Midtown Lunch

Fights between trucks is nothing new, but fighting with a cop? That’s kind of crazy. The rumors swirling around Midtown today is that on Tuesday an ice cream truck driver got into some kind of “altercation” with a police officer.  Nobody wanted to say exactly what happened, or who started it, but we’ve heard that the ice cream truck driver is now in the hospital- and has been fired from his job.  One thing is for sure, even though the driver wasn’t a licensed Mister Softee vendor (he drove one of the generic trucks) yesterday was a tough day for *all* ice cream vendors in Midtown.

Miss Softee didn’t want to speak on the record about any of this (after all, there’s a saying about vendor fight club) but she did want to point out how unfair it is that one bad driver could ruin it for all the good Mister Softee drivers, trying to follow the rules.

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Blondie is hanging at the Biryani Cart right now (on 46th and 6th), which is being filmed by Food Network Canada for a upcoming series on food carts. (And at Noon they were looking for people to eat on camera!)  Lunchtime is usually a little hectic at the Biriyani Cart, but it’s child’s play compared to what’s going on at the new Shake Shack over on 8th Ave. right now…

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Last month we brought you word that Taste of India had opened next to Carribean Kitchen in 1 Penn Plaza, replacing Bruce’s Burger. While some may lament the loss of a hamburger place, we all know there’s more than enough new burger places popping up in New York these days (ahem, Shake Shack). Some of you in the comments section mentioned that Taste of India is serviceable and it was worthy of investigation because there’s a shortage of Indian options around the Penn Station area. So investigate, I did.

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Variety has always been the greatest strength of Cafe Zaiya, the popular Japanese lunch spot and bakery on 41st (btw. 5th and Madison). On a recent trip, I noticed their offerings have gotten even more varied with the introduction of some new Summer lunch items, including cold noodles. See their new menu and get a look at one of the new dishes after the jump.

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Do you wonder what the ML contributors do when they’re not eating lunch in Midtown? (They’re actually pretty easy to stalk!)

Photo courtesy of Ultraclay

Ultraclay was a big fan of the ribs at Fatty Cue, Danny from Food in Mouth tried the tripe and eggs and Maialino, Blondie and Brownie had a late lunch at Shopsin’s last week and followed it up with a blueberry doughnut from the Doughnut Plant. And finally, welcome back to Amy- who spent the second half of June eating here way through Ecuador!

Sorry… I know it’s a little late, but we couldn’t resist posting this one.  Bringing new meaning to the term ‘Pigs” it seems the Bacon Police were in full gear around 3rd ave and 50th street last week.  We know it was for a movie (anybody know which one?) but after reading about this hamburger made entirely of bacon, we’re starting to think Bacon Police might be necessary.

UPDATE: It was for a McDonald’s commercial in France.

Totto Ramen isn’t the only ramen place in the Totto empire that opened for lunch recently. Right before the holiday break Midtown East got their newest ramen spot, Hide-Chan Ramen, which began serving lunch in the former Yakitori Torys spot- also a sister restaurant to Midtown West’s Totto Ramen and Yakitori Totto (did I get that right, Zach? I’m getting confused between the Tottos, Ramens, and Yakitoris). While I work in a prime location for Menchanko Tei to be my main ramen spot, Hide-Chan has opened in an area that doesn’t have too much in the way of ramen. And let me tell you they are serving some awesome ramen, enough that I might haul it up a few blocks (in the winter months of course.)

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