Midtown Lunch

The Chef’s Favorite burger at Plan Check in Los Angeles. Photo by Donny.

Donny had his best meal of his recent LA trip at Plan Check, Brian celebrated St. Patty’s Day with Brooklyn Brewery’s new Irish Stout, Blondie says the best whoopie pies in town may be the ones sold at Luke’s Lobster, Brownie made Mad Men cupcakes ahead of the season five premiere, Rachel got barbecue from Salt Lick down in Austin and I took a tour of brunch spots around New York.

Around ML universe… Zach is excited and perplexed about Miyata Menji, a new West LA ramen spot, Andrea took a second look at look at a generic deli turned burrito stand Downtown and Jamie went to Philly’s Italian Market and got Tamales.

Nerdy desserts provided by Brownie.

Brian turned green in this preview of Friday’s Midtown Happy Hour, Blondie and Brownie are celebrating 3/14 with fried pi and also fried pie, Chris found Korean bargains in Flushing, Donny ate his way through the menu at Whitehall, Rachel eyed airport sushi and I hung out with chefs and photographers at a Kitchensurfing party.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Jamie ditched Philly and ate pork in the Dominican Republic, Andrea got a fancy fish sandwich from the Our Heros Truck Downtown and Zach raved about the chicken fingers at The Chicken Lady in LA.

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

The Sirloin flap steak at Allswell in Williamsburg. Photo by Donny.

Donny posted all the dishes he’s tried at Nate Smith’s Allswell so far, Blondie received smuggled macrons from Paris, Brownie tried cupcakes in Colombia, Rachel had oyakadon at Sapporo, Brian sampled the fresh mozzarella at Eataly, and I photographed in the kitchen at Stonehome Wine Bar in Fort Greene.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Andrea discovered Turkish breakfast from a coffee cart downtown, Jamie succeeded in her mission to find Olive Oil Gelato in Philly, and Zach stuffed his fat face with AYCE Korean BBQ in Los Angeles.

The wings at Pok Pok Wing. Photo by Blondie.

Blondie says Pok Pok Wing may have the best (if very pricey) fried chicken in New York right now, Brownie made a five-layered sweetheart cake for her boys at home, Brian explores Paulie Gee’s legacy by trying all the pizzas at Barboncino, Donny rode the 7 train at rush hour to check out Thai food at SriPraPhai in Queens, Rachel thinks that Maoz’ belgian fries are a better than their falafel and I photographed the final edition of Something I Ate in New York.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Andrea went to Chinatown for lunch at Banh Mi Saigon, Jamie had dim sum for lunch at Ocean City in Philly and Zach has gone native and endorsed the veggie burger at Shaka Shack in Los Angeles.

Lengua tacos at Guelaguetza in Hell’s Kitchen. Photo by Donny.

Donny found delicious tacos in the back of a bodega in Hell’s Kitchen, Blondie treated her winter cold with a bowl of pho, Brownie discovered that Colombia also runs on Dunkin,Rachel also warmed up with some soup at Soba Totto, Brian’s beer travels took him to Chelsea for a round at The Half King, and I visited JFK’s Terminal Five.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Andrea found some decent steam table Thai food in the Financial District, Jamie arranges a Ramen Battle in Philly and Zach offered meat-loving Catholics preparing for Lent a list of places in LA to stuff their faces.

Eclairs at La Maison du Chocolat. Photo by Donny Tsang.

Donny photographed behind the scenes at La Maison du Chocolat for Serious Eats, Blondie celebrated Pancake Month at Clinton Street Bakery, while Brownie made her own profoundly cute pancakes at home, Brian got love advice from Allison & Matt Robicelli, Rachel had a frilly cupcake from Crumbs, Chris wrote some haiku about his trouble with Teleflora and I went on a tour of brunch spots around town.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Zach shared his 21 best lunches in Los Angeles, Jamie had a coconut-scented banh mi at Iron Tower in Philly and Andrea found a fancy meatball banh mi at Mooncake Foods in a lunch dead-zone Downtown.

Mashed potato pizza may sound weird, but it looks delicious. Photo by Brownie.

Donny went for the signature dish at Steak Frites, Blondie’s giving away a free Valentine’s Day gift set from With Love From Brooklyn, Brownie had a mashed potato pizza at Eli’s in Hamden, CT, Brian guzzled beer from a can for the Superbowl, Rachel had the Whiting Sandwich at Kim’s Aunt’s Kitchen, Chris enjoyed the fried delights at Tong Tong Tonkatsu in Flushing and I hosted a Bed-Stuy Bar Crawl.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Jamie snacked on fourth generation meatballs at Dad’s Stuffing in Philly, Andrea gave readers a first peek at the new Food Truck Lot downtown and Zach profiled an LA luncher who carries Sriracha in her purse.

Some friends and I are leading a crawl to a place where drinks come with bacon. Photo by Clay Williams.

Blondie got the Millenium Falco pizza at Roberta’s, Brownie tried to recreate Shopsin’s Mo Betta sandwich, Brian played video games and drank beer at Barcade in Williamsburg, Rachel had breakfast at Cafe Bene, Donny checked out the new One Girl Cookies in Dumbo and I’m hosting a Bed-Stuy Bar Crawl with some friends.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Zach gets excited about Korean food at Pioneer Chicken in Los Angeles, Philly guest contributor, John reports on Texas BBQ in Center City and Andrea wins with Chicken and Waffle sandwiches from Real Good Food.

$6 for a whole chicken? Too bad we can’t get this in Midtown! Photo by Brownie.

Chris showed Serious Eats readers Singapore’s 12 must try dishes, Brian drank beer and ate sausage at Jimmy’s No 43, Blondie surveyed the sweets in San Francisco, Brownie got thrifty with a $6 whole rotisserie chicken from Brancaccio’s, Rachel had grilled fish taco night and I photographed the kitchen at Do or Dine in Bed-Stuy.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Zach hits up a truck in Los Angeles that serves Rochester garbage plates (!!!), Jamie got chicken and waffles from a truck in Philly and Andrea found a SoHo Dominican spot where the truck drivers and delivery guys go.

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

Brownie needs your to like her Cookie Monster iphone cookies on Facebook so she can win a trip to Seattle, Blondie made us proud by stuffing her face in San Francisco, Donny mixed pork cracklings with brussels sprouts, Rachel baked cookies, Brian had the ribeye steak at Red Farm and I was also at Red Farm, where I photographed soup dumplings that ended up in today’s New York Times.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Jamie checked out the new truck in Philly Delicias truck serving arepas and empanadas, Zach finds seven more reasons to hate lunch in Los Angeles, and Andrea finds another truck selling fancy grilled cheese sandwiches Downtown.