Midtown Lunch

You could probably say this about anything (movies, music, art), but I think half of whether or not you love or hate food comes from expectations. Nostalgia can cause you to enjoy a meal more than a person who is trying it for the first time (or have the opposite effect, if it isn’t as good as you remember); an incredibly positive review can cause you to judge a restaurant more harshly than if you had stumbled upon the place accidentally; and, finally, “authenticity” can be the killer of an otherwise enjoyable meal- if it doesn’t conform to exactly what you thought you were getting when you ordered it.  A perfect example of that is Baoguette (which was the catalyst for Ed Levine’s review of Ba Xueyen on Serious Eats: NY this morning.) As mere sandwiches, you could argue that Baoguette is making some of the best food in New York City.  As “banh mi” you could complain about ingredients, lack of ingredients, bread, authenticity, whether or not a banh mi should have catfish, and of course price (“banh mi should always be under $4!”)

The same kind of thing could be said of Certe’s new entry into the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge.  Called “The Bayou”, this sandwich evokes many expectations (New Orleans, Po-Boys, what blackened catfish should or shouldn’t taste like), and if you fall prey to these thoughts, you may be disappointed.  Go in looking for nothing more than a satisfying fish sandwich, and you will be rewarded.

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So, we’re a month and a half into the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge, and I thought it would be a good time to give a quick update on where we are. Most of the sandwiches being offered, which are all listed on the bottom of the Sandwich Challenge page, are still around… but there have been a few changes:

• I stopped by the Sophie’s Cuban on 3rd Avenue (btw. 49+50th, in the Crystal Pavillion Food Court) and they are no longer advertising the sandwich, but will make it for you if you ask for it. They plan on adding it to the permanent menu in the near future.
• FreeFoods NYC’s Duck Pastrami Reuben was supposed to just be for the month of February but it’s been so popular they’ve extended it indefinitely. Also, you guys inspired them to recreate their “sandwich area with some meatier options, for example, (Barbecued Pork, Smoked Tomato, Pickled Lime, Chipotle Cilantro Dressing).” Nicely done Midtown Lunchers.
• Certe retired its Feb sandwich (the Thanksgiving Dip) and introduced a March sandwich called “The Bayou”.  A review of that is coming tomorrow… and the Thanksgiving Dip is still available on Thursdays as a special.

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I noticed a few commenters mistakenly thought the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge was just for the month of February… but no. It continues on! As long as places are willing to make the crazy sandwiches, I’ll continue posting about them. And Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th) sends word of a new sandwich for the month of March making its debut today: “The Bayou” feat. blackened catfish, corn salad, bib lettuce, and jambalaya aioli, on a soft Portuguese roll. Nice. I said it when they introduced the “Thanksgiving Dip” last month, and I’ll say it again: these guys just get it. I can’t wait to try the new sandwich. (And early adopters, feel free to comment below.)

And speaking of the “Thanksgiving Dip“, it was so popular they’ve decided to make it one of their weekly specials- available on Thursdays.

More Sandwich Challenge News: As you know Friday is the last day for Certe’s Thanksgiving Dip, but FreeFoods NYC has decided to extend their Duck Pastrami Reuben into March.  Originally the sandwich was going to be a Feburary special but the response has been so great they’ve decided to keep it on the menu for the time being.  The real question is, is it the same sandwich I had 3 weeks ago?  A few commenters say no:

I had the opportunity to try this today [and] mine looks nothing like the picture. not pink and fatty duck, but dry, grayish, and liver-y tasting meat. duck, cheese, bread, cannot go wrong, but i have to say i was disappointed. and probably would go as far to say that if one goes to freefoods expecting it to look like the picture above, they’d be let down. the bread in one half of it was falling apart and for a few bites i was holding the duck itself. not sure if this is a trend or a few instances of negligence, but i’d say to anyone looking to try this sandwich to keep your expectations in check

There are definitely people who got sandwiches that looked like mine, but recently there have been a couple complaints like this one, and it corresponded with a rumor that FreeFoods was no longer making the sandwiches to order.  I emailed FreeFoods to make sure they were still making the same sandwich I got on day one, and the General Manager’s response is after the jump…

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Another day… another entry in the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge.  The Cucino & Co next to Naples 45 (inside the Met Life Building on 45th btw. Mad+Park) announced last week that their entry would be “brisket of beef, sauteed onions, guacamole, jack cheese wrapped in flour tortilla”.  A brisket burrito sounds pretty amazing in theory, but how would it be in practice?  I stopped by the other day to test it out.

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Naples 45, which was voted “Best Pizza” in this year’s Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll, has entered the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge with a “Polpetini” sandwich (which just means mini-meatballs). When I first posted about the sandwich last week, commenters remarked (correctly) that a meatball sub wasn’t exactly “sandwich challenge” material, but a deal is a deal. So last week, I went to check out this “polpetini”, thinking that this better be the best meatball sub ever if they want to impress the Midtown Lunch eating public…

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Matt Kenney, chef of FreeFoods NYC and well known vegan chef, responds to the question of how he could submit a duck sandwich to the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge: “Competitive spirit perhaps — I felt it was important to show our diversity and attention to detail with all of our cuisine, not just that which is vegan.  It was a personal challenge as well; creating something that would be publicly judged without ever having tasted it myself.  Fortunately, our Chef de Cuisine, Leo Monroy, has an amazing palate.”  That sandwich was created by a vegan? That’s freakin’ crazy…

Related:
FreeFoods Duck Pastrami Sandwich is a Triumph. A Freakin’ Expensive Triumph

After its Vendy Award nomination, and people’s choice victory, the Biryani Cart on 46th btw. 6+7th flirted with a second cart (parked next to the original cart) to accommodate the demand. It was a little confusing for customers, who didn’t realize which cart was serving kati rolls and which cart was serving their chicken tikka masala and chicken biryani. Once the lines died down, the second cart disappeared… but last week it  reappeared right next to the original Biryani Cart as “Sandwich Land”, a cart dedicated to sandwiches.

The new sandwich land cart (which is parked directly to the right of the original cart) features two burgers, two cheesesteak sandwiches, a variety of pita sandwiches, and their non-Indian spiced chicken and lamb over rice plates. And of course… an entry for the Midtown Lunch sandwich challenge.

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