Midtown Lunch

Just got word from the owner that the Cupcake Stop Truck will actually be selling full size cupcakes in Midtown today (for the first time!)  They were giving away free samples this morning as part of an appearance on Fox & Friends, but have decided to stay in the spot (on 48th btw. 6+7th) for another couple of hours to sell their full size cupcakes.  If you’ve been wanting to try this new truck (run by the recent law school grad that couldn’t get a lawyer job) here’s your chance. Today’s flavors: red velvet, oreo crumb, double chocolate, and a special Booklyn Cyclone’s cupcake (since they’ll be in front of keyspan stadium tonight for opening day.) For more on how the cupcakes taste, check out this post on Serious Eats: New York.  Don’t know how long they will be there exactly, so you may want to check their Twitter for updates. Update: “Planning to stay here on 48th and 6th till about noon.” NEW UPDATE: “I think we may actually stay here till 230pm before heading out to the Cyclone’s game. Thanks!” And finally… “Sorry, we were asked to move as its not really a permissable spot, headed elsewhere” (Of course…)

Things are not looking so good for Chicken Bar, the Ranch 1 “rebranding” project that launched a few years ago. The location on 52nd btw. Lex+3rd has closed, leaving the location on 8th Ave. btw. 45+46th as the only one left in Midtown. (Though there are still Ranch 1 franchises inside 3 different generic Midtown delis.) As fast food chains go, I’m actually a fan of Ranch 1/Chicken Bar. If I’m in the mood for a grilled chicken sandwich they’re my go to spot, and the fries are surprisingly good. I hope this isn’t the beginning of the end…

Related:
Ranch 1 Grilled Chicken (…it’s better than you think)
Chicken Bar vs. Ranch1 (The Epic Battle!!!)

It looks like the soon to open Schnitzel & Things Truck took notice of this morning’s wienerschnitzel lovefest.  via Twitter: “A Schnitzel debate huh?? Actually Wiener Schnitzel DOES not have to be veal. Who wants veal? Let us know!” Followed by: “We’ll open with Veal schnitzel as a special! It’ll be more expensive but if it sells, we’ll keep it on permanently”.  I know I don’t speak for everybody when I say this, but “Yes please!”  Also, thanks for the wiener schnitzel lesson.  I always forget that wiener means “from Vienna” and not veal.  Whatever veal schnitzel is called, I want it.

It’s been just over a month since the NYC Cravings Truck made their Midtown debut, and while not all lunchers have been as gaga about the Taiwanese truck food as I, the crowds are still turning out Mondays (on 46th btw. 6+7th) and Fridays (on 53rd btw. Park+Lex.)  I’m a huge fan of their Taiwanese fried chicken w/ pork sauce covered rice, but since I originally wrote about it they’ve added tea eggs, pork chops, and tianbula (fish cake) to their menu.

So last week I returned to try the rest of the new additions.  (It’s a tough job, but somebody has got to do it.)

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A mini argument discussion broke out in the comments the other day over who makes the best schnitzel: Jews or Germans. I suppose the two aren’t mutually exclusive, but the premise of the argument was chicken vs. veal/pork.  Sadly I have to go against my people on this one, and agree that wiener schnitzel is clearly the superior schnitzel- although I wouldn’t turn my nose up at some good Israeli style Kosher chicken schnitzel.

So with all this talk of schnitzel, and the Schnitzel Truck still weeks away, I hit up Kosher Deluxe (on 46th btw. 5+6th) on Monday for a little chicken schnitzel in pita action.

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Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecote, a famous French chain with a one item menu (steak frites), just opened their first location in the U.S. on the corner of 52nd and Lex. Even though the $24 price tag puts it well out of the Midtown Lunch price range, their special herb sauce topping looks amazing and they bring you a second serving of steak and french fries after you finish your first. Sounds like my kind of place! [Serious Eats: New York]

Today, the CENYC looks to fill a fairly noticeable gap in their Greenmarket Map with the opening of a new farmers market inside the Port Authority (Main Concourse, North Wing.) Starting today at 10:30am, the market will be open every Thursday from 8am to 6pm and according to Blondie and Brownie will feature produce and products from Katchkie Farms, plus sandwiches from Great Performances.

If no amount of veggies could get you to enjoy the Port Authority, there is still the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Greenmarket (on 47th & 2nd) every Wednesday from 8am to 4pm.  And the annual Rock Center Greenmarket opens on July 29th.