Midtown Lunch

(Award Winning) baguette from Au Levain D’anton in Montmarte, Rabbit Terrine & Tongue Terrine (from La Grande Epicerie, Paris), and some random cheese

This was one of the memorable lunches I had this week… and not that it needs to be said, but I didn’t get in here in L.A.  Anybody know if there’s a place I can score a lunch like this between DTLA and Santa Monica? Because I have a feeling I’m going to be craving this again fairly soon. Feel free to suggest in the comments…

As is customary on Midtown Lunch, every Tuesday we profile a random reader to get their recommendations for the best spots to lunch near their work. This week its Fred, a car-less (!?) animator who spends most of his time Downtown.

Name: Fred

Age: 30

Occupation: Freelance computer animator and Metro transit blogger for The Source

Where in L.A. do you Work?: Downtown L.A. (mostly South Park but sometimes Union Station adjacent)

Favorite Kind of Food: Burgers and fries

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Sushi and anything with chunks, slices and/or little tiny bits of tomato

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: Sandwich Shop (531 W 6th St). The Pho French dip is probably the best sandwich I’ve ever had, but it only appears on the menu once in a blue moon. The Gogi Hoagie is my standard order and it’s fantastic. At Cabbage Patch (520 W 6th St) the Jidori chicken bowl is one of the rare overtly healthy dishes that I actually love. It’s vegetables, brown rice and grilled chicken but somehow it’s amazing. When it comes to Mediterranean food I’m split between my old fave Lula Kabob (952 S Broadway) and my new fave Flames (which offers tasty homemade potato chip things). I simply can’t forget Uncle John’s Cafe, I love getting their orange chicken or teriyaki/chasu combo to go for lunching at my desk. Also, Gills lunch buffet is hard to beat for a chicken tika fix.

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If you missed out on the 2011 Grilled Cheese Invitational two weekend ago, there are plenty of recaps for you to drool over.  But it doesn’t mean you can’t taste some of the winners.  Oaks Gourmet (who won a few prizes) has a Grilled Cheese night every Wednesday, and if you get lucky you just might happen upon the Grilled Cheese Truck’s fried chicken grilled cheese as a special.  But if you want one for during lunchtime for under $10 that’s guaranteed to be on the menu you’ll want to hit up Mendocino Farms this week for their Grilled Cheese Invitational champion pick: The Whole Enchildada by The Cheezy Nerds (a group of Firefighters from around the LA area).

It features roasted chicken breast smothered in house made enchilada sauce with cheddar and pepperjack fondue, pickled red onions, crema, and black olives on a rustic white bread with a side of smashed avocados for $9.25. Available at all Mendocino Farms locations from May 2nd-6th with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross to benefit victims of Japan’s Earthquake and Tsunami.

Photo courtesy of Katie Robbins/Serious Eats

• MULTIPLE 8 Great L.A. fried chicken sandwiches [Serious Eats]
• DTLA Garage Pizza is opening on 7th & Main [Squid Ink]
• DTLA Great hidden lunches of Downtown L.A. [LA Times]
• H’WOOD Josh Lurie is a huge fan of Pa Ord’s pad thai [Food GPS]
• WEST LA A new okonomoyaki place is opening on Sawtelle [Grub Street]
• MOBILE The Grilled Cheese Truck serves a chx and waffle sandwich!? [LAist]

I still remember when the first Five Guys opened in NYC.  As an avid In N Out fan I was pretty excited, because as different as the two places are Five Guys was the closest thing that we were going to get to having an In N Out.  Fresh cut fries, free grilled onions, and most importantly fast food that tasted like real food- not some kind of lab experiment (I’m looking at you Mcwendysking.)  But In N Out replacement it was not.  I still pined for a double double, and anytime I found myself far enough west I actively sought out the closest In N Out, not just for my own enjoyment but to induce jealousy in all the other east coast In N Out disciples I was friends with.  Then something happened…  I moved back to L.A.  All of sudden In N Out was available all the time, and while I still love it, it obviously doesn’t stir up that same excitement.  And when I hear old friends from back east get excited for In N Out it makes me laugh.  “Oh, that old place?”

Of course it’s still my go to fast food burger place, and a road trip essential.  So on my way down to Coachella two weeks ago it was my lunch stop off the 10.  What could be better than that?  I’ll tell you what.  Spotting a Five Guys at Midnight between Indio and my hotel in Palm Springs.  I actually surprised myself with how excited I got.

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If you live and/or work in Culver City you’ve likely noticed the new Westside Food Truck Central lot on Washington and Culver.  In fact it’s become such a popular lunchtime destination that they’ve extended their lunchtime schedule to 5 days a week, 11am to 2:30pm (they also have trucks out there for dinner on Mondays and Wednesdays.)   I’m a huge fan, and whenever I’m in the mood for some gourmet food truck action, near where I live, I now know where to go without even checking twitter (although they do have a twitter account to let you know their daily schedule.)  But that’s not the only place for a truck lunch in the area, and if old school loncheros is more your thing  it turns out one of the best trucks in the city parks on Venice and Jasmine (right in front of Smart & Final.)

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As is customary on Midtown Lunch, every Tuesday we profile a random reader to get their recommendations for the best spots to lunch near their work. This week its Jen, the director of PRISM Gallery in West Hollywood. Tonight they’re having a benefit cocktail gathering in conjunction with the blog Umamimart at 6pm to raise money for Second Harvest Japan. The event will feature highballs provided by Yamazaki Whiskey, hors d’oeuvres by Eveleigh and desserts by Fruit & Flour. And the entire ticket price goes to Second Harvest Japan.

Name: Jen

Age: 34

Occupation: Gallery Director

Where in L.A. do you Work?: PRISM, near Sunset Plaza

Favorite Kind of Food: A well made salad and a good steak

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything drowning in oil

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch: The homemade daily menu at Dialog Cafe (8766 Holloway Dr), The Lemon Chicken Soup at Mirabelle (8768 W Sunset Blvd) that comes with a side of fresh olive tapenade and bread.

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