Midtown Lunch

• If you are still doing last minute shopping, check out the Serious Eats Gift guide, broken down into categories of foods [Serious Eats]
• And you can check out my recommendations from last year’s  IVillage Gift Guide, Slide 24 [IVillage]
• A possible idea for my Jewish homies on Xmas Eve? The Pan fried soup dumplings at Dim Sum Garden [Serious Eats]
• Or Sliced Beef Noodles at Yummy Lan Zhou [Phila Weekly]
• And if you are traveling via 30th St Station this holiday season, consider grabbing a platter at Denise’s Soul Food Truck  [The Inquirer]

This week Profiled Luncher John shares one of his lunch secrets. And if you want to stalk him, chances are, he will be here…

There’s no sign on the outside of the building. Inside, the name is only listed on a small sign on a glass door and on a portable display. There’s no website, and you’ll only ever find out about the place from word of mouth or if you wandered in after noticing its courtyard with outdoor tables during the summertime. But once you discover Morris’, a cafeteria on 17th Street between Market and Chestnut, you and your officemates will keep coming again and again.

Morris’ is about as unassuming as a Stephen Starr place can be. Starr Restaurants Catering Group operates Morris’ and brings along the standard Starr-quality food and professional service. The name refers to law firm Duane Morris LLP, one of the building’s largest tenants. While Morris’ may primarily intend to serve Duane Morris and other building tenants, it is open to the general public (or at least those who know about it). Personally, I heard about it from co-workers and have subsequently spread the news as well. Now, I don’t think it’s possible for me to go to Morris’ without seeing someone from work there.

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I pass by Wolf’s Food Bazaar on the way to my best friend’s house all the time,  noting each time, the sign on the door about their award winning grilled cheese. Passing by the very eclectic selection of food products and long steam tables, I got to the station in the back where the sandwiches are made. As I waited for my grilled cheese, I starting studying the weirdness that was the steam table.

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These salted fried gram puffs are an amazing snack. They are little crunchy balls made from chick pea flour. They taste like the Corn Puffs cereal, but the chick pea version. The bag says they have “zero cholesterol” but they are a little greasy. I hope they aren’t too bad for me because I eat them in handfuls. I picked these up from International Food and Spices in University City.

Yes, that is an empty bag you are looking at.  As the weather gets colder, we sometimes have to rely on the power of delivery and that can be a total crapshoot. I heard that Sushi Planet had ramen on the menu. I placed my order and waited. An hour later my delivery arrived, except the ramen was missing. I was pretty hungry at this point, luckily at least half my order was inside.

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• The Insider brings news of french fries on South Street, including a new outpost of European Republic and Paul’s still a few months away [The Insider]
• Vic’s Sushi spicy tuna roll is lacking [Two Eat Philly]
• An interview with Han Dynasty’s amazing dan dan noodles [Meal Ticket]
• Rocchino’s and Azione have replaced Dolce and Paradigm in Old City, both are open for lunch [Meal Ticket]
• I NEED the maple black pepper shake at Lucky Old Souls Burgers [BridgesBurgersBeer]

If you find yourself on South Street and you hear happy Italian music, you might be in front of La Fourno. This Italian trattoria has a very reasonably priced menu  with paninis, pizzas, calzones, and some pasta dishes that all fall under $10.

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