Midtown Lunch

Photo courtesy of Chez Pim via Twitter

I remember the first time the Jamaican Dutchy’s stew peas entered my radar screen. They’ve been serving it as a Thursday special forever, but it never quite clicked that this was a must try dish until a few months ago. I emailed a former co-worker of mine, who is Jamaican, to ask if she would go with me to Jerk Pan, the newish Jamaican cart on Park Ave. and 48th Street. Her reply:

“Any day but Thursday — it’s Jamaican Dutchy’s ‘stew peas’ special day, LOL”

Really? So this day is blocked off permanently in your calendar. That’s crazy. Maybe it’s about time I tried these “stewed peas”.

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With all the bad stories we’ve been hearing about vendors lately, it’s good to read about one who is giving back. (Sadly I don’t think poor Midtown office workers qualify as “needy”.)

In what shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody, the map part of this morning’s New York Times article about Midtown Lunching meant big business for some of our favorite carts today. The famous Halal Cart (on the SE corner of 53rd and 6th) had a longer line than I’ve ever seen (maybe to try their new kofta kebab?), there were reports of longer than normal lines at the Biryani Cart, and the Jamaican Dutchy ran out of jerk chicken before Noon. (Apparently there are a few people in Midtown who read the New York Times?) Anybody go to XPL, or one of the other spots on the list? Reports are welcome in the comments…

Bobby Flay showed up at the Jamaican Dutchy (on 51st and 7th) this morning with cameras in tow. Apparently he has an escoviche throwdown planned for next Friday, and enlisted O’Neil at the Dutchy to give him some pointers. This isn’t he first time Bobby Flay has gone to a Midtown Lunch cart for help. Apparently he got assistance from the Kwik Meal cart for his falafel battle against Taim (although I haven’t been able to track down video of it!)

Related:
Bobby Flay Throws Down With the Dessert Truck
Gold Medalist Usain Bolt Visits the Jamaican Dutchy Cart!

If you’ve ever wondered what the breakfast porridge at the Jamaican Dutchy is like, here’s a look at their hominy corn porridge over on Serious Eats: New York. Only $4 for an “enormous” cup, “it was creamy and sweet, with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg and vanilla, cradling large, squishy hunks of hominy. Tasty and hearty, it was the kind of morning meal that leaves you warmed from within and ready for the day.”

See all Jamaican Dutchy posts on Midtown Lunch

A new day, brings another sandwich entry in the Midtown Sandwich Challenge. Actually… another *two* sandwiches. That’s right. The Jamaican Dutchy cart (on 51st & 7th) has created two sandwiches, and one of them is the first vegetarian entry in the challenge. Although the spirit of the challenge is to create something outrageous and unhealthy, that shouldn’t disqualify the sandwich from being vegetarian. And I commend the Dutchy for coming up with a sandwich that allows people who don’t eat meat to take part in our fun sandwich taste off. It also helps that the vegetarian sandwich is freakin’ good.

Check them both out after the jump… 

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The Jamaican Dutchy Cart (on 51st and 7th) has hopped on the “recession special” bandwagon sweeping the city. They have reduced the price of their stewed chicken and curry chicken mini-meals from $6 to $5. “Mini-Meal” is kind of misnomer; they stuff rice, peas, veggies and plantains (plus the meat) into one of those smaller 6″ x 6″ styrofoam containers. It’s a good amount of food for a normal size human being, and for $5 a nice alternative to their $9 to $11 regular size, gut busting portions.

A few weeks ago, the Jamaican Dutchy (on 51st and 7th) started posting videos to a new You Tube account.  As of now there are 10, and most of them are pretty huge time wasters (even more so than most of the stuff on You Tube).  For example a few are less than 15 seconds long, and just have random customers ordering stuff. There are also a few longer ones that are meant to be advertisements (I’m guessing?) But, my favorite by far is the one where O’Neill, the owner of the Dutchy, stands in front of the cart pretending to be a customer stuffing his face.  You can understand about 6 words total of what he says, a) because he’s laying on his Jamaican accent a little thicker than normal, and b) half the time his mouth is filled with rice and peas. 

Check out the hilarity after the jump…

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Miracles can happen people!  That which I said should come to pass, has come to pass.  I’m not claiming to be God, I’m just saying maybe God reads Midtown Lunch. Last Thursday, during his whirlwind tour of New York City, Jamaican Olympic gold medalist sprinter Usain Bolt visited the Jamaican Dutchy Cart on 51st and 7th Ave.  He hung out for about 15 minutes, taking pictures and chatting with Dutchy employees and customers. It’s not entirely clear if my post last week had anything to do with the visit, but I don’t care either way- I’m just glad he went! Seeing the photo of such a famous athlete hanging out in front of one of our favorite Midtown Lunches just makes me smile. Of course my smile is nothing compared to the smile O’Neil, the owner of the Dutchy, has had on his face since Thursday. It’s hard to for us to understand how exciting this was for him… it would be like me getting to meet the fattest guy in the world.

If you want to see the signed photo yourself, I’m pretty sure it will be hanging permanently on the front of the cart.