Midtown Lunch

Ice Cream (For a Cause) Alert: In addition to the Carvel thing happening this afternoon, Cold Stone Creamery will be giving away 3 oz servings of their newest creation with a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation today from 5-8pm. There's one location on 9th Ave. and 51st, and another on 42nd btw. 7+8th (where WWE wrestlers will be appearing from 5:30-7!)

Free Carvel Alert: Eagle eyed lunchers have pointed out that Carvel will be giving away free Oreo cookie ice cream sandwiches tomorrow from 3-7pm, but the location on Broadway btw. 43+44th is not participating and the one in 2 Penn Plaza doesn't exist anymore. Sucks to be us. Update: According to Lunch'er "Cosilicious" there is a Carvel at 1 Penn Plaza and it is participating! Freeloaders, engage.

The Plaza To Get a Food Court?: I want to get excited about the prospect of a food cart court in the bottom of the Plaza Hotel (on 5th Ave. and Central Park South), but that would require there to be news of a Panda Express- and what are the chances of that?  (Answer = Zilch.)  I suppose I would settle for a Shake Shack.

Schnitzel Burger?!?: If my raving about how good the Schnitzel & Things Truck wasn't enough to get you to go, maybe this will excite you: "Breaking news from the schnitzel lab!!! We have just experimented and came up with a winner!! Look out for the schnitzel burger comin soon!!"

What Else to Order at the BA Pop Up Cafe: Serious Eats: New York was also at the opening of the Bon Appetit Pop Up Cafe yesterday and had great things to say about Nate Appleman's tuna and bread salad and the Jose Andres JLT. (Although according to Blondie and Brownie they were out of the salad by 1pm.) Chef Andres will be there today doing a demo and providing the daily special: "Albondigas Con Melocotones (Meatballs with Peaches)"  Could be good.

Cucpakes For a Cause: I can't think of too many great reasons to eat a cupcake (not a fan, sorry) but here's one: all this week cupcake bakeries from around the country will donate money to CancerCare For Kids as part of Cupcakes for a Cause. Click here for more info and a list of participating bakeries (which include Zaro's, Cupcake Stop Truck, Treats truck and more.)

UN General Assembly Might Throw Off Your Lunch Plans: Just a warning... the UN General Assembly is convening this week, and there are a ton of street closures that might effect many of the street carts you eat at. The Street Sweets Truck has already been forced to move from 53rd btw. 5+6th, and I'm sure there will be more. Feel free to post updates in the comments. UPDATE: Schnitzel Truck and Cupcake Stop have also been forced to move. Check the ML Twitter Tracker for updates

Hot Dog Cart Update: "Sean here from SVP. Good news -- the judge didn't have google maps. Got the tickets dismissed and are heading to Midtown South Precinct to try to get the cart back. We can debate later whether cart seizure is a fair sanction for having a milk crate on the sidewalk."

Jamie Oliver Works a Midtown Hot Dog Cart: Remember when (my all time favorite chef) Jamie Oliver was supposed to visit the Biryani Cart last year to film a segment for his new BBC show Jamie's America?  Well apparently he was just a few blocks away, serving hot dogs and pretzels! The New York episode aired this week, and they posted this bonus footage of him working as a Midtown street vendor>>

Chez Pim Appearing Tonight In Midtown: If stalking famous food bloggers if your thing, you'll have a great chance tonight when "Chez" Pim Techamuanvivit appears at Rizzoli (on 57th btw. 5th+6+7th) to sign copies of her new book "The Foodie Handbook: The (Almost) Definitive Guide to Gastronomy". The book signing and cocktail reception is from 5:30 to 7pm tonight.