Twitter Tracker: What do you mean you didn't check the ML Twitter Tracker this morning? Well then you missed out on this: Papa Perrone is on vacation until 8/17, Cupcake Stop is in Midtown today, and the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck is in Columbus Circle with peking duck dumplings.
Posted at 11:15 am, August 5th, 2009 | 5 Comments
After taking the entire month of July off, the Hallo Berlin cart returned to their spot on 54th and 5th Ave. on Monday. I also noticed (and I’m probably totally late to the game on this one) that the photos they use to promote their Democracy & Dictator Specials have changed again…
Posted by Zach Brooks at 10:15 am, August 5th, 2009 under Hallo Berlin.
Great news from the new Szechuan Gourmet (on 56th btw. B’way+8th). Remember how their menus promised free szechuan pickles with every lunch special, but when they opened the lady at the counter said it was a misprint? Apparently they’ve changed their mind. From Lunch’er Grace: “Just ordered pork/leeks from the newest branch of Szechuan Gourmet and am proud to inform you that the pickles have arrived! I received a nice portion with my delivered lunch and it’s nice and crunchy and salty!”
Related:
Pork Belly w/ Chili Leeks Still Good at the New Szechuan Gourmet
Szechuan Gourmet: Day 1 as a NYT 2 Starred Restaurant
Posted by Zach Brooks at 9:15 am, August 5th, 2009 under Szechuan Gourmet.
But What About the Mayo?: Xie Xie, the new Asian sandwich shop on 9th btw. 45+46th that I posted about last week, gets the Serious Eats treatment this morning. Ed Levine seemed to like it overall, but didn't mention anything about how messy the mayo filled sandwiches are. I wonder if they've toned it down... (although based on this photo of the Vietnamese beef sandwich, I'd say no.)
Posted at 8:31 am, August 5th, 2009 | 7 Comments
Just because so much has been written about street vendors verbally threatening other street vendors doesn’t mean that people should get the impression that it never gets physical. In fact earlier today two ice cream vendors got into a fist fight over the corner of 6th Ave and 50th Street. The cops were already on scene when I walked up, and an ambulance showed up shortly thereafter (although it looked like only one vendor was hurt, and it was just a black eye.) I’m not sure exactly what happened because both the Police sergeant and the vendors pretty much refused to talk to me- but it looked like the vendors were given the opportunity to press charges and both get arrested, or make up with each other and just receive tickets. It looked to me like they both chose citations (natch), and the ice cream truck left pretty soon thereafter.
As contentious as you normally hear the relationship is between cops and vendors, this interaction looked pretty civil. I guess the cops mind less when the vendors are beating up each other.
One thing everybody involved can agree on is this: Don’t say anything to the short fat guy with a camera asking questions.
Lucky for us Lunch’er Rich was on the scene when the fight broke out and emailed in a first hand report…
Posted by Zach Brooks at 4:30 pm, August 4th, 2009 under Street Vendor Issues.
Here’s what lunchers are talking about right now in the forums…
Posted by Zach Brooks at 4:00 pm, August 4th, 2009 under In the Forums.
At this point Cer Te (on 55th btw. 5+6th) is the only place left creating new sandwiches for the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge– although after reading this New York Times article about Pastrami Burgers, Lunch’er Adam had a great suggestion for the Steak Truck (on 47th and Park Ave.) in the forums yesterday:
“There’s the steaktruck… they have both burgers, and pastrami. I suggested to the steaktruck guy that he make a pastrami burger! If enough people ask for it, maybe he’ll add it to the menu (or perhaps he’ll just be nice enough to make one upon request.)”
I like it. A pastrami burger from a truck. Let’s make this happen…
Posted by Zach Brooks at 3:00 pm, August 4th, 2009 under Steak Truck.
The Taxi Gourmet Is Getting Closer: Last week she was taken to La Soleil, an awesome looking Haitian restaurant on 10th Ave. btw. 57+58th. I'm still waiting for a cab driver to bring her to Midtown proper (ideally for a plate of some halal street meat!)
Posted at 2:15 pm, August 4th, 2009 | 1 Comment
A few more bits of info about the annual Bon Appetit pop up supper club were released today via the Bon Appetit blog. First off, the event is moving to 57th & 6th Ave. (which I believe is where the Delta Pop Up Cafe, and Target pop up store were located.) Plus there is going to be outdoor seating, which is pretty exciting. This year’s participating chefs include José Andrés, Mario Batali, Rick Bayless, Cat Cora, Tom Douglas, Emeril Lagasse, Gina DePalma, Renato Poliafito and Matt Lewis, Nancy Olson, Alex Stupak, and they’ve already announced a few of the dishes including “Jose’s JLT with Jamon Serrano and Manchego” from José Andrés, a shrimp etouffee from Emeril, and a Venetian apple cake from Gina Depalma. Very exciting!
The Bon Appetit Supper Club & Cafe will be open for lunch September 21-25th from 11am to 3pm. Mark it on your calendars!
Related:
Day 1: Lunch at the Bon Appetit Pop Up Cafe (2008)
Emeril, Giada, Govind, Cat Cora, Pichet and more serve up lunch for under $10 in Midtown! (2007)
Posted by Zach Brooks at 1:30 pm, August 4th, 2009 under Bon Appetit.
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 Joe, a theater guy who wants to let you know about the show his company is putting on this week in Midtown West (also known as “the theater district”.) More important than that, the show includes $1 beer!
Name: Joe
Age: 27
Occupation: Ruthless Theatrical Tyrant (actually, the producer of the nascent theater company called Big Rodent)
Where in Midtown do you Work?: Right now we’re putting on a production of William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure at Theater 3, at 311 W. 43rd St (at 8th avenue). So I’ve basically lived my entire life there for the past couple weeks, including a few 6am-2am days. SHAMELESS PLUG #1: Tickets to the show are $20, but use the code NYCFOOD for $10 off at NYCmeasure.com. Plus we have $1 beer! In Midtown! After work!
Favorite Kind of Food: Tex-Mex. I was born and raised in Orlando, FL, so the lack of local Tex-Mex in NYC greatly disturbs me. Thankfully I’ve started to find a few acceptable places, but none in midtown yet. Taco carts are not enough for southern appetites.
Least Favorite Kind of Food: I will seriously try everything. The only thing I can’t stand is when I have to eat the same food every day.
Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Very tough choice, but I believe I’ll have to go with Island Burger (on 9th Ave. btw. btw. 51+52nd). Top notch cow, both in meat and shake, sways me. The Tijuana burger is my favorite: bacon, jack, guacamole, onion. And of course, the no-fries thing is rather charming, and good for the heart. I don’t usually work in midtown so it’s rare I get the pleasure to eat there (but I always check this site when I do)
Posted by Zach Brooks at 11:45 am, August 4th, 2009 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
