a lunch at Mapo Tofu

Lunch in Midtown is always a toss-up. Granted, I have a rotating set of favorites, it's always a treat to sit down in an unfamiliar venue. I met up with former clients to catch up on what's good at the Chanin building. With tight schedules preventing us from venturing too far, we decided to enjoy their Murray Hill favorite: Mapo Tofu.

The interior is nothing to write home about- drab tables and red walls and a light buzz of staff. We took a round table in the back. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what I ordered. I do know that it was chicken with scallions, delightfully spicy and served with choice of rice and soup. I selected the Wonton and brown rice. Hot tea calmed our lunch-time rush, the conversation was good. As we closed our meal (far too much food for me to finish), service tapered off a bit. The gentlemen mentioned that they're usually dropping the check prematurely- this was not the case this afternoon. We were practically begging as we headed towards the door to our respective meetings.


image: yelp

found! Financial District's best budget lunches.

(Mobile uploads...but you get the idea of the dishes).

Whenever I come home from work, I notice this gyro cart packing up. He's located directly across from my building- advertising $3 gyros and $4 lamb or chicken over rice. That's the cheapest I've seen in the city. Although my favorites are on 39th and Broadway (for taste) and Water and Wall, (for convenience, he's always there) I've been anxious to try this particular one. The next block up (at Hanover) the gyro cart guy has a pretty solid circa 1980's sweater that is gray with purple teddy bears and hearts (a major selling point). But: today is the day. I'm home resting my toe and I'm really not walking much farther than across the street for sustenance.

This may all seem like a lot of build up for a gyro cart, but I feel that is very dominate presence in the NYC vending marketplace. They deserve the discourse.

Ergo: approximate coordinates are Wall Street between Pearl and Hanover (that's directly in front of Deutsche Bank). I'm going to start by emphasizing that this is the most friendly (yes more than the teddy bear sweater guy, but only by a hair) gyro cart guy I have ever encountered.

"Lamb?"

"Yes."

"Just lamb?"

(Nod)

"Sauce?"

"Both"

"Lots of hot?"

"That's enough"

"More sauce is better"

"Ok"

"Vegetable?"

"Yes"

*Grin from ear to ear* "Drink?"

"No thanks'

"Beer?"

(Pause)

"I joke! I have no beer. Beer is what you should have miss! You live right there? You should have dropped off your bags, then had lamb"

I handed him a five. He reached into his pocket and extended a dollar.

"We're good, it's yours."

"It's only four, Miss."

"We're good."

"But Miss."

"We're good...see you later."

He nodded. Smiled. Waved.

--->The key: chickpeas in addition to the regular mix, as well the chopped bell peppers. His veggies were super fresh, well prepared and you could tell he was serious about not letting the meat dry out.
While on the subject of cheap eats, I thought I'd share a sushi roll I discovered the other day. Zeytuna's sushi bar is highly active during lunch hour, but again: I work in Midtown. Occasionally, if I get to the store right after work, or on the weekend, there is still a good selection of fresh rolls.

Let me introduce you to the Hawaii roll. It's more than enough to fill me up with: tuna, cucumber inside and large slices of avocado, tobiko, wasabi sauce drizzle and thinly sliced almonds over the top. Twelve pieces! Six slices of avocado!

So yum for $6.99. Cheaper if you're a resident of the Financial District or a student. Show your ID and get a 10% off card.

Recession be damned.

noontime new york public library, a fifth avenue photo series

scatter birds.

putter putter below.

drop down, get where you need to go, son.

les gens, les oiseaux

Something let up this morning, this day. A rough start, the catalyst: a late, bourbon filled evening. No complaints though, time well spent. To pull this afternoon together, Michael and I decided to have a brief meeting at the New York Public Library on Fifth, as he'd never been. How does one live in NYC for half a dozen years and: not? I arrived a bit early, as my office is closer, took a seat on the chairs outside. I cannot begin to explain why, but this is one of my favorite places for people watching. It's not that the patrons or passers are particularly interesting- Perhaps it is the importance you feel as you sit on these wired chairs, positioned above raising stairs, pillars behind you. Judging.