Midtown Lunch

For the past few years, Southwest Porch (40th+6th) has been a good outdoor option on beautiful days: burgers, beer, and porch swings. But anyone who has passed by over the past few months has seen work being done. They were undergoing renovations and it’s finally done complete with a revamped menu. The porch swings are out, bratwurst is in.

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‘wichcraft‘s new seasonal menu begins today. They’re serving the roasted chicken sandwich ($9.64) with tuscan kale, cannellini puree and mozzarella on grilled country bread. I’m happy to see the meatloaf sandwich is back on the menu too with tomato relish, bacon and aged cheddar served on ciabatta ($9.87). Of course there must be a frittata, and the new one includes pancetta, roasted tomatoes, rosemary and aged cheddar on a ciabatta roll ($6.89). And, the veggie option is a sweet potato sandwich on grilled country bread with black olives, basil, goat cheese and mozzarella ($7.35). In additional to the new seasonal items, ‘wichcraft will now offer daily specials as well. No word on the price for those, but I’m going to go ahead and assume they’ll be at the top end of their $7-$10 range.

‘wichcraft, multiple locations

I love pumpkin, and I get really excited during this time of year when seasonal pumpkin dishes start popping up on menus. Yet, if there is one thing I can’t stand, it is the pumpkin spice latte. It makes me nuts when Starbucks declares that they have the seasonal drink in stores (which was months ago, by the way — waaaaay too early for my pumpkin cravings), and people get so excited. Every couple of years I think to myself, “Self, you should give that drink another shot — it can’t be that bad if everyone and their mother is excited.” And then, half a second after the first sip, I think to myself, “Self, it can’t possibly taste this way on purpose, can it?!” It is coffee for people who hate coffee and clearly don’t understand the nuances of the pumpkin.

Now that that is off my chest, let’s talk about some of the wonderful pumpkin dishes Midtown is currently offering, for when you get that pumpkin craving.

Pumpkin Muffin from Le Pain Quotidien

If you’re looking for pumpkin for breakfast, Le Pain Quotidien does a very nice pumpkin muffin ($2.85). I am especially a fan of the pumpkin seeds on top — they add a textural contrast and sweetness to balance the spices inside the muffin.

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It’s no secret that I really appreciate ‘wichcraft and their seasonal sandwiches. I ate my way through the entire summer menu a few months ago, and now the sandwich chain has launched their new seasonal specials.  The new frittata is still $6.88 and includes leeks, caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes and aged cheddar on ciabatta. Also on ciabatta is the whole roasted chicken sandwich ($9.64) with red chilies cabbage slaw and crema. They’re also serving up slow roasted pork ($9.87), which is pork shoulder with pepper relish and fontina on grilled country bread. The red wine braised brisket sandwich will also run you $9.87 and comes with mushrooms, red peppers, onions and gruyere on ciabatta. Lastly, they’re offering a roasted pumpkin sandwich on grilled country bread with hazelnut brown butter, sage and mozzerella. As a huge winter veggie fan, especially pumpkin, that last sandwich sounded right up my alley!

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‘wichcraft. BLT. Yesterday marked the heralded return of this perennial Midtown Lunch favorite, ($9.87 according to leaked ‘wichcraft internal memos) and I believe it may warrant a visit to one of their locations to see if it has held its pedigree. With droughtlike conditions covering prime tomato-growing areas and the tomato season barely having begun (at least as far as the big beautiful ones you can get in Jersey and greenmarkets) it remains to be seen if the quality can stand up to their long-standing record of thick cut heritage bacon, heirloom tomatoes, homemade aioli, and non-iceberg lettuce.

Does this simple American classic merit the top-of-the-ML-range pricing for the sandwich alone, or does it scrape nostalgia from our wallets like so many veins of silver? Only way to find out is to dodge the swarms of tourists around your friendly local ‘wichcraft and avoid the bacon hipsters as they descend upon the limited-time offering.

Boy, this New York Public Library Lunch Hour exhibition keeps getting cooler. Earlier this week, we learned that the NYPL teamed up with the Food Truck Association to bring select trucks to the Bryant Park area. Now ‘wichcraft is getting in on the action by offering $3 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at the two kiosks they opened in the library back in March. For the duration of the exhibit (until February 17, 2013), the two carts will offer the discounted triple-decker PB&J, which uses seasonal fruit preserves (this season is quince) on pullman white bread. The best part? On Friday, when the promotion begins, they’ll be offering free samples from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on the first floor in Astor Court!

Last summer, Blondie wrote about the then new ‘wichcraft ice cream stand in Bryant Park, near the carousel. She loved the vanilla ice cream between peanut butter cookies sandwich, which looked great, but I’m a mint chip kinda girl. Wouldn’t you know it, ‘wichcraft’s ice cream stand is offering two new ice cream sandwich flavors (not surprisingly, they’re seasonal… just like their new summer sandwiches), peanut butter & strawberry and … chocolate & mint chip. Sold!

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I’m a big fan of the quality of ingredients you get at ‘wichcraft. Actually, I’m a big fan of anything Tom Colicchio does. I don’t mind trading quantity for quality here and there, so when they updated their seasonal items for summer, you can bet I was in Bryant Park, standing in line to try them. And by “them,” obviously I mean all of them! Although I don’t think any of these are menu newbies, some are definitely old friends that I was happy to see return to the mix (others … not so much).

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