Midtown Lunch

I’ve been on the hunt for a quality bulgogi-packed bowl of dolsot (read: sizzling hot) bibimbap in New York since I learned what it was five years ago by eating the Korean rice dish everyday in Australia. (It was cheap/delicious/so hot it hissed/came with bottomless banchan AKA Korean side dishes. I was a student. Cheap, unlimited anything was A+ in my book.) Zach came across a “pretty damn good” non-hot bibimbap at Cafe Amande deli last year, but I’ve been hoping to bump into its “pretty damn good” SIZZLING HOT cousin somewhere in Midtown East (aka outside of Koreatown). For five years, it’s been a fruitless search so imagine my surprise when I noticed a certain $9 lunch special at Gyu-Kaku (on 50th St. btw. 2+3rd) of all places…

More bibimbap after the jump. Read more »

On my way to Oms/B the other day (one of my favorite Midtown Lunch spots on 45th St. btw. 3rd+Lex) I noticed an eviction notice plastered on the door of the Subway on 3rd Ave.+45th.  This site is all about finding the alternative to Subway, so clearly I’m not going to miss the foot-long subs I never ate-  however if for some reason this Subway was your go-to spot (I’m not cool enough to say “I pity da fool…” but there you go. I typed it.), maybe this will be just the motivation you need to try far superior sandwiches like Oyster Bar’s Grilled and Sliced Tuna Sandwich with Tomato Salsa or the small but mighty ones at ‘wichcraft!  No word on what will take this Subway’s place, but it would be particularly gratifying to see something good replace it (since it feels like more and more it’s the other way around these days.)

The 2nd annual Go Go Curry Eating Championship has been announced and if it was anything like last year it will guarantee a gut busting, curry eating spectacle of ‘grand slam’ proportions! Now I know what you’re thinking, “I can so do this!” Well, take heed lest you fall to the same hubris of last years Midtown Luncher who when faced with Don “Moses” Lerman’s prelim time couldn’t make the cut. This is not an amateur competition. Like last year we expect the professional eating retirees to come out of hiding, and Go Go Curry is even shipping in one finalist from Japan.

The qualifying rounds will be April 15th-May 20th, from 3-5pm. Pick up an application at Go Go Curry (on 38th btw. 7+8th), there is a $20 registration fee. Final round is set for June 5th at 5pm. Let the challenge begin!

Related:
Gentleman Joe Takes the 1st Annual Go Go Curry Eating Championship

• Where can we get authentic super spicy lamb vindaloo? [Midtown Eating]
• I guess burgers topped with pineapple are not everyone’s cup of tea [Midtown Eating]
• Get on the ball foodies! Not only was this poor guy stuck in midtown on a Sunday, but only one commenter stepped up to help him find lunch [Midtown Eating]
• The Japan Society is hosting a live game show that will include ML friends The Eaten Path, Feisty Foodie and Umamimart [Miscellaneous]

A few weeks ago the city announced that restaurants would be forced to hang Department of Health issued letter grades in their window (California style).  Now, a city council member is trying to get that rule extended to food carts as well. (link via Eater) Naturally the Street Vendor Project is completely against it, and the complaint is practically identical to those leveled by  the brick and mortar restaurants: “The problem is that the tickets the health department gives have almost nothing to do with actual health and safety,” says Sean Basinski.  In other words, does a cart deserve a “B” because the vendor wasn’t displaying their license properly? Or had their drink cooler on the sidewalk? And how does that really relate to the “cleanliness” of the food.

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Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Angela, a PR…uh… person (is that what you call it?) who love Mexican food and is looking for some ice cream!

Name: Angela

Age: 24

Occupation: Associate Director at a PR firm

Where in Midtown do you Work?: A couple blocks north of Saks (dangerous)

Favorite Kind of Food: Mexican, Tex/Mex, Latin, Spanish (just to cover all the bases because I have been warned by many that these are VERY different cuisines), Italian, cupcakes, walnut brownies, beef patties, clam chowder, bagels, plantains and anything with cheese. So apparently, anything high in fat.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: The overpriced kind, salmon, crawfish, Reuben sandwiches, bibimbap, eggs benedict, beets, licorice

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: The Mediterranean falafel at Crisp, Roast pork sandwich and maduros at Sophie’s Cuban, slice of white pizza from Pizza Rustica (on 2nd Ave btw. 43+44th). “Alternate” lunches for those days when regular food just won’t do: $3 margs at Blockheads, a PB&J cupcake from the Cupcake Stop truck when it’s in town

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