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PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Robert Sietsema”
I’m pretty excited for this week’s Profiled Midtown Lunch’er. A personal hero of mine, Robert Sietsema is not just a food writer for the Village Voice, his “Counter Culture” column is a champion of the type of eats we struggle to find every day here in Midtown for lunch. He’s also the curator of the Village Voice’s Choice Eats, a huge restaurant tasting event happening a week from tonight (March 11th) at the Puck Building featuring food from 35 places from all over New York City, hand picked by Robert himself (including our very own Margon). Advance tickets are all sold out, but they will be selling a limited number of $35 tickets at the door starting at 5:30pm on Tuesday (March 11th). Plus, I have a pair a tickets to give away to one lucky Midtown Lunch’er, after Robert gives his picks for lunching in Midtown…
Name: Robert Sietsema
Occupation: Food Snob
Where do you Work?: The Village Voice
Favorite Kind of Food:West African (especially lamb mafe! which has a peanut sauce), Mexican (regional cooking from Oaxaca and Guerrero), Italian (Umbrian, Tuscan, and Calabrian), and Italian-American (yay, meat ball hero!)
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Venezuelan, way too bland and boring, too much mayo!
Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Margon(46th btw. 6+7th) for their pernil and chicken fricassee. Katsuhama (47th btw. Mad+5th) for their splendid pork cutlets incorporated into katsudon. And Sapporo(49th btw. 6+7th), especially for their cold noodle dish in the hot summer months.
The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Ressie Mae’s on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th. (May she rest in peace -zach)
If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Port of Spain, Trinidad — rotis & doubles!
Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Where is the best meat ball parmesan hero in midtown?
My favorite Meatball Sub, plus how you can win tix to Choice Eats, after the jump…
Meatball sub is a tough one, but I think I have to go with Lazzara’s on 38th btw. 7+8th. Although the one from Bella Napoli on 49th btw. 6+7th may be a close 2nd. It’s been awhile, but I remember needing a serious nap after eating it- and after all, isn’t that the true mark of meatball sub greatness?
To be entered to win a pair of tickets to the Village Voice’s Choice Eats Tasting Event happening on March 11th at the Puck Building, post your favorite dish from one of the restaurants participating in the festival (full list here), or your favorite Meatball Sub in Midtown. If you don’t win, there will be a limited number of $35 tickets at the door for sale the night of the event.
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: March 4th, 2008 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
Comments: 42
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Comments
Comment from Angie’s Matt
Time: March 4, 2008, 11:26 am
Lambi Creole (spicy conch) from Krik Krak. There just ain’t too many places in NYC to get good conch, though I still miss getting it fresh off the boat in the Keys.
Comment from Zuela
Time: March 4, 2008, 11:33 am
Id be interested to know what venezuelan food youve eaten!
I may be a bit biased (being venezuelan and all), but have a drastically different opinion of our food! No disrespect intended, just inclined to put people on to some really delicious venezuelan food.
Comment from mish
Time: March 4, 2008, 11:43 am
ZOMG! philoxenia is open again?? their meatballs are the BEST! mmm, mmmmeat.
Comment from mattt
Time: March 4, 2008, 11:50 am
Oh Petit Abeille! If there is a better way to spend an afternoon than with a bucket of Moules Grand-Mere, a basket of fries and a tall Belgian beer, I don’t know what it is.
Comment from Danny
Time: March 4, 2008, 11:59 am
oxtail or the cuban sandwich from Margon.
And what a fantastic profile today! awesome.
Comment from Vishal
Time: March 4, 2008, 12:00 pm
I seriously have to try Lazarra’s. I actually think Mondello’s on 38th and 5th, is overrated for its chicken parm sub (the chicken breast tastes funny and mostly like black pepper). But its actually quite good for the meatball sub (get extra sauce and cheese). Though I wish they’d add some peppers and onions to it.
Though that being said, It’d be hard to say its the best. There’s a paucity of good Italian Pizza/sub/deli places in Midtown relative to the rest of the city.
Comment from Joe
Time: March 4, 2008, 12:02 pm
The Oxtail sandwich at Kampuchea may change your life.
Comment from Mamacita
Time: March 4, 2008, 12:22 pm
Pernil from Margon.
Hey, if you give me the tickets I’ll have my mom make ya some oaxacan mole verde when she visits next! ;-)
Comment from Rudy McBagel
Time: March 4, 2008, 12:22 pm
Fantastic profile?……Danny,you crawl any higher you’ll be pulling on his tonsils…
Comment from R L
Time: March 4, 2008, 12:23 pm
Hands-down, the spicy fries from The Smoke Joint, in Fort Greene - especially, coupled with their fab home-made barbeque sauce. A meal in- and of-itself.
Comment from eric
Time: March 4, 2008, 12:31 pm
My favorite meatball sub in midtown is courtesy of La Bellezza on 49th btw 3rd and Lex.
Comment from Thank you. I love you.
Time: March 4, 2008, 12:33 pm
Fava bean hummus at Hummus. Cheap enough to qualify as a midtown lunch even after paying for the ride on the 6 train.
Comment from MM
Time: March 4, 2008, 12:35 pm
Best meatball parm - Park Italian Gourmet 60 W 45th St (btwn 5th and 6th).
Comment from CaseStreet
Time: March 4, 2008, 12:49 pm
Best meatball sub in Midtown? Hmm… I like the meatball sub from Jiannetto’s Pizza, a.k.a. the Pizza Truck. Okay, it’s not technically a “sub”, it’s a roll. The sauce and meatballs taste amazing. Plus for only $5 and just outside my office, can you go wrong?
Comment from Chris
Time: March 4, 2008, 1:19 pm
Gasp! The Australian Burger from The Sunburnt Cow. Purely disgusting. Purely delicious!
Comment from joseph
Time: March 4, 2008, 1:20 pm
Flying fish and breadfruit cou-cou (when you can get it) from Culpepper’s. Haven’t been since the fire.
Can’t pass up the lunch buffet at Tiffin Wallah, though.
Comment from Shauna
Time: March 4, 2008, 1:24 pm
YES!!! Yeti of Hieizan, at last some Sunnyside recognition. Big fan of the Yeti, although I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t encountered questionable sushi there lately. Is it just that time of year? Is quantity surpassing quality? Has Queens Blvd claimed another hapless victim?
On a good Yeti note, snaps for the Momo and smorgasbord Thulo Khasi Masu Thali beef entree. Variety is the spice, baby.
And as far as meatball parms go, I still fondly recall Mondello’s (37th just east of 5th ave) meatball parm with extra sauce and gooey mozzarella.
Holla!
Comment from Swan
Time: March 4, 2008, 1:35 pm
steamed edamame with thai basil-lime oil from kuma inn.
Comment from Rudy McBagel
Time: March 4, 2008, 1:44 pm
Nearest i can get to it is Faggots with cheddar Mash with red onion gravy @ the Cromwell Arms,Just off new Bond street near James Purdy & Sons Esq.
Comment from wayne
Time: March 4, 2008, 2:04 pm
You have not lived until you’ve consumed a half-pound of gloriously smoky and fatty pork belly at Fette Sau, followed (or preceded) by one of every ale on draft at Spuyten Duyvil across the street. Robert, thanks for that review and every other one you have done over the years. When it comes to NY food writing you are “my main man” as well.
Comment from Scott
Time: March 4, 2008, 2:38 pm
Fatty Crab–fatty tea sandwiches with PBR, silently (or not so silently after 9 or 12 beers) judging the bridge and tunnel crowds on a Friday.
Comment from fedthefish
Time: March 4, 2008, 3:30 pm
Wurstteller mit Drum und Dran at the Schintzel Haus alongside a cold mug of weiss beer.
Comment from Bob
Time: March 4, 2008, 3:50 pm
The watermelon and duck salad at Fatty Crab is one of the strangest yet oh so good combination one can bite into.
Comment from Ellen
Time: March 4, 2008, 4:00 pm
My favorite dish from Fatty Crab is chicken claypot - Yum!
Comment from JungMann
Time: March 4, 2008, 4:19 pm
It sounds simple, but the grilled corn with chili mayo and coconut flakes at Kampuchea is absolutely mouth-watering!
Comment from Mala
Time: March 4, 2008, 4:28 pm
Probably one of the simplest dishes on the planet, but what Tiffin Wallah does best: the masala dosa. It’s huge, crispy, comes with great coconut chutney and spicy sambar, and the potato filling inside is to die for. I would eat that stuff all by itself.
Comment from Jane
Time: March 4, 2008, 4:30 pm
I like the special kitfo at Queen of Sheba. I would love the tickets even more! I moved jobs so not even in midtown anymore. Not that unhappy about that though. Wow Robert Sietsema looks like a character. Definitely not who I was expecting
Comment from Crackhead
Time: March 4, 2008, 5:08 pm
My favorite at Vanessa’s Dumpling House surely are the “bai cai shui jiao” which translates as cabbage boiled dumplings.
They are the ultimate Chinese comfort food! In northern China (where I lived for 2-1/2 yrs) these are made on Spring Festival night (known here as Chinese New Year) and then boiled up at midnight with the whole family joining in. Lots of beer and baijiu and fireworks outside.
Dumpling House’ version is great. Load up with vinegar and some hot sauce and you’ve got a meal for $2…
Comment from Rudy McBagel
Time: March 4, 2008, 7:08 pm
‘Fatty Crab’…………sounds like the 1st Mrs McBagel
Comment from George B
Time: March 5, 2008, 5:40 am
Why, the soup dumplings at Vanessa’s Dumpling House…
Comment from Newman
Time: March 5, 2008, 8:23 am
Well, I can’t give you a midtown fave meatball sub, as I am not a meatball guy. I will say that the veal parm sub at Lazzarra’s as mentioned above is truly excellent. I can’t tell you my fave dish at any of those restaurants as I shamefully have never eaten at one. But in a shameless bid to win tickets to the Choice Eat’s event, I will say after reading Robert’s reviews as linked above not only is he a fine writer but I want to try everything he suggested. I also will mention that mutton is under appreciated in the meat eating world, IMHO, and I like Mr. Sietsema’s love of the lamb shining through in every review. It made me think about Gene Wilder in that Woody Allen movie…
Comment from Dan
Time: March 5, 2008, 9:50 am
Order the bhel puri and a salty lassi at Tiffin Wallah for a cheap and very satisfying treat when you’re in Curry Hill!
Comment from Sara
Time: March 5, 2008, 10:09 am
I go nuts over hummus from the Hummus Place. Also their whole-wheat pita is superb.
Comment from Inane
Time: March 5, 2008, 10:52 am
My vote is for the pulled pork loaded hotdog at Smoke Joint.
Hot meat on meat action. Genius.
Pair it up with a couple of beers, some mac and cheese and some greens and oh…a ide of beef ribs and… well how about a consultation with a cardiologist.
Comment from chung
Time: March 5, 2008, 11:46 am
Ox tail @ margon. It’s plate licking good.
Comment from éclair
Time: March 5, 2008, 11:47 am
I have to second (or third) the Hummus Place noms–their hummus is ridiculously creamy and delicious. Their whole-wheat pita, on the other hand, tastes like cardboard. You’d be a sucker to go for that faux-healthiness over the fluffy goodness of their homemade regular pitas
Comment from Adam
Time: March 5, 2008, 11:50 am
My fav meatball sub=6th Ave. Deli on East side of 6th between 38th and 38th St. Cheap too!
Comment from PJ
Time: March 5, 2008, 1:30 pm
I LOVE the Sesame Pancake Sandwich with Roast Pork from Vanessa’s Dumpling House. Best when the sesame pancakes are freshly baked, but at $2.99 a pop and bursting with fresh cilantro and well flavored pork, it’s an authentic tasty treat.
Just wish it was in midtown!
Comment from Kevin
Time: March 5, 2008, 2:18 pm
Easy! The Kampuchea at Kampuchea!
Comment from TXC
Time: March 5, 2008, 10:21 pm
Steak sandwich at Sunburnt Cow would be my selection. I plan to sample the lunch buffet at Tiffin Wallah soon, however.
Comment from RR
Time: March 6, 2008, 1:02 am
Phil’s Lamb’s head cheese is good, his Shepard’s Pie even better
Jimmy’s 43
Comment from /brian
Time: March 6, 2008, 11:58 pm
i have greatly enjoyed the gored gored at queen of sheba.
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