Archive for September 2015

The Vendy Awards Kept the Threatening Weather At Bay

All those attending the 11th annual Vendy Awards this past weekend were praying for good weather. The forecasters told us our prayers would be ignored and threatened thunderstorms all day. Miraculously, street food won out and the day ended up being full of food, celebration, and pleasant weather.

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Video Break: Vendy Award Nominee Old Traditional Polish Cuisine

If you didn’t get your tickets for the Vendy Awards tomorrow, you’re out of luck. As we told you, tickets would sell out and they did earlier this week.

No fear, you can still sample the food from all the Rookie of the Year nominees since they all have at least one regular rotation day in Midtown. We’ve been posting videos on all the nominees, so check out the droolworthy souvlaki from Lil Zeus Lunch Box, pork belly buns and popcorn chicken from Kaya NYC, southeast Asian tacos from Coney Shack, and tomato poached egg sandwiches and platters from The Shuka Truck. And if you want to see videos on the other categories, click here.

Today, we’re showcasing the final nominee. Old Traditional Polish Cuisine serves just what it’s name says. Giant grilled kielbasa are incredibly smoky and crisp and make a filling, hearty meal when paired with pierogies stuffed with meat, cheese, or potato. Follow them on Twitter to find out when they’ll be in Midtown next.

Click the link below to check out the video. If you’ll be at the Vendys, get ready for some serious eating and if not, don’t forget to buy your Vendy tickets early next year!

Old Traditional Polish Cuisine

Happening Now: Holy Fuku+ Are You Guys Serious???

This morning, Brian reported that David Chang opened a second location of his super popular ridiculous fried chicken sandwich East Village restaurant, Fuku, in Midtown North-Central. As expected, people are going ape over this. I put my prejudices aside to check out the line and the space.

Pictures, menu, details, all after my soul dies a little and after the jump.

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David Chang Opens a Fuku Location in Midtown Today

Grub Street just reported that David Chang has surprised everybody by opening a second location of his hugely popular fried chicken spot Fuku in Midtown today.

They open for the first time at noon and I imagine the lines have already begun to form at the Chambers Hotel on 56th Street, the same location as Ma Peche. This location seems to focus on fried chicken bites called Fuku bites, along with other confusing menu items like Sichuan Pork Flatbread and Salt & Pepper Shrimp. No prices are listed, but the full menu can be seen here.

There are also package options that are by reservation only and include a sandwich, salad, fries, and other goodies. There is an XL for 2-6 guests at $25 per person or an XXL for 4-8 guests at a total of $400. Office party anyone?

Early adopters and line waiters, leave your reports below.

The Kaya Cart Cures Your Taiwanese Cravings

Back in March, I reported seeing a new Asian food cart in Midtown. Since I tweeted them back then, they tweet me nearly weekly to tell me of their whereabouts but it’s taken me this long to give them a try… (and now a few weeks more to write about it…) and they’ve been nominated for a Vendy, which is this Saturday and you should get tickets if you haven’t already. Fellow contributor Brian made a video on them as well!

As for me, what I ate and what I thought, after the jump…

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Biryani Cart’s Chinese Cart Vooter-Adda Returns Today

You may remember back in 2013 when Meru Sikder, the owner and chef of Biryani Cart, pulled up a super cheap Indian fried rice cart next to his original cart. Well, it’s back starting today.

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Video Break: Vendy Award Nominee The Shuka Truck

The Vendy Awards get closer every week. Do you have your tickets to the big event on September 12? It will definitely sell out (as it always does), but you can still purchase them by clicking here. It’s an amazing afternoon with food from over 25 different vendors.

We’ve been showcasing videos on all the Rookie of the Year nominees. Regardless of who wins, it will be a coup for Midtown since all five nominees find their way to this neighborhood. The other videos already posted include Taiwanese buns from Kaya NYC, overstuffed tacos from Coney Shack, and Greek street food from Lil Zeus Lunch Box.

The next nominee is The Shuka Truck, who serves large sandwiches and platters of shakshuka. This Israeli dish is basically eggs poached in tomato sauce and spices. Shuka Truck also offers varieties like a vegetable-forward green and an earthy creamy white shakshuka. They usually park in Midtown three times a week, but check their Twitter feed for exact locations.

Click the link below to check out the video and stay tuned for one more video next week on the final Rookie of the Year nominee as we count down to the 11th annual Vendy Awards.

The Shuka Truck

Li-Sal’s Brings Egg Roll Like Calzones to 50th Street

Right next to Swami (or Sammy’s or whatever) Dosa Cart is another brand new food cart crowding 50th Street. Li-Sal’s Italian Kitchen recently pulled up to the end of the row of mobile vehicles between 6th and 7th Avenue.

Last week was their first week and they were offering a grand opening special for $5 calzones. Normally, the price tag is $6 so not a huge savings, but when you’re trying to eat lunch in Midtown, every penny helps.

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Kitto’s Ramen Made Me Cry

Dear Midtown Lunch’ers, I am so, so, so sorry. From the very bottom of my cold dead heart, I apologize and beg for your forgiveness. A week ago, I wrote about Kitto Ramen having rebranded. It seemed like a ML-friendly spot, with some specials that were within the $10 limit, and some interesting items. While the menu seemed all over the map of Asia, it DID call itself an “Asian American Eatery” so I didn’t think twice about it.

Well, the day that post went live, I grabbed a friend and we went to check it out. What we ate and why I cried, after the jump…

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Swami’s (Sammy’s, or maybe Sami?) Dosa Cart Shows Up on 50th Street

Nestled among all the bigger food trucks and carts that garner long lines every day on 50th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue, we discovered a mysterious dosa cart.  You may remember Sami Dosa Cart, which parked in this area a few years ago and was a favorite among Midtown Lunchers. It’s easy to mistake this cart for that one since the font is practically the same and on one side of the cart it even says “Sammy’s Dosa.” But the other side of the cart calls it “Indian Swami Chennai.” Could they be one in the same?

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