Midtown Lunch

Got a number of tips this morning from lunchers who spotted Bobby Flay visiting Vendy Award nominated carts today.  He started at the Jamaican Dutchy cart this morning around 10am, then moved on to the Biryani Cart, before finishing up at the Wafels and Dinges Cart around Noon.  He was filming a segment about the Vendy Awards for next Friday’s edition of The Early Show on CBS.

Meru (from the Biryani Cart) told me after he didn’t hold back on the spice because he knew Bobby could take it.  Photos of kati rolls being consumed, and fans going crazy… after the jump.

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For those who love the Indian street snacks known as chaat, the heart of Midtown is quite the wonderland.  But that’s little consolation for those who work in the NE corner of Midtown, where a little chaat might require a 15-20 minute walk (at least!)  Well, problem solved!  Lunch’er Chandrika (who translated the Taj Delhi Chaat menu for us last year) has tipped us off to the amazing chaat at Chola on 57th 58th btw. 2+3rd.  It’s slightly out of bounds, but completely worth it for those chaat starved lunchers in that area of our fine territory.

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If you’ve ever wondered exactly what it is the Street Vendor Project does (besides throw the Vendy Awards every year) here’s a prime example of them in action. With one week to go before their biggest fund-raising event of the year, they are going to court this morning to fight for the hot dog lady on 43rd and 6th who had her cart seized by the police on Wednesday.  SVP founder Sean Basinski checks in to let us know exactly what’s going on… and to ask for a bit of help.

This morning we’re going to court with Eliana Jaramillo, the Bolivian woman who had her hot dog cart seized on Wednesday. We’re turning to your readers for help. Ms. Jaramillo got two tickets — one for vending from a sidewalk less than 12 feet wide, and one for having boxes or a cooler next to her cart (everything related to your vending business has to be stored in or under your pushcart.) The first ticket is completely bogus. We measured the sidewalk yesterday and it is more than 13 feet wide. So that should be easy to get tossed out.

But the other one is trickier.

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• Hot dogs is not the only free wiener action available at Rudy’s [Midtown Connections]
• Banh Mi Saigon will deliver to the Financial District [Eating Outside Midtown]
• Confirmed: Baja Fresh on 41st is officially open [Midtown Eating]
• The halal cart on 47th and 3rd is totally underrated [Midtown Eating]
• Get a $5 burger at TGI Fridays [Midtown Eating]
• If it’s got beef in it, it’s not shepherd’s pie [Midtown Lunch]
• Jared Leto was spotted in Midtown yesterday [Miscellaneous]

It seems like every major food media company in New York has decided to throw their big food events over the next 6 weeks. There’s the Bon Appetit Pop Up Supper Club and Cafe happening all next week, the Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival October 8-11th, the Gourmet Institute October 23-25th, and now this: “Epicurious Entertains NYC”. The 5 days festival kicks off two weeks from yesterday with the “Ultimate NYC Lunch Break” featuring food from The Mermaid Inn, ‘ino, Toloache, the Treats Truck, Rickshaw Dumpling, and more to be announced.

It all goes down on Broadway and 18th Street (Flatiron lunchers represent!) and tickets cost $20. But they’ve given us a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky Midtown Lunch’er reader (and I never turn down free lunch for you guys… even if you have to take the subway to get it.) Just comment below why you think you deserve to win the free “Ultimate NYC Lunch Break” and you’ll be entered to win. One winner will be drawn at random on September 21st at Noon (and notified immediately.) Good luck!

I could barely contain my excitement yesterday, when I stumbled upon Gulluoglu– which opened on 52nd and 2nd Ave. last week.  Known mostly for their extensive selection of Turkish baklava, the first American branch of this popular Turkish chain opened on Coney Island Ave. in Brooklyn back in 2005, but this is their first Manhattan location.  Alot of what they sell is imported from Turkey, but I was surprised to find a good number of savory baked goods plus a menu of sandwiches and salads available.  Sadly I had already had lunch, but I could resist picking up a few things- and snapping a few photos of everything they had to offer.

Check it out after the jump…

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