Midtown Lunch

We could go back and forth about whether or not FreeFoods NYC is a true Midtown Lunch (it’s not), or whether or not I should even be eating at a place like this (I shouldn’t).  But the simple fact is this.  They made a new sandwich, put it on their menu, called it “The Midtown Lunch Special”, and charged under $10 for it (if you don’t include the tax).  So, according to the rules set forth in my Midtown Lunch sandwich challenge, I am obligated to go and eat the sandwich and post about it.  I never said I had to like it… just eat it, and post about it. 

Standing in FreeFoods, I could feel my anger rising.  I mean, this place is really expensive.  Sure, most of it is organic, they use the best ingredients, and it is one of the few places in Midtown where a vegetarian, vegan, or raw foods enthusiast can get a decent lunch.  But I don’t fall into any of those categories, and my category (cheap fatso) is clearly not intended audience.  The sandwiches are all $11 and up (except for the ML special), the by the lb. buffet is $395 a pound (or so it seems), and their non coffee drinks are $3 at their cheapest and $8 at their most expensive.  In other words, if you want more than just a sandwich, you’re not getting out of here for less than $15. 

There is only one problem.  The “Midtown Lunch Special Sandwich”, a duck pastrami reuben, is really freakin’ good.

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Apparently Moshe’s Falafel (on 46th and 6th) has another truck parked in Union Square, but according to Ed Levine it doesn’t hold a candle to the other falafel options in the area (Maoz, Rainbow, and Pita Joe). If they expand the competition to other areas, Midtown Lunch would totaly get behind Olympica Pita (on 38th btw. 5+6th) and the Azuri Cafe (on 51st btw. 9+10th).

There was kind of a coincidental convergence of Thai food news yesterday, much of it centered around Topaz on 56th btw. 6+7th.   It started with this comment, copied from the Department of Health Website:

TOPAZ THAI RESTAURANT
Violation points: 101
Inspection Date: 12/22/2008

Violations were cited in the following area(s) and those requiring immediate action were addressed.

Sanitary Violations

1.) Other general violation.
2.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
3.) Lighting inadequate. Bulb not shielded or shatterproof.
4.) Food contact surface not properly maintained.

But wait there is more…   Read more »

Two chocolate chip cookies with nuts from the Treats Truck lying face down on 47th Street & 6th Ave.  How do I know they were from the Treats Truck?  Because I’m the one who dropped them… urgh, it’s so sad.  Lesson: Don’t carry a paper bag with cookies in a gloved hand on a super cold day.  You may not feel that bag slip out of your hand, and then by the time you notice and retrace your steps, the cookies may be lying in the middle of the street. If I can help one person avoid the same thing happening to them, then maybe it was worth it.  Oh, who am I kidding.  It could never be worth it.  I think I’m going to cry.

Oh baby… you know how excited I get about food on conveyor belts, and Blondie and Brownie have just posted about this place in Saks Fifth Avenue with a conveyor belt full of desserts. I can’t imagine myself stepping into Saks Fifth Avenue for a $4 brownie, but in my wildest dreams I could imagine being situated on one end of that conveyor belt with my mouth open (ala Homer Simpson in hell being forcefed doughnuts by Satan.)

Photo courtesy of Lunch’er Tom

And so it has officially begun… I went to El Rey Del Sabor (the Mexican cart on 60th and 3rd Ave.) or Monday for the first official payoff of the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge.  It’s called the “Alambre” on the sign advertising this new $6.50 sandwich- but I prefer to think of it as a “spicy Mexican cheesesteak.”  You may remember reading about this off-the-menu treat a few months back, when they served it to me as a plate lunch.  Thankfully they took my suggestion a turned it into a full fledged sandwich… and just in time to introduce it as their entry in the sandwich challenge.

Check it out after the jump…

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A few weeks ago I posted a grievance sent in from a reader who wanted to complain about the salad at Flavors– a generic deli in the hallway beneath the Fox News building which may or may not be owned by Cafe Metro. Since then, it appears as if they have changed their policy… “Redemption song for flavors. I’m quite positive that the folks at flavors have read this grievance! I just got back from flavors and the salad was huge! not just mine but everyone around me as well. i think they’ve stepped up a notch because the salads taste great but now they are at a size worth its semi overpriced tag!”

Another luncher was quick to rebuke this shill enthusiastically delivered news by dropping a bit of science on me…

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