Midtown Lunch

We can’t say we love it when corporations co-opt food trucks for marketing purposes, but when free fried chicken is involved who are we to complain!? Thanks to Lunch’er Rachel for sending in this report…

In honor of Friday’s premiere of Top Secret Recipe, Country Music Television is giving out free KFC original recipe chicken out of a branded food truck in midtown. The truck was on 44th btw. B’way & 6th Ave. yesterday, but today it will be parked on 46th btw. B’way and 6th from 11am-4pm (or, until they run out). And tomorrow, the truck will return to its 44th street location.

Freeloaders, prepare to engage.

A few weeks back I was contacted by a new organization called Save NYC Food Trucks, who were putting together a video about the problems facing food trucks in New York. So many of us are aware of these issues, but you’d be surprised how many people (mostly those who don’t read Midtown Lunch) are completely oblivious. The video was released this weekend and features truck owners like Kim Ima (Treats Truck) and Eddie Song (Korilla BBQ) talking about their business and the obstacles in running their trucks. It’s sort of a Public Service Announcement to inform people about the issues. Watch the video after the jump, and while you’re at it, like their Facebook page, be sure to sign the petition, and forward this video on to friends who may not know what’s going on.

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El Rey Del Sabor’s carts have long been a mainstay of Mexican Midtown Lunch’ing. Their menu has everything you’d expect: tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos. But did you know that they also serve a Mexified version of classic street meat? I sure didn’t until I saw someone get a plate of it from the cart on 43rd and 6th. The only logical thing for me to do was order one of my own (Street Meat Palooza 4 results might not be out yet, but it’s never too early to start doing research for next year).

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This week my lunchtime wandering took me to Green Symphony a Korean run deli with an emphasis on organic and (dare I say it?) healthy and flavorful food. I’ve noticed Green Symphony get the nod from multiple profiled lunchers including mostly recently Vendy Citizen Judge Zeina so I figured it was worth a shot. Read more »

A new month means a new Cer Te sandwich, and since it’s October it should surprise nobody that we’re getting some sausage. Meet the “Octoberfist”, a burnt beer glazed bratwurst on a pretzel roll with spicy pork knuckle cabbage and mustard seed bechamel. It costs $8.95 and hits the menu today tomorrow (Tuesday, October 4th). Early adopters, let us know how it is in the comments.

Cer Te, 20 W 55th St (btw 5+6th), 212-397-2020

Smoked Salmon Sandwich from Bouchon Bakery. Photo courtesy of SENY

• Bouchon Bakery’s smoked salmon sandwich is a great splurge [SENY]
• Chipotle plans to raise their prices on the East Coast [Eater LA]
• Bian Dang is the best Asian food truck in the country! [MochiMag via GS]
• Is Shake Shack spying on Schnipper’s? [Eater]
• Ali Baba makes a tasty kofte sandwich [SENY]
• Coolhaus and Korilla are going on a college tour [Eater]
• Flip Burger in Bloomingdale’s is terrible [NYC Foodie Girl]
• Cafe Zaiya’s chicken sandwich is one reason to love NYC [Food in Mouth]
• Mia Dona appears to be closed for good [Eater]
• The steak sandwich at AJ Maxwell’s might not be good anymore [Tasty Eating]
• If you’re looking for a real splurge, Tenpenny is a hidden gem [ImmacuateInfat]
• A history of food trucks in photos [Flavorwire]

Earlier today Ultraclay gave you a run down of the lunch options at Madison Square Eats (on 5th btw. 24+25th).  But did you know it’s also the perfect place for an after work happy hour?  When I was working there on Monday night, I noticed a LOT of people walking around with beer and realized that there’s really only one other place in the area, Shake Shack, where one could sit outside enjoying the nice Indian Summer weather during dinner and some after-work drinks, without spending a small fortune. As soon as I got the time to check out the beer scene, I jumped at the chance, and I believe we have a moderately legitimate happy hour spot for the next few weeks.

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Schnitzel & Things just announced that they finally got their beer and wine license for the shop (on 3rd btw 45+46th)! Word is they’re finalizing a beer menu and some hearty new menu items that will go with the brews.  The beer and new food probably won’t get added until next week, but  according to their Twitter feed they will be giving out free samples of three sausages they are testing out (knockwurst, bratwurst, and bratwurst stuffed with cheese) starting at 11:30 at the storefront. They’ll also have a limited supply of chicken schnitzel stuffed with either Swiss or cheddar cheese. With all this greasy decadence, it will be hard to resist a beer. Glad they’re finally going to make it happen.  We know where happy hour is going to be next week…

Every Friday our man UltraClay goes south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

Madison Square Eats is back with it’s third month-long stint in Worth Square and I’m pretty excited about it. How could I not be? More that 20 new food stands pop up for a month offering dozens of new dishes to try out. There’s pizza and pretzels and pig face sandwiches, there’s a little something for everyone. Follow the jump for highlights from this season’s market.

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