Midtown Lunch

Another Day, Another Street Vendor Video: Last week it was MSNBC, this week it's CNN covering the whole street vendor craze with a short report about the Vendy Awards, and how winning can effect your business. Warning: If you watch the video, you'll have to see my ugly mug for a good 15-20 seconds.

TONY Likes The New Szechuan Gourmet: The new location of Szechuan Gourmet (on 56th btw. B'way+8th) gets its first magazine press this week... Time Out New York is "officially obsessed" with their braised crispy tofu with chili and sliced pork.

Free Frozen Pizza (& Top Chef) Alert: Fabio from last season's Top Chef will be at Penn Station today from 4-7pm handing out free samples of Dr. Oetker’s Ristorante frozen pizza. Freeloaders engage. Top Chef fans, do your thing. [Grub Street]

88 Cent Burger Alert: Maybe Pop Burger's Delivery Week deal isn't so hot, but next week they'll make up for it with a pretty sweet deal through 8 Coupons.  On Tuesday, 10/27 from 2-5pm you can get two pop burgers for 88 cents with this coupon via text message. And just an FYI, there are a few other decent Pop Burger coupons on the same page that you can use anytime.

Pizza by Cer Te Opening Pushed Back: Bad news in the wake of yesterday's post about the (outrageously greasy) Tuscan Cheesesteak from Cer Te. The opening of Pizza by Cer te, which will carry the sandwich permanently, has been pushed back to early 2010. So if you want on in on this thing before next year, you might want to head to Cer Te (on 55th btw. 5+6th) before the end of the month.

Free Pastrami Alert: Save the Deli: The Book comes out today, and to celebrate they're having a signing tonight at 7:30pm at Ben's Deli (on 38th btw. 7+8th). Apparently there will be free "meats, mustards, and deli food galore." (Thanks to Lunch'er Apikoros for the link, and NYChar for the reminder.)

This is Why U(ES) Suck: What is wrong with the Upper East Side? According to this UES reader's poll on OurTownNY, Chipotle is the best "Midtown Lunch" and Applebee's is the best Midtown Bar/Restaurant. Are you serious? Thankfully the editorial staff redeemed themselves by giving Jimmy's Corner an award.

Cheese Skirt Burger Challenge: Taking a page from the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge, Adam Kuban and A Hamburger Today have challenged every burger spot in NYC to make a hamburger complete with cheese skirt. We wholeheartedly back them in this endeavor, and hope that a Midtown spot will be the one to step up to the plate.

Alert! Cart Inspector in Midtown Today: From the ML Forums: "Waiting for my lamb and kofta at Halal Guys, there was a health inspector thoroughly going over everything at the cart. None too pleased that 2 of the 3 guys don't wear gloves... I suspect she'll be wandering over to other carts shortly."

Mutton Biriyani Reminder: Blondie and Brownie have a tasty looking reminder on their blog this morning... today is Mutton Biriyani day at the Trini Paki Boys Cart!