Midtown Lunch

New York Times Confirmed: Food Is The New Rock: Our fearless leader was quoted in today's New York Times dining section, not because of Midtown Lunch, but for his Tumblr side project (and new podcast) Food is the New Rock. The news hook for the article, which talks about food becoming a center piece at music festivals, is this weekend's Great GoogaMooga Festival. There's no mention of traditional festival fare like corn dogs, until Zach calls them "one of the greatest inventions of all time" at the end of the piece. Shocker!

Get a 3-course Lunch TOMORROW for Just $1.25: $1.25????? Yes, $1.25!!!!! According to MadParkNews and the NYTimes, Millesime (on 29th St at Madison in the Carlton Hotel) is celebrating the reopening of an original 1904 entrance to the restaurant with prices from that era. Technically, this is a Flatiron Lunch (which we usually confine to Fridays) but for $1.25 how could we not!? First come, first served from 11:30am-2:00pm.  CORRECTION: This is happening tomorrow (Thursday, 5/17) not today as originally reported.

Bian Dang’s Fun Buns Cart is in Midtown Today: Just a little FYI in case you missed it on the ML Twitter Tracker this morning... Fun Buns NYC, Bian Dang's new pork belly cart side project, is parked on 48th btw. 6+7th today.  You can read all about it on the Downtown section of Midtown Lunch.

New British Pub Coming to 45th Street: ML tipsters "J" and Elisa clued us in on a new British pub opening imminently on 45th between 5th+6th--sandwiched between the train shop and Sophie's. A quick pass-by yesterday yielded a glimpse at a nearly finished, dark wood and multi-tapped interior, but no one inside. Word on the street is the name will be Cock & Bull. Can't make this up people...

Free Cupcake Alert: According to Grub Street, Sprinkles on Lex bw 6oth and 61st will be offering one free cupcake today to each customer in celebration of their first anniversary in New York. The promotion happens from 9am-9pm and it's not quite clear to me how they will limit the freebies. Couldn't you get one in the morning and one again after work? Or will they be scanning your thumbprint as you pick up the cupcake?

Free Cone Day At Haagen-Dazs: If Penn Station is part of your daily commute, you're in for a treat tonight! Today Haagen-Dazs is giving away free cones from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at select locations, including those in Penn Plaza. The full list is on their Facebook page, so even if you're not headed to Penn Station tonight, your local Haagen-Dazs store might have a sweet treat in store for you!

Mad Sq Eats Starts Today: Following up with a reminder just in case you missed Monday's post, Madison Square Eats will be in full swing starting today. So far we know that Asia Dog is back with 2 Dogs for $8 and Eataly will be serving Fried Calzones for about $8. Full report next week!

A New Street Meat Event from the Vendy Awards: The folks at the Vendy Awards, our favorite street food focused day (aside from Street Meat Palooza, of course), will be hosting the International Meats Local, a brand new event this coming Sunday, May 6 from 12:30-2:30 at the New Amsterdam Market. Five previous nominated food carts (including ML favorite Eggstravaganza) will be preparing their most popular dishes with humanely raised and locally sourced meats. Tickets are $20 ($30 gets you early admission) and includes a sample of all the dishes. You can find out more info and purchase tickets here.

Free Cupcakes Alert: Here's something to sweeten your day. Sweetery, in conjunction with Food Network, will be giving away cupcakes tomorrow today for something called the Cupcakes on the Road free cupcake giveaway. While supplies last, you'll be able to get your free treats in three Midtown locations: 50th street between 6+7th ave from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; 7th avenue between 36+37th streets from 1:30 to 3:30; and Broadway btw 52+53rd streets from 4:00 to 5:30. Freeloaders engage!

Bacon Has A New Best Friend In Baconery: Flatiron Lunch'ers, celebrate May Day with the brick-and-mortar opening of Baconery, an online shop known for the fact that they add bacon to all things sweet. Think Chocolate Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies. The store within a store opened at noon inside Books of Wonder, the children's bookstore at 18 West 18th Street (btw 5th+6th aves). I imagine kids being dragged out screaming, "But I want Bacon and Chocolate!!!! Whaaaaaa!" In case you're not in the area, today they are offering a 25% discount for all online orders (coupon code: MAY). We can celebrate that!