Belly Laughs: Brian Regan on Serving Sizes
Who the hell eats two cookies?
Absolut New Orleans Arrives in Midtown, while Jacques Imo’s Says it’s Last Goodbyes
I know a lot of the people who read the blog are big fans of New Orleans, so here are two tidbits that may be of interest to you…
Eater reported yesterday that the UWS location of Jacques Imo‘s, the “offshoot” of the incredibly popular New Orleans restaurant with the same name, will be closing on October 21st. The Grand Central based Jacques Imo‘s to Geuax was turned into a Brother Jimmy’s last year.
I put offshoot in quotes, because sadly, the Jacques Imo’s here in NYC didn’t really bear any resemblance to the New Orleans location that I have come to know and love. They did however, do a pretty good job on Jack’s signature fried chicken recipe. You’ve got two more weeks to check it out.
In other New Orleans news, Absolut New Orleans, a limited edition Mango & Black Pepper version of the popular Swedish Vodka is available at a liquor store in Midtown. One of my co-workers tracked it down (after unsuccessfully trying to find some in Astoria). They had about a case left as of yesterday. Beekman’s Liquors is on Lexington btw. 47th & 48th, 212-759-5857. 100% of the profits from these Limited Edition bottles will go to various Gulf Region charities.
At Lunch Now: Rock Center Farmers Market is Back!
The Rock Center Farmer’s Market has returned, and will be open between
now and October 19th, every Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday from 8am to
6pm. The only difference is it is now between 50th & 51st just north of
the Rock Center Ice Rink (which has already replaced the Rink Bar). I
can’t believe it’s already October.
Out of Bounds: Piece of Chicken
Midtown has its boundaries, but every once in awhile I’ll discover a place that just might be worth the extra few blocks, and profile it in a category I call “Out of Bounds”. Since Ressie May’s Soul to Go closed, there has been a soul food hole in the Midtown Lunch’ing landscape. Anything good and cheap would be welcomed. A place that sells fried chicken for a $1 a piece, collards and mac & cheese for $1-2 a scoop- well now you’ve got me excited, and willing to walk those extra couple of avenues for an Out of Bounds lunch.
Piece of Chicken is that place, and their sandwich board doesn’t lie. As unbelievable as it seems to passersby, they do in fact serve fried chicken for $1 a piece, and side dishes for $1-2. Add to that rib tips, fried fish, corn bread and soup, sold out of the back window of a kitchen that once belonged to upscale Caribbean restaurant Jezebel (with nothing costing over $2), and you’ve got a winner.
The menu, piece of chicken porn and a +/- after the jump… Read more »
Posted by Zach Brooks at 9:10 am, October 4th, 2007 under Fried Chicken, Piece of Chicken, Soul Food.
Go Go Curry Hits a Japanese Curry Grand Slam
I haven’t really been interested in baseball this year, but I still followed the Yankees every day. Not because I’m a fan of the pinstripes (10 years of living in Boston beat that out of me), but I am a fan of fried meat cutlets served over mounds of rice and covered in curry. And every time Hideki Matsui hit a homerun this season, it meant free topping coupons at Go Go Curry, the Japanese Curry shrine to the Yankees #55 (Go means 5 in Japanese). It only happened 25 times this season (so disappointing!), but hopefully he’ll overcome his injuries in the Playoffs to salvage a few more coupons for us before the end of the season.
Kare Raisu (Curry Rice) is an incredibly popular lunchtime dish in Japan, and while a number of Midtown Lunch places serve it (Yagura, 47th St. Convenience Store), Go Go Curry is the only place in Midtown where it is the specialty. You can’t get anything else. I wrote about it when it first opened, but didn’t give it a proper write up at the time. With baseball season coming to an end, I figured it was a perfect time to really see what they’ve got, and give it a proper +/-.
The Katsu Curry (fried pork cutlet) is the industry standard, but they also offer chicken cutlet, sausages, & fried shrimp- and if you are anything like me, there’s only one option. All of it. And the only way to do that, is The Grand Slam- a $12.50 platter of everything Go Go Curry has to offer.
Here’s what a normal $7.50 order of Katsu Curry will get you:
The $12.50 Grand Slam after the jump… Read more »
Posted by Zach Brooks at 8:49 am, October 3rd, 2007 under 38th btw. 7+8th, Go Go Curry, Japanese.
At Lunch Now: Auf Wiedersehen Mandler’s Sausage Midtown
8th Ave., just below Port Authority has claimed another of my favorite Midtown Lunches. First it was Ressie May’s Soul Food to Go back in June, now Mandler’s Sausage Co. I passed by today, and confirmed that the Mandler’s Midtown Location is in fact closed and the phone has been disconnected. Hopefully the Golden Krust opening soon next door will do a little better. The Union Sq. Mandler’s is still open. Anybody up for a Corn Fritter run on the NR Train tomorrow?
Thanks to Tipster Jed for the info, and as always if you have any tips, news or recommendations email them to zach@midtownlunch.com
PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Alexis”
Are you all Profiled out yet? Last week, I was out of town, so I turned the site over to a different Midtown Lunch’er every single day. I considered not running one today until I got this photo. Meet Alexis, a baker and an Event Producer for Culinary Competitions, who is looking for Filipino Sweets (I suppose for when she is done with that Turkey leg.) Wow.
Name: Alexis
Age: 24
Occupation: Currently I’m an event producer for culinary competitions, but I also am the Co-owner of the bakery Flavor and Taste, http://www.flavorandtaste.com
Where in Midtown do you Work?: 34th & 6th Ave.
Favorite Kind of Food: Ethiopian, Lobster, Lamb Carts, Fried Food
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Salad… unless its lobster/duck salad
Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Masala Dosa at Minar on 31st and 5th. The downside is that they raised the prices $1 since I started going there and the servers are a little hostile. Also, they sometimes forget to use the salt. Upside is that it’s a dosa! Who could resist those carbs… (31st is a little out of the Midtown Lunch’ing range, so I’m not really familiar with that Minar, but their Menupages menu is the same as the Minar on 46th St.so I’m guessing it’s the same place, right? -zach)
The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Pomodoro on 38th and 9th . They have great prosciutto sandwiches with excellent bread. Good baguettes are hard to come by!
Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Café Zaiya. I think I have been eating way too many rice balls, but it is a nice walk from here. Also the Briyani Cart on 46th and 6th for their chapati rolls — those are great and uber cheap.
If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? East 6th street and 2nd Avenue. Madras Café has great dosas, Spice Cove and the other gazillion Indian places with cheap prix fixe lunches, Ethiopian, and a short walk to St. Marks with the plethora of mouth watering Japanese places (Go, Taisho, Rai Rai Ken).
Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? For those of you who may know what an ensaymada is (soft lovely bread covered with butter and sugar), would you know where I can find them in the city? I used to get my fix over at Krystal’s (14th St. & 1st Ave.) but haven’t found a replacement since they closed down!
Ah yes. The ensaymada. A buttery Filipino sweet bread topped with sugar and an extra dab of creamed butter and sometimes cheese. How could that be bad? A photo, and where to get them in Midtown, after the jump… Read more »
Posted by Zach Brooks at 8:22 am, October 2nd, 2007 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
At Lunch Now: Five Guys Burgers Midtown A Few Weeks Away From Opening
Walked by what will soon be the Midtown location of D.C. chain Five Guys Famous Burgers & Fries today and found them in the process of hiring staff. The guys in front of the 55th St. (btw. 5+6th) location said they were 2 weeks away from opening, but from the looks of the inside, I’d guess more like 4. Regardless, we’re getting close and I’m getting excited.
Check out the menu w/ prices, after the jump… Read more »
Posted by Zach Brooks at 2:09 pm, October 1st, 2007 under 55th btw. 5+6th, Burger.
Midtown Links (While I Was Gone Edition)
- Gridskipper’s recs for Midtown Lunch’ing. Where did they find all these places!? [G’Skipper]
- New Japanese Tea Shop Open on 51st & 3rd Ave. [Mouthing Off]
- Grayz finally opens. Lunch is from Noon to 2pm [Grub St.]
- For Some of the Best Cheesecake in Midtown, bypass Junior’s and head to the Time Warner Center [Ed Levine]
- Carnegie Deli Pops up on Most Overrated in NYC List [NY Post]
Dosa Man Wins but Kwik Meal is the People’s Choice at the 2007 Vendy Awards
The Dosa Man’s Entry, Posted to Flickr by 52 Projects
The third time was a charm, as Kumar “The Dosa Man” from Washington Sq. Park finally took home the top prize at the Third Annual Vendy Awards this past weekend in Tompkins Sq. Park. Midtown can still hold it’s head up high as the Kwik Meal Cart not only got judge Ed Levine’s vote (you can read his take on the event here), but also won the People’s Choice voting.
Get a full Vendy’s recap, with photos from 52 Projects.
