Midtown Lunch

College Humor stars Jake & Amir visited Papa Perrone’s Truck the other day, and VendrTV was there to catch the action. Why Papa Perrone’s? Because apparently pizza is “college food”. Kind of a stretch if you ask me (since I’m pretty sure no college students come to Midtown for pizza) but you know what would be college food? A Rutgers Grease Truck sandwich (which coincidentally enough VendrTV visited a few weeks ago.) I’ve been begging for this since we started the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge. Will somebody please step up to the plate and make this mozzarella stick/chicken finger/french fry monstrosity happen? Papa Perrone? Nino’s? Are you listening?

Papa Perrone’s actual sandwich entry (before the update) does make it into the video (along with some great video of the big Papa himself), and you can see it after the jump…

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You had to know this was coming: following the success of Papa Perrone’s entry in the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge, now you can get any sandwich from the truck (on 55th btw. Mad+Park) on garlic bread.  We’re also hearing rumors that the special sandwich (meatballs and eggplant parm on garlic bread) has morphed into a baked ziti & eggplant parm on garlic bread ($7.50)  The hits just keep on coming…

It just goes to show, it’s never too late to change things up.  People were pretty underwhelmed by the meatball sliders that the Papa Perrone truck entered into the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge.  Complaints were lodged in the comments, and Papa Perrone himself responded…  not just in the comments, but with a brand new sandwich entry.  Eggplant Parm + Meatballs + Garlic Bread = Full and Complete Redemption.

Check it out after the jump.

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Got a message from Papa Perrone’s Pizza Truck (on 55th btw. Mad+Park) this morning: “We have Easter pie today.”  My response: “What exactly is Easter pie?”  (What can I say?  I’m a short fat Jew.)  The response: “It’s a meat pie made with sweet and hot sausage, proscuitto, pepperoni, mixed with ricotta, mozzarella, and provolone, baked in a dough. Also called pizza rustica.”  Oh my… I was a big fan of their artichoke pie, and this seems to take it to a different level. I can feel the boring meatball sliders becoming a distant memory…

Not my words… but from Midtown Lunch commenter/early adopter “Boyd”.  But, per the rules of the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge, I had to go and try them… and post about them.  And “meh” pretty much sums it up. One for $3, 3 for $8 they weren’t bad… just… well… meh.  Especially for an entry into the sandwich challenge.  They are definitely fun (I don’t know what it is about mini sandwiches that makes them so endearing), and the meatballs and bread taste good, but while you’re eating it you can’t help but wonder “why didn’t I just order the meatball parm hero”?  You also kind of need a fork… and I would have liked the cheese to be melted.

The guy who runs the truck told me he was considering doing a eggplant parm/lasagna hero on garlic bread (!?!) but switched it up at the last minute.  Now that sounds like a MLSC entry!  Maybe if we bug him enough, he’ll try doing that one day…

The Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge gets its 15th entry today, as the Papa Perrone Pizza Truck on 55th btw. Mad+Park sends word that they are now selling meatball parm sliders (or -for those who can’t stand that term being used for anything other than steamed mini hamburgers- mini meatball parm sandwiches).  One for $3, three for $8 (topped with sauce and mozzarella), they definitely have them today and have assured me they’ll have them tomorrow.  (The bread is tough to get, so beyond that you may want to call ahead to find out if they have them: 917-880-1432. They’ll also do free delivery at the same number.)

Papa Perrone’s, the pizza truck that popped up on 55th btw. Mad+Park last year as an alternative to Jiannetto’s, is starting to pick up a little steam.  They distinguished themselves nicely with their delicious artichoke pie, and now in addition to grandma slices, Sicilian rice balls, and their eggplant/meatball/chicken parm subs, they are offering prosciutto rolls from Cammareri Bros- the famous Brooklyn bread bakery (that was in the movie Moonstruck.)

Check it out after the jump…

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With the temperature starting to dip down, it’s not surprising to see places rolling out the hot soups and warm specials for the winter.  Food trucks especially seem to be taking the lead… for example, Rickshaw Dumpling Truck just introduced Miso Soup to the menu.  You can get it alone for $3, or added to an order of dumplings as a the perfect side dish. 

In sweeter news, hot chocolate has returned to the Dessert Truck as a winter special, and the Treats Truck says they plan on adding their own hot chocolate very soon. Rickshaw & the Treats Truck are in Midtown today on 45th btw. 6+7th, and the Dessert Truck is in their normal spot on Park Ave. and 52nd.

But wait there’s more… chicken noodle soup (and homemade fudge) is after the jump.

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