Vactionland

I had the pleasure of visiting Maine last month. The way life should be. I also had the pleasure of seeing the B-Mar. And of seeing this in Portland.

Brian wasn't amused, but I thought it was funny.

Turns out the B-Mar was right. I've been bringing lunch to work recently and it's better than all the midtown crap. And I save a lot of money. Go figger.

the bread was good

K$ planned a trip for us to Au Bon Pain after snagging some "free $10 lunch" coupons from her department's printer. It seemed a little too good to be true: coupons that you can print from your computer - presumably an unlimited number of them - and exchange for food. Maybe I shouldn't be so pessimistic.

We hit 55th street before realizing that we had no idea where to find an Au Bon Pain. Fortunately, d@1 reader Jon was able to point us due west, with the help of the ever-popular Interweb.

We found the ABP, and, lo and behold, k$ spots a sign: they are not accepting the coupons due to the ease of fraudulent duplication. So we paid for lunch.

Before I get to the actual lunch, I should say that I used to be a big ABP fan. When I was a wee one, there was an ABP on the ground floor of my dad's office building. When he took me to his office we'd often stop there for lunch. I was proud of my sophisticated choice: smoked turkey on a croissant and an Orangina. And sometimes a chocolate croissant and milk for dessert.

My affection for ABP evaporated once I became old enough to take the bus from Boston to New York and it became my Port Authority pre-bus food of choice. ABP has expanded into a mega-chain since those smoked turkey days, and now the food is bland, often prepackaged, and always soggy.

Then, there was The Last Straw. That would be when, chomping on a wrap on a Greyhound bus en route to Boston - a wrap which was not even the one that the label said it would be - k$ noticed a dead ladybug quietly resting on a piece of lettuce.

im in ur samwich, eating ur lettuz

I chalked it up to the misery that is Port Authority, mentally wrote and revised an angry letter, and haven't been back since.

k$ and I each got a Mediterranean chicken salad and a wheat mini baguette, which we ate at one of their nice outdoor tables. The salad was small, and the chicken was laughably bad: not just moist, but beyond soggy, like it was waterlogged, or like it was severely over-processed (I wonder why it tasted like this). I can't believe they serve this to people. The rest of the salad was OK, and the bread was actually quite crusty and flavorful, probably the best I've had in midtown. I'll try it again on the sandwich tip. This lunch sent me straight into the arms of Mr. Bananaman.

Coda

After work yesterday, B-Mar gathered a bunch of legal assistants, friends, and hangers-on at Connolly's on 54th St.

Who should saunter in around 6:15 but that saucy knight, Paul McCartney.

B-Mar: "One down, three to go"

This is how we do goodbyes.

Today I got a sammy & some salad from the recently revamped Black Rock Cafe (thanks Aramark! I missed you after college). Not thrilling, but edible, and they actually lowered the prices *ahem, Digger*

Also, I knew I'd only have to make it until around 3, as today we had an "office birthday." Which can only mean one thing (and which I dutifully noted on the birthday card that gets passed around): glorious, glorious cupcakes.

fin

We had to abandon our Very Special Lunch season finale at Prime Burger due to time constraints, but, fittingly, ended up where it all began: Digby's.

The whole thing seemed pretty similar - in terms of plot, suspense, and the scads of publicity - to the last episode of the Sopranos. It was a solid lunch. Good conversation. We laughed, we cried, we found God in the arrangement of mixed greens in front of me.

In memory of the B-Mar, and due to the fact that they raised their prices, I don't think I'll be going to Digby's anymore. Today I had a Carribean chicken salad, which included some cold avocado and colder plantains. Nice idea, poor execution. That's the Digby's way!

To end things on a high note: in a particularly auspicious moment, the B-Mar spotted the Cookie Man on his way to our table. This is the guy who gives out surprisingly delicious free cookies to Digby's patrons. You know what they say: you know it's summer when the birds are chirping, the people are smiling, and the cookie man has awakened from his 8-month slumber. I had my favorite, chocolate chip with dried cherries. They sell a lot of mediocre food at Digby's, but their best item is free. This is certainly meaningful in some way.

I think I speak for everyone at d@1 when I say that we'll miss you, B-Mar. I don't know who or what food item will replace you. This may be the end, but I'd prefer to think of it as a new beginning. I can't be the only one who wants to know what Bob will be serving for lunch this summer.

B-Mar Breaks Heart, Blood Oath

I am now cool enough to know how to embed video and to have been a fan of the Human Giant guys before you were (unless you are Adam, in which case, thank you for teaching me about the Interweb and for bringing me to an Aziz show).

this is gross, but seriously, it's like this every day with the B-Mar

I originally saw this on Midtown Lunch, which I am now consulting to find a sit-down burger place for our Last Lunch tomorrow. I want to make it Special. The B-Mar deserves nothing less, if only for resurrecting d@1 at the 11th hour.

Today I was in the mood for a chicken-y Tasty Bites salad, but the chicken looked a little too refrigerated and processed. I went with the goat cheese & portabella instead, which was indeed tasty, but left me feeling predictably hungry. I picked up a 35-cent banana from the fruit guy on 55th. I think he might be my B-Mar replacement. My new friend.

Summertime, the livins easy

Will this be maintained? Did the spring lull destroy it? What will happen if Shesta and I never communicate again except through blog form?
I was out of the office yesterday, at the doc's for a physical. I am generally healthy, need to exercise more. Thanks doc!

My last day of work is Tuesday. I hope Ben and AW will want to get lunch. Camp starts a week from tomorrow, on Saturday the 16th.

Back to the 'Craft/Rehash of the New Haven trek

For the first time in a few weeks, Ben and I hit up the 'Craft. delicious, as always, and we finagled some brownies, as "payment" for the unusually long wait we had. It always surprises me when the 'wichcraft line is short and the wait is brief; the food is good enough and the atmosphere pleasant enough that I would expect the line to be around the corner....but it never is. So I was annoyed today when my expectation of popularity were met by the various young professionals from the nearby banks, firms and publishing houses, with their skirt/jacket combos or bright pastel buttondowns.
Ben had the cheddar, I had the flank steak. We were pleased.

-----


Ben and I discussed the eventual grad school challenges, including housing and its scarcity and the virtues of living on campus. A few months ago, Ben and I joined our friends Ed, Will and Nick for a couple of days in beautiful New Haven. Ed is a grad student in English at some local community college up there. I was instantly enamored with grad school life versus my current situation: Ed's job was to read and study all day (he also instructs students a bit), and write and think about the work he is passionate about, and to do it all in a gorgeous university setting. Awesome. He seemed very happy.
Anyway, it was a great weekend, and great to see three guys I rarely see (Ben, I see you not enough but more than those others). My general sequence: I did two hours of work on the Saturday morning, met Will and Ben at grand Central Station, read Will's camp brochure, arrived in New Haven, walked to Ed's house, bumped into Nick at the threshold, set our stuff down, went for burgers at a famous burger place, bought beers, sat around, played zoom schwartz, eat Ed's girlfriend's casserole, went to some Yalie party, watched the slam dunk contest, retreated til morning, crashed on Ed's roommate's fouton, awoke, said good-bye to Nick, had brunch, played hearts, threw a football around, wandered into the university common room, watched hoops, and headed our separate ways.

Midtown Monotony

I just went to 4 different places in search of lunch. It's all pretty miserable. Ended up with some cold sushi and half a pb&j that I brought from home.

Brian, pb&j is a lunch supplement, not a complete meal!*

* thanks mom

I hate you B-Mar

Confession/I'm a flirt

Starting in Jan/Feb, I started bringing peanut butter (smucker's) and jelly (expensive preserves, usually strawberry buts sometimes rasberry or cherry) to work. I kept jars of it in the 18th floor kitchen of my office, secreted away in the mostly empty cabinet that stores the extra napkins and styrofoam plates. I'd often keep some multi-grain bread and a jar of Ovaltine there, too. I'd have a cheap and easy lunch and never leave the office. I estimate weekely savings to be around 20 bucks a week form doing this instead of lunch at digby's, or about 200 bucks since I started my PB&J habit.
I am sorry, Ben, that I got so caught up in the cheap and easy, and neglected the depth of your committment.

The end?

I think the B-Mar is too busy for d@1. Maybe we should go on lunch blog hiatus until the situation changes? d@1 is at its best as a collaborative venture. I am loathe to compromise our famously high standards. Your comments are welcome (B-Mar, I'm looking at you).

Anyway, a quick (final?) rundown for the fans:

Monday was a delicious lunch at 'wichcraft. I got the grilled cheddar sammy (did I mention the spicy mustard?) and Brian was rockin the steak sammy. I couldn't stop him.

Tuesday I had a department lunch at China Grill. That was tastified.

Yesterday I took a comp day. I got scones and made eggs w/turkey bacon. Sounds like breakfast, but it was almost 1.

Today I will get a salad.

Bye!

Non-starter

Today was the little day that couldn't. The 'craft was downgraded to a Digger before being aborted, apparently because the B-Mar is Very Important. I guess I should have taken him up on his 12:15 offer.

I know I've been wondering what Brian's been eating all week. Anyone else? As for me, Tuesday was a Big Salad day. Wednesday was back to Global Kitchen for a toasty little tandoori chicken sandwich. Not bad.

Yesterday I felt soupy so I trekked to the Original Soup Man in Roc Center. This place is not as good as it would have you believe (they love to promote themselves as being the Soup Nazi's soup place...while it's obvious to all that this post-Seinfeld franchise does not deserve the accolades that the original store was awarded, they still can't stop bringing up those old reviews), but it's not too shabby for midtown soup. I was seeking the 5 Bean Chili advertised on the website, only to find that someone had written the word "chili" on the "5 Bean" card. Not too promising (the soup did end up having about 5 total beans in it), but they do give you bread, fruit, and Lindt chocolate (I got 2!).

Today I ended up at Bagel and Bean with K$ after Brian bailed. I'm trying a less meat thing, which worked out nicely. Good job, place!

ReVu

Now that the Super Bowl is over there's time to sit down and reminisce. So many amazing lunch memories from the past 3 workdays. Where to start?

Let's let chronology do its thing and talk Thursday. I think I went across the street to Global Kitchen. They have expensive things that they put into their big brick firey oven thing to heat up, which is kind of a fun thing compared to the prevalent methods of food preparation around here. Anyway I got some pizza. Next time I think I'll get cheese pizza there and salad from the cafeteria in my building. The mediocrest of both worlds!

Friday...Friday...I think me and the B-Mar met up for a very brief lunch ad Digby's. I kind of remember sitting in the corner booth and letting the tears wash over me.

Back to Digby's yesterday due to the chilling cold. The Metro Cafe across the street offered a little more warmth (if less ventilation), so we brought our stuff over there, then headed to 51st Street for BoA and H&M.

I guess the question moving forward is whether we'll be able to make it to 'wichcraft this week or if we will freeze to def on the way.

Whine

Today I went to a fancy restaurant nearby with a circus theme it was fancy, but not very good. I ate a lot of bread, but not a lot of my bone filled chicken or my flavor-less pistachio and rum gelato.
A careful reader may think ben and I are on the rocks. You'd be wrong. We're getting back together soon, and I am recommitting to US.

Dark Days

If any of our loyal readers are still checking this blog...well, I'm not sure why you would do that. Monday was a BS @ B'stro w/k$. Yes the stools are things that you can sit on, but repeat visitors are probably also those who enjoy icy cold blasts of air and staring at a wall. Yesterday was a solo 'potes, which was OK, you know, not bad, but not good. Today I finally went back to Digby's and brought a sandwich back to my office. It was decent, much like you, fair reader.

Slacker, asshole

(Self-titled)
I've been an absentee parent for the last two weeks, with a ten day layoff between BMar posts. No excuses.
Last week I had three straight lunches at my desk, a Thursday lunch with Ben and a Friday late lunch at Connolley's witha few coworkers. Highlights included: the Wednesday lunch special at Digby's, a pulled pork creation; the great Burger Joint, the best greasy spoon burger in town (distinguished from the gourmet-type burger, where I give due plaudits to Spotted Pig and the Tao kobe-beef special); and the two Harps I tossed back at the bar on Friday.
Ben and I have had fewer lunches lately. I am the core of the problem, but Digby fatigue and the frigid weather don't help. The last time we ate at DIgby's together it was so friggin' cold that we were both annoyed. The metal chairs at Digby's retain the cool temp pretty well.
----
If the Red Sox sign Helton, I'll be pissed. That'll be a ridic lineup.

Nums

I spent too much time with an Applebee's commercial today and had to get Brian on the Burger Joint tip. It was tasty.

Yesterday, B&B w/K$. We talked about books.

Big Salad y'all

what.

This is a post

The B-Mar was closing some deals today. Big deals. The kind of deals your grandpappy used to sit you on his lap and tell you about. Like from before the Depression.

I closed a 3-lb. (at least) burrito from the 'potes. I think that place is starting to become my next Digby's, which I also used to like and kind of even look forward to going to, only to regret the decision post-lunch.

Like a food inspector

I checked the grilled cheddar at the 'craft today. It's actually a ham & cheese with canned pear on a cranberry/nut bread. Brian got a smellier cheese.

Not so updatey

Its been a big ramp up (surge?) in workload for me this month. So I've been lousy at blogering. I had a shitty Digby's pizza today at 4 pm. My mom is cooking salmon for dinner so at least I will have some real food today.

Classic

A classic lunch scenario, a true d@1 trip to D@1. I had a classic poorly-grilled chicken sandwich that was not exactly worth the 15 minute wait. In comparison to yesterday's solo trip to the 'potes, it did not fare well. But it was too cold to go anywhere else. I guess at this point we deserve it.

B&B

Bagel and Bean was just fine for today's light lunch. Ben and I were both at the office late yesterday, but Ben had deluxe prime steak and I ordered a veggie pizza from Two Boots. Guess who works for the globe-spanning media conglomerate?

Pleasant day

The weather was mild, and two relatively content persons traveled to B&B. I get what I want when the B-Mar's happy. That's why I usually bring lollipops.

Secret dispatch

Hi guys. It's almost midnight. I'm still at work.

Today I got "recruited" to participate in a Special Project. This Project involved a free lunch (yay!) of bad Japanese take-out (boo!). It also involved a free dinner (yay!) of delicious st8k (Ben Benson's what holler at my corporate ca$h).

It's two minutes later and I'm still at work.

In the land of make-believe

Where can you get a free lunch?

Maybe on a boat on which ten unicorns are playing volleyball. Maybe. But you'd have to assume that in a fantasy world, anything is possible.

What about reality? The concrete, gritty, not-so-pretty world out there? There is no such thing as a free lunch, am I right Mr. Economist?

How about at the Craft. Today. It's Oops All Berries all over again (Adam I can't believe you don't have an OAB reference on your blog for me to link to. This is where I would put the "Shame shame shame" link if I had dug that video. This will have to do).

OK, so it wasn't exactly a free lunch. I had to give Brian my thoughts on his personal essay for the law school apps. But I got a free super-chic ten dollar chicken salad sammy out of the deal. Flavors continued to burst. I guess in that sense it really is like Oops All Berries!

Totes 'potes!

Had lunch with Naomi today (who is not Brian). Rare opportunity to go to Chipotle, which beat B-Mar in a playground tussle. It's really not that great but for midtown a solid choice. Otherwise, not much to report aside from K$ stealing my Sudafed. Feeling kinda sick day.

best lunches

5. Pulled Pork from a cart-we ate outside and discussed what the F was happening to the Red Sox
4. The Lunch with Karisa-We went to a deluxe pizza joint. It was deluxe. It was also very early in our jobs.
3. Digby's in late July- We discussed our old camp director in the park ranger role, chasing around Shesta in the Yogi Bear role. Both were naked. Its not easy to explain this discussion. But I was laughing hard enough to distract most patrons. I think the Digby's free cookie man was out, tossing cookies with reckless abandon.
2. That lunch with AW- That was really, really great. Really great. We got hot cocoa afterwards and made snow angels. And we laughed. How we laughed! I miss him everyday.
1. Today. 'wichcraft.

Honorable Mention: Connolley's Bar-We watched some A's-Twins baseball. Ate some burgers. I think we even both had beers. Burger joint- tucked back at le Parker Meridian Hotel. We really ought to go back there. Very crowded. Lunch to-go from the Digger in Central Park- That was nice. On the way to-and-from, Ben accidentally recommitted me to apply to l-school. The time at Digby's when the entire "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" came on over the music system. This was in mid-August.

Look before you post

Christ, Ben.

A good one

The News is in. And the News is Good.

Moods were buoyant, even jovial this Monday midday. Something good was in the air...a region-wide gas leak, perhaps? Or something less ephemeral?

A sammy shop with a name as smarmily clever as 'wichcraft would hopefully be a good sammy shop. A sammy shop you can trust. A sammy shop that believes in you. A sammy shop you can bring home to mama.

Once, maybe twice in a century, a sammy shop does something so unexpected, so unimaginable, so unintelligible to the uninitiated, that it literally alters the course of humanity. Ethnic groups come together and sing the Coke song. Questies cast a spell that actually does give them +1 dexterity. Stem cells make babies into something useful.

'wichcraft is that sammy shop.

Look at the picture on their website! It's hard to imagine a sandwich in midtown that imparts even one flavor. There may have been 2 or more in the daily special (BBQ Flank Steak on ciabatta) that the B-Mar and I both ordered. This was a pleasant experience. Also, adequate seating! Big metal trays! Big. Metal. Trays.

Oh yeah, the catch. This place is expensive as fuck. Only on 5th Ave. can you pay ten bucks for some tasty stuff in some bread. Come on people.

Brian is supposed to make a top 5 list of the best lunches we have enjoyed in midtown. Get on him, team.

Wiching Hour

I liked the Two Boots pizza on Friday. Despite my surly mood, the spices in the sauce and the extra cornmeal crunch of the crust made me enjoy the lunch.
Today...today, we made it to 'wichcraft.
We had to walk around a little bit in order to find it. I was worried that it would be a mob scene of fashionable luncheonistas, but it was not so. We stepped right up and were served our made-to-order, delicious and well-constructed paninis in less than 10 minutes after entering. The place was empty and clean at 1:30 pm. The menu was affordable, even though we both spent on what sounded like a particularly interesting choice. The lunch wrapping up, I stretched out my legs and felt very happy we walked the six blocks along Fifth Ave to get to our destination.
I will confess that I had set the lunch bar somewhat high and I was surprised that my expectations were somewhat met, and even exceeded.
Restaurant Week is coming up and we're discussing some audacious plans. A little Raymond, ME gathering in our neck of the woods. I suggested The 21 Club, but Ben disagreed. I guess we're open to suggestions.

No news

The fans are hounding me for the 311, so I have to come clean. I can't protect the innocent. We didn't go to new place (Witchcraft) yesterday. Ask B-Mar.
We started walking there today but ended up at Two Boots. I don't know. I'm not sure if I like it anymore. Pizza's kind of heavy. I'm just not sure, folks.

Oh Sev

It's been a long, dark, unseasonably warm winter here at D@1. The B-Mar went all vacation on me, so I've been left to fend for myself, usually at the default Digby's. I feel like K-Fed: abandoned, hungry, and extremely talented. It's just the burden I must bear, so deal with it.

Today, however, I see a light. It is small, but it is bright, like an LED in the night. That rhymed. The B-Mar returneth, with a new place for lunch in mind, "one of the best in the city." Stay tuned...