Midtown Lunch

Last night was the final preliminary time trial for the Go Go Curry Championship, so the finals are now set. Here are the 5 finalists that will be competing for the $500 first prize:

1. “Gentleman” Joe Menchetti (:37)
2. Paul Arcaria (:53)
3. Masato Tomita (:55)
4. Don “Moses” Lerman (1:00)
5. Dale “Mouth of the South” Boone (1:07)

So, with four out of five of the contestants all having some pro competitive eating experience, this event is shaping up to be a battle between “Gentleman” Joe and Don Lerman- who apparently are still feuding over something that happened years ago. The lone darkhorse appears to be Masato Tomita, the only name out of the five that when google’d doesn’t turn up some random gross eating competition.

The final round will take place on May 30th, inside Go Go Curry (on 38th btw. 7+8th) at 5pm. The place is tiny, but they do have four audience member spots to give away (plus their guests.) If you’d like to enter for one of those spots, email ggc@notionsunited.com

Related:
Is Go Go Curry’s Eating Championship Turning Into a Parade of Pro Eating “Has Beens”?
Go Go Curry Launches Annual Eating Competition

53rd St. & 6th Ave at 12:30pm; SW Corner/Imposter (On Left), SE Corner/Real Deal (On Right)

In all my years of Midtown Lunch’ing this is the first day that I’ve seen the lunchtime line for the halal cart on the SE corner of 53rd & 6th rival that of the “imposter” cart on the SW corner of 53rd & 6th.  As any longtime reader of Midtown Lunch knows, the cart on the SW corner of 53rd & 6th during the day is not related in any way to the famous Halal cart that is parked there at night.  In fact, if you want the famous halal during the day you have to go to the SE corner of 53rd & 6th or the SW corner of 53rd & 7th.  Best way to tell if you are at the right cart… look for the yellow bags with the famous halal guy logo on them. It’s good to see that folks are finally getting the message.  Whatever you do, though, don’t OD on the stuff.  According to Lunch’er “TC”, if you eat at the cart on 53rd & 6th every day you will definitely get sick of it.

Related:
Debunking the Myths of 53rd & 6th, the Most Famous Halal Intersection in New York City
Famous Halal Cart on 53rd & 6th, Adds Another Cart on 7th

To say I was inspired by this post on Fork in the Road about a pork chop stuffed bo lo bao would be an understatement.  Mesmerized? Entranced? Seduced?  Whatever you want to call it, seeing a pork chop sandwiched inside a sugar topped Chinese pineapple bun stirred up feelings in me of extreme desire. But how to get one of these creations?  The piece mentioned that this treat is indigenous to Macao- but nothing about where to enjoy one here in New York City!  Clearly I would have to take matters into my own hands, and go to the one place in Midtown that I knew had buns and pork chops: Ying Du (on 38th btw. 7+8th).

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It looks like Manhattan’s first location of Baja Fresh (on Lexington btw. 45+46th) is set to open on Tuesday (5/26) as scheduled.  One of the owners emailed yesterday to invite me to sample their food, free, before they open.  Sadly for me though, I don’t take free food from places that I write about- and as tempting as it is to make an exception for this exciting occasion, I’d much prefer going on opening day and tasting the food like a regular customer. I want to try the food they serve to paying Midtown Lunchers… not the free stuff they’re giving to people they know are going to promote the place.

BUT… that doesn’t mean you can’t have the free food.  I asked the owner if I could give my slot away to one of my readers, and he agreed! In fact he said he’d be happy to give away spots to three Midtown Lunch readers (plus one guest each.)  So, if you’d like to try Baja Fresh for free this weekend, before they open to the public, just comment below why you think you deserve to win.  3 winners will be drawn randomly on Friday afternoon.  (And if you don’t win, I’ll see you there on Tuesday!)

Related:
What To Expect From Midtown’s New Baja Fresh

Well that didn’t take long. The Kashmir all you can eat Indian/Pakistani buffet on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th is now $7.95. That’s a $1 reduction since they reopened in March, and only $2 more than what you would pay for just one pound of food at their street level by the pound deli. $8 for an all you can eat Indian buffet is unheard of! (Even Rangole was $9.) Which begs the question… are we excited that the price has been lowered, or terrified of an all you can eat Indian buffet that only costs $8. Only one way to find out… full report coming tomorrow. (Btw- do you think that “30 Years Hospitality Special” is code for “Price To Get People to Eat Here Again”)