovers: at Dunhill Cafe (on 45th btw. B’way+6th) they have a prepared cajun chicken… throw it in a whole wheat wrap with lettuce and onions and enjoy; the Spicy Bulgogi with rice dish at Cafe Duke on 51st street (the one near Bryant Park sucks); the Roast Pork Special (broccoli rabe and roasted pork) from Tony Lukes/Shorty’s on 9th Ave. btw. 41+42nd, and be sure to get a side of their Parmesan Fries. The Kra Prow lunch special at Seeda Thai on 50th and 8th; and the best bacon, egg, and cheese is from D&S Marketplace on 56th and 5th.
“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? The Cajun Wrap from Dunhill, Kati Roll (on 39th btw. 5+6th), and ‘wichcraft
Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? On the quest for the perfect spice your site brought to me Szechuan Gourmet (on 39th btw. 5+6th), and it certainly lived up to the billing. You also introduced us to the Biryani Cart (on 46th and 6th) which has spurred the great “Store on 39th vs. Cart” debate.
If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Barcelona – while not totally consistent with my tastes listed above, it had the best selection of food out of spanish cities i’ve been to, and more importantly, the idea of taking two hour lunches and a nap afterwards is something i’ve only dreamed of.
Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? After getting a pretty good handle on the lunch situation around here, i’m now looking for a good afterwork bar around Bryant Park. anyone have suggestions?
I got nothing as far as bars go… so I’ll leave that one up to the commenters. As for the Bojangles rumor, anybody who loves spicy fried chicken should be happy to hear that information. With Popeye’s on 40th being our only truly great option at this point in time, a Bojangles in Midtown would be welcome addition. I’ll look into it and see what I can find out.
Got a suggestion for Ranjan? Put it in the comments. 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
Posted: 2:00 pm, December 16th, 2008 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
57 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
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57 Comments
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[stupid comment about how we shouldn't comment on people's stupid clothes and that it is scaring everyone off]
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[various sexual innuendo]
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Now that that is out of the way . . .
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douche alarm very nearly going off
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BXL on 43rd b/w 6th and B’way.
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He’s cute!
Thanks Zach! -
Jimmy’s Corner is right over there buddy.
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My dearest Ranjan:
As a Freemason, I am charged with advising young men on all aspects of their personal and professional life.
My advise to you (and I believe it very strenuously) is to BUTCH UP, as they say.
Specifically, I would advise the following.
1. Start using a masculine nickname, like Bud or Tony.
2. Burn those trousers immediately. They look like you stole them from a homeless person or a sad old man in a nursing home. Buy some jeans. Not too tight.
3. Real men do not drink wine. However, if they are forced to, they do not drink red wine out of a white wine glass. Only rubes and bumpkins do this. You really should be drinking beer or a highball. Or better yet, drop a shot of cheap whiskey into a pint of Budweiser.
4. Buy a real grill. What you have there is totally pansy-ass. Possibly electric, even. I have it on good authority that they sell genuine gas grills in New York City. Buy one. Cook meat.
5. Chest hair such as yours is a problem than needs to be addressed quite urgently. My wife is a laser hair removal technologist (and owner of her own chain of salons). I would be happy to offer you her services free of charge.
You’re very welcome,
Chuck, PhD
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so this is what EM traders do
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Gingerman has an amazing selection of imported beer on tap. Its on 36th between 5th and Park.
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After I fire this douche he will only be able to afford the McDonalds Dollar Menu
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1. i like him
2. shorts do look dirty
3. chipotle sells beer
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the outfit is questionable, but damn is he cute. and love the food suggestions! “chuck phd” and “tom” can you send me a picture?
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Here’s a fun tip!
Google “Elizabeth Treuter”, Doc Chuck’s “wife”.
She does not in own a chain of “wildly successful” laser hair removal salons.
She does work as a registered nurse for the Maryland Department of Corrections through a contractor. I’m not sure they do too much laser hair removal in prison. Then again, maybe DocChuck knows since he has done time. How about it Chuckles? Any of this ring a bell?
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get a life and go back to making em prices
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A successful trader who loves Bojangles? I would have a glass of wine with him any day ;)
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As a fellow bryant park professional, im amazed at all of my new options for lunch. being such a foodie, how do you stay so lean? tell us your workout plan!
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Chuck PhD,
i appreciate your comments. i would like to address a few points however:
1. i do apologize for the lack of masculinity in my name, but unfortunately it is of Indian descent. i will give my parents an angry phone call tonight for not hating their ancestry and naming me “Chuck”
2. the shorts probably do fall in the category of douchebag, though as for stealing them from an old man in a nursing home..not sure if anyone clicked on your name there but, 66 years old from maryland?? reading about NY Midtown lunches….crreeepy.
3. if you think its red wine in a white wine glass, you’re sady mistaken. its WAY less manly. it’s a rose.
4. as for the grill, a full gas grill is actually illegal in manhattan now. something you would know if you didnt live in maryland.
5. i’m kind of confused as to what’s manly if you’re recommending laser hair removal? but regardless, us Indians arent the most hairless of people, but i’ll include that complaint when i call my parents tonight.
kindest regards,
Ranjan -
I hear ya Smashley. And I’ll tell you the ONLY place those shorts would look good…. on my bedroom floor.
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What happened to your moustache? It was coming in so nicely….
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yeah I think he’s cute too! And he brought me a glass of wine! Thanks, hon!
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Hi Ranjan ;-)
So you like it spicy eh baby?And all you haters! Doesn’t matter what clothes he wears, they’ll all look fine on the bedroom floor. (Oh dear, did I say that. For shame)
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Jkarlin and I think alike! LOL
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Go to Windfall on 39th; ask if the bartender’s name is Mike Powers; if yes, order a Manhattan; if no, find out when he’s tending and go back then for the same.
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sshhh! Ranjan… you’re ruining the magic… just post a second picture please.
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Who could’ve predicted this would happen?
“[stupid comment about his shorts (pants?)]”
“[various sexual innuendo]“
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Hi Ranjan,
That was a very well put together comeback against the resident ML nutcase DocChuck. His criticisms of others, sometimes racist against Asians, are relentless and scattered across many food and travel blogs.
As several other ML commenters have noted DocChuck is a convicted harasser named Charles Treuter (wife Elizabeth) http://www.covenantnews.com/freedom/archives/004286.html and he continues posting to blogs in a schizophrenic manner, using multiple male and female handles.
This guy takes the concept of “too much time on my hands” to an entirely new level.
He doesn’t deserve to be taken seriously however he does add some wit and humor to the comments on occasion.
Here are some of DocChuck’s multiple personality handles to watch out for:
chiff0nade
Big Bear
MrsDocChuck
Roger Morgan
David Liske
LunaPierCook
BettyBarkerSmith
VanGearhart
Janelle House
Loggains
CarneySome of these handles are ripoffs of the names of the legal officials who charged and convicted him. Treuter will often consume the entire thread using these handles and have multiple conversations going on.
Best,
RB
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I have been looking for an emerging markets trader, preferably one easy on the eyes. Between the Treats Truck chocolate-covered day announcement, to the $150 meat tray contest, and now tall, dark, and handsome Ranjan, you have made this the best Tuesday ever, Zach. The gods will bless you. I will be trying out this Windfall place with a bartender that can make a good Manhattan
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There is a Bojangle’s in Queens. I went there once and it was quite the magical experience, even though it was very hard to find and not a proper Bojangles restaurant. But they still did give me chicken on a biscuit.
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I don’t go out often after work, so I don’t know the scene at this place, but the Perfect Pint on 45th between 6th and Bdwy. has really great staff, good food, and 30 beers on tap. Everyone I know who goes there really enjoys it.
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Recommend St Andrews on 120 W 44. The only Scottish Bar in NY, with excellent Belhaven on tap.
Give the man props for having a Baby Q for god sakes – the best portable grill in the universe. Propane powered pleasure and you can take it to the beach.
Oh, and CockChug – you suck.
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Ranjan, you’ve done it: a satisfying response to the resident psycho and yet, you still took the higher ground while doing so. Love when the weekly bait thrown into the shark tank bites back!
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Zach — PLEASE remove all of the unnecessary/harrassing/useless comments here. It makes reading this blog very painful and unbearable. Thank you to all who have something constructive to say, but I truly cannot stand having to sift through all of the surplusage.
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Painful? Unbearable?
Walk a mile in my shoes, you mommy-coddled douchebag
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This guy reaks of douchebag contents!
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You mean reeks, but you’re right.
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My office building is adjacent to Dunhill, so I wind up eating there at least once a week. From their pre-prepared sanwiches, I would recommend the roast beef sammich, which has cheddar and onions and Russian dressing to go along with it. I get mine heated up usually. Other good stuff include their BBQ chicken paninis when they’re around and the soups are actually somewhat tasty for deli soups.
I am not a shill, I promise. But isn’t that what a shill would say? God damn it, I can’t win!
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i figured ranjan was pulling a funny with the wine glass meets bbq and i like that. also a lot of women love chest hair – there’s nothing creepier than getting down with a shaved chest and i don’t get how one can attack someone for not being manly enough AND suggesting hair removal in the same breath. but to be more relevant – this recommendation sounds fantastic:
the Roast Pork Special (broccoli rabe and roasted pork) from Tony Lukes/Shorty’s on 9th Ave. btw. 41+42nd, and be sure to get a side of their Parmesan Friesunfortunately out of my range though.
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What’s interesting is that the dudes that guys call a douche are usually the dudes that the girls think are cute…maybe these “douches” are onto something…
I must say, some good new recos in this profile, especially the Roast Pork Special.
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Seriously, I do not get what is douchey about this guy. It’s a great profile, he has good taste, not vegan, obviously FREAKING HOT
I think the guys are just jealous.
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As a dude, I can say that Ranjan’s profile rates very low on the doucheness scale.
He seems pretty normal and he admits that his shorts are douchebag material… what else do you want from him?
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I can’t believe I’m about to do this but… in defense of the Midtown Lunch commenters (who have been known to get pretty nasty) I think a lot of the negative comments on this post came from people who are friends/wo-workers with Ranjan, and not regular readers of ML. Most of the regulars had nice things to say (especially the ladies!)
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i apologize to the readers for adding this controversy/fluff to the site. i suspect the original comments were readers, up to about the crazy-Chuck dude post, and then some people around me took some creative liberties. i definitely appreciate the Mamacita’s of the world, along with the suggestions for bars. i look forward to keeping up with all of Zach’s work here (and luckily its too cold out to wear the infamously ridiculous plaid shorts!)
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Ladies: Hate to burst your bubble, but today’s “emerging markets trader” is tomorrow’s waiter at your favorite midrange restaurant.
signed,
just another jealous ML reader
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He can wait on me anytime ;-)
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Mamacita:
I am glad you have traded in your usual hate for love. Its always better in the end.
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My dearest RB:
Your foray into the world of private investigation has, sadly, fallen short. It is innacurate and dated as well as laughable and pathetic.
A chimpanzee with an internet connection could have found more current and factual data on me. I leave many trails.
I suggest you read my MySpace page or subscibe to my blog, if you are indeed devoting such a large portion of your day to stalking me.
Cheers,
Chuck, PhD
And a side note to RanJan: My offer still stands. The chest hair is decidedly offputting.
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I’m not a hater, that’s the boys. I just crack the occasional cruel joke heh heh
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I was going to say–Ranjan seems like a nice enough guy (esp. with the Shorty’s broccoli rabe love), but, ladies, an emerging markets trader at BoA? Be prepared to be the one buying lunch all year this year. And next. As long as you’re cool with that, then chow down!
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It’s true, purely from DocChuck’s point of view. The little boys he favors sexually lack chest hair entirely, so when he says chest hair is “offputting” he is telling the truth, from his deranged point of view.
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I am completely okay with buying Ranjan lunch and drinks, just as long as he keeps me informed on emerging markets.
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I’ve been frequenting The Australian lately for Happy Hour. It’s on 38th b/t 5th & 6th. Good happy hour specials and bartenders with fantastic accents!
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A two hour lunch with Ranjan and a nap afterward? Sounds delicious.
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anyone have any nudies of this hunk
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@ Ranjan – As you can see, you’ve been trolled by Doc Chuck – a legend in his own mind. He has spent the better part of five years impersonating me online, in a lame attempt to damage my culinary reputation. Most people can see through his crap so his efforts have never been very successful. (As you can see in the above list of aliases, he sometimes joins websites as “chiff0nade” because he can’t get “chiffonade.”)
Chuck is a horrific racist. He has e-mailed blog owners and used ethnic slurs I would not dignify by repeating here. I’m sure the catalyst of his attack on you is your ethnicity. As for me, being Italian, he refers to me as a “dago.”
@ Zach – I know to read the babbling of this lunatic sounds like it could ONLY be a prank between friends, I’m here to assure you it’s not. I have over 800 e-mails saved in relation to the ongoing trolling of this nut.
If you google around a bit you will find where Treuter was arrested, convicted, and served jail time due to his harassment of employees at the Baxter Bulletin, a newspaper published in his “former” town. He got run out of town on a rail and now pollutes Maryland.
Chiffonade
chiffonade@hotmail.com -
You should check out BXL, I work at Bryant Park too and it has been our go to after work bar for years. They have an amazing selection of Belgian beers and excellent mouelles frites. For something a little more posh, you can’t go wrong w/ the Bryant Park Hotel.
[stupid comment about his shorts (pants?)]