Midtown Lunch

If you’ve been wanting to try Chom Chom (the upscale, out of the ML price range Korean place on 56th btw. 5+6th) but didn’t want to shell out the cash, you’ll want to mark Monday (12/13) on your calendar.  From 2-4:30pm they’ll be giving away a free tasting of their dumplings and kapas menu (that’s “Korean tapas” in case you wondering).  There are 22 items on the “Kapas” menu including  tofu pizza, tuna tartare, and bo ssam.  Freeloaders, prepare to engage.

The new Sunrise Mart location (41st btw. Madison+5th) is open, and not only is it a Japanese grocery store, it’s also a fully functioning restaurant. Sunrise is a worthy addition to the Japanese Trinity of Cafe Zaiya, Yagura and Mai Cuisine (I guess now it’s a tetrad or a quadrumvirate). Sunrise’s unique combination of a full store and a full restaurant make it one of a kind (in Midtown). Get a look at what they have to offer after the jump.
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The Sweetery Truck (aka Street Sweets) is rolling out one of their “special” co-branded trucks today and tomorrow collecting money for Share Our Strength and giving out free cups of hot chocolate, 3 types of biscotti and candy canes with the Food Network.  They’ll be on 7th Ave. and 52nd from until 11am, 42nd btw. 2+3rd from Noon to 2pm, and on Broadway btw. 52+53rd from 3-5pm.  On Friday they’ll be in the Flatiron from 10am to 12pm (on 23rd btw. 5+6th), and near Herald Square from 1-3pm (on 33rd btw. 6+7th).  Of course you’ll want to check their Twitter or the ML Twitter Tracker before heading out.

Do you wonder what the ML contributors do when they’re not eating lunch in Midtown? (They’re actually pretty easy to stalk!)

These doughnuts are making me want to start being a better Jew

Brownie found some special Hannukah doughnuts across the street from DiFara’s, while Blondie was busy at Doughnut Plant with the more X-Mas’y doughnut flavors. Chris H. seemed to really like Ardesia, a Hell’s Kitchen wine bar and Ultraclay is still in Hong Kong- which he is regularly posting about on his blog.

In the rest of the ML Universe… Andrea tried the pho from Nicky’s Vietnamese downtown, Jamie discovered made to order fresh mozzarella courtesy of Jose Garces in Philly, and on Monday I went off about all the things I *don’t* like about Lunch’ing in L.A.

Early today we reported that Food Gallery 32 in Koreatown would be opening in the next few weeks, an event that I have been closely following since back in April. It excited me so much I took some  time from my vacation (greetings from The Philippines, btw) to badger the nice lady at Food Gallery 32 for more information.  It worked! She tells me that they do indeed plan to open before the end of the month and sent along  a quick list of the vendors and some details about what they’ll be selling.

Check it out after the jump!

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The much anticipated Glaze Teriyaki (Lexington between 54th & 55th) is set to have their grand opening today, and will be serving their Seattle based Japanese and Korean inspired teriyaki dishes for lunch. In honor of the grand opening, the Glaze team wants to give 3 Midtown Lunch’ers free teriyaki for a year! All you have to do to enter is reply in the comments below and share either your favorite teriyaki memory or write an original teriyaki inspired haiku. The contest is open from now until midnight next Tuesday (12/14).  Limit one entry per person, winners will be selected randomly.

Curious to see what you’ll get if you win? We snuck into their soft opening/preview last night to give you a first look. And the early indicators are more than promising.  (In other words, you’re going to want to win this prize.)

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