Sammiches

The best Summer lunch is going to be one of two things... a hefty salad or a loaded sandwich.

We'll get the salad later on... but this post is strictly about that sandwich where it will never steer you wrong.

We lunchladys LOVE  a tasty, cheap sandwich. And the best way to obtain such sandwich is to make it yourself!

There's a new Trader Joe's in town. I'm not going to be the one to let the cat out... we don't want it to get crowded. Get your lunch buddies together and $30 is all you need for a weeks worth of delicious, filling sandwiches.

Any good sandwich needs:

• cheese (we chose asiago, but we're not opposed to provolone or cheddar)
• meat (in our case it's smoked honey turkey) (Veggie is fine too, just don't leave out the cheese!)
• bread (something grainy, adds a nice crunch, especially when it's toasted)
• avocado (spread it on one side of the bread)
• hummus (something with red pepper, spread on the other side of the bread)
• fresh cilantro
• and tomato (preferably on the vine since they taste better)

Nothing better to side this sandwich but some potato chips. kettle cooked with sea salt. (not the healthiest, but definitely the tastiest).

YUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMM
Happy lunch sharing,

Olivia & Maryam

We still eat lunch

Whoops!

So basically nothing spectacular has been had lately. Nothing. I'm lying. We're slacking.


Rin Thai is good. Filling. And cheap? $8 for most of the lunch specials.

The lunch special comes with an appetizer of your choice:

Crunchy dumplings with chicken and shrimp with an awesome sauce.

And the entree:

Chicken pad thai. The chicken is hit or miss. Rather all their meats are. But it's decent.

And the leftovers from someone else's food:


Mixed veggies with brown rice. (came from the marinated chicken entree). YUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM

Until we eat again,

Olivia

Thai me up!

I got over Thai Food about 6 months ago. I don't know about you, but I'm just like "eh" about it. I find vietnamese, malaysian, and taiwanese much more interesting. But, occasionally I get that urge for Pad Thai, or a curry puff. Like today.

Fortunately for "Thai Chaiyo" they make it hard to pass up their lunch special. Located on 233 Ninth Avenue (Between 24th & 25th Street) in Chelsea; it's nothing special in comparison to any other Thai place in a 20 block radius, but $7.95 for a salad, an appetizer, a main dish, AND a soda is astonishing.

Olivia ordered the Crispy Egg noodles and I ordered the Pad Thai. They say you can tell a good restaurant by how they execute the staples. The Pad Thai was DECENT (in a good way), and the Crispy Egg Noodle was good, except I don't think we expected them to be as soupy as it was. Crispy Noodles are not a great summer choice.

Not just a great deal, this place has excellent service, and the food came out within 15 minutes, giving me enough time to go to The Gap and try out some sans culottes.

All in all I have to say BIG OLE' YUUUUUUUUUUUM to you ChaiYo!

Worth the dime, worth the time.

Caio,

Maryam

Baby Got Baoguette

Bao chicka baowow!

"I'm singing in the rain, I'm singing in the RAIN!" I'm singing, because I'm happy.

Thank you Baoguette for making me happy.

After a disappointing Bun at Baohaus, we decided to try our luck in the asian fare sandwich realm.

Unfortunately, even though we want to LET BAOHAUS HAVE IT, we can not make an honest comparison. They just arent on the same level.

But if they were to duel, Baoguette would win.

$5 dollar sandwich people. That's right, $5 for a fresh, real meat, real baquette, real sandwich. And they don't hide the good leafy greens underneath the counter so you don't add them to your sandwich.

AND WE ARE STUFFED.

So at this point it has these highlights:

1. Close to work

2. $5

3. it's a sandwich in Manhattan for $5

4. it's fresh, healthy, and tasty

5. possibility to split a $5 meal is real

We coupled our sandwich with SUMMER ROLLS-Vegetarian Kung Pao Soy Protein, vermicelli, Herbs ($6).

YUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM

But what else they got?

I'm coming back for the Sloppy Bao (Signature) Spicy Curry Beef, Green Mango, Basil, Lemongrass ($7). Also gonna try the Chicken Salad Grilled Chicken, Napa Cabbage, Herbs, Lime Dressing ($6). Something that already has me going is the Sticky rice with chinese saussage & chicken ($8). All of theses items will be consumed soon.

Baoguette: MURRAY HILL - 61 Lexington Ave (between 25th St & 26th St) Nearest Transit:

23rd St-Park Ave S (6) 23rd St-Broadway (R, W) (check website for other locations!)

Let's leave you with some pictures and hope you go there real soon.

Baobye!

Maryam

What? Where?

No, we haven't stopped eating.

(In case anyone, anywhere was wondering.)

We've definitely been lunching....



Think of the week before pay-day as a treasure hunt. A hunt for the cheapest (often free) food we can find.

Leftovers, samplings from whole foods, even subway sandwiches can get thrown in there.

Yuck!

We will return with the most amazing and delicious blog you can imagine... as soon as we find the right spot.

Patiently awaiting the best spring lunch,

Olivia

What’s rain got ta do got ta do with it?

Rainy days are no reason to break the bank. Bring in your delicious lunch (from your own hood - it's usually cheaper, unless you live in Manhattan).

Enter: The sandwich
Chew spot: The cubicle

O- Multi-grain hero with turkey, salami, provolone, mustard, lettuce, tomato, oil and vinegar. $5
M- Multi-grain hero with turkey, swiss, lettuce, tomato, and mayonaise. $4

Two bags of chips- $1

YUUUUUUUUUUM

BYOSandwich,

Olivia

Separate but Equally Filling

So due to work restrictions, the lunchladys were unable to meet for lunch. We decided on sharing our separate meal options for the day instead. Maryam had breakfast up in the Bronx whilst (my favorite word) I opted for a trip to 14th & 8th for a sandwich.
Breakfast - Maryam style

Let's start the day off with a hefty breakfast that will last you through the morning and well into the late afternoon.

Fried Eggs
Yuca

Salami

Fried cheese

Coffee

= $6

YUUUUUUUUUUUM

Ability to get this in almost every neighborhood in the city for the same price - bonus!

And the location of this sweet spot: Comida (not quite sure of the name) on Grand Concourse and 182nd. BX, NY

Now, on to LUNCH with Olivia:
After my own unmentionable breakfast... I decided upon a simple sandwich for lunch. (I had McDonald's - don't judge me).
However, when it comes to simple... $6.80 really can get you pretty far.

a lamb donar from Istanbul Grill on 14th.

Add hummus for an extra $.50. Since I'm a sucker for hummus, I learned how to make my own... try it out with the gadget at the bottom of the page ;)

YUUUUUUUUUUUM

Not quite ready for another meal yet,

Olivia

How to impress a boy? Just do what he likes.

Sorry fellow lunchlady Olivia, I had to ditch you today for a cute lunch date. My gallant partner was missed on the homage to the West Village in our unrelenting search of a humble meal. But, I made it back to the office within mere seconds of an hour; returning just in time to report back from the new found land...

Want to impress the boy you have your eye on by taking him to a delicious place he has already been to 13 times within the last 4 weeks?! Ugh, failure.

Psych (naw)! Well if he has been there so many times, it must mean he likes it. You definitely don't want to bother with indecision when you're on a lunch time crunch, and you DEFINITELY don't want to risk a boys lunch happiness. So stop while you're ahead, go somewhere nearby and have a delicious taim (time).

Go to TAIM!!!!!!! YUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM

Voila, their menu. Everything, and I mean everything, is worth the dime. I had the Sabich Sandwich which is fried eggplant, egg, covered with hummus, israeli salad, tahini and amba sauce. I honestly could go without the egg in there, not big on eggs really. Ate that Sabich (haha) with a Ginger Mint Lemonade  the beau had THE CLASSIC FALAFEL! Total for 2= $ 15.25. 

And don't mind if I do, but I am going out on a NY limb and claiming this as the BEST FALAFEL IN NYC.

To unexpected dates and yummy plates!

Maryam

Too Hungry To Take Pictures

We realized after walking out of the store that we hadn't photographed our sandwiches... whoops!

But if you are in or around Chelsea and are looking for a hefty, filling, cheap sandwich... a cuban usually does the trick.

At Casa Havana the Cubans are delicious... just as delightful, though, would be the pernil sandwich.

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We spent a total of $14.95 between the two of us / including one coffee and a side of french fries.

Pretty sweet deal. Fits right into our cheap lunch lady lunches.

Sadly been a little out of the lunch loop lately,

Olivia

I AM THE CHAMPION, OF WHOLEFOODS (sung to the tune of 'we are the champions)

After I realized someone has eaten my leftovers....Plan B!

Ever get pissed at whole foods for being just too expensive, and always feel like you get duped at the salad bar?

I have conquered Whole Foods ladies and gentlemen. I spent $4.15 on my meal today. "How?!" You ask. It's all about selection. I have the perfect selection for you on a humid day like today that will leave you fulfilled, healthy, satisfied, and with change in your pockets.

Step 1: Grab a small box, it will inevitably make it cheaper and I promise; your eyes are bigger than your stomach.

Step 2: Stuff as much kale salad inside your box. It literally weighs NOTHING.

Step 3: Pick a noodle side that matches your asian salad. I went with Soba noodles with Seitan. Place a handful amount on top of your greens.

Chew, chew, repeat. YUUUUUUUUUUM

*** Hint to the hungry- while choosing your food, place a few vegan chicken nuggets in your box and munch on them for free. Or free to me!

Another cheapo option is for the sandwich lover: Grab a $2.50 side of chicken salad or tuna salad or vegan option of both. These can be found next to the "premade sandwichs, salads, and pizza". Grab a whole wheat croissant for $.79 and VOILA! Cheapeast easiest ever.....

Enjoy.

Love you long time,

Maryam

RIBS?! But I just ate Cuban food! MORE DELICIOUS FREE FOOD NO! Sophie's choice.

So we agreed upon Sophie's Cuban Cuisine for lunch today.. AWESOME!
An easily accessible restaurant (when it isn't covered by scaffolding), and you have the option of dining in the park. PICNIC!

We agreed on something not too heavy, but less than $10. How about Cuban sopa (soup) and some Moro rice?! Or even cheaper of an option, soup, an empanada and some sweet plantains!

This CAN be an inexpensive lunch when you plan accordingly.




Choose wisely, we spent about $7 - $8 each.
Maryam: beef soup $3.50, Rice&Beans $4.25
Olivia: chicken soup $3.50, Sweet plantains, $1.00, Beef empanada $1.50
Plus tax.
And a free cup of water from the Shake Shack.

The soup was YUUUM
but that empanada YUUUUUUUUUM
The rice... with the salsa verde (green hot sauce), great combo. YUUUUUUUUUUM

But oh when it's cold outside.. try the pernil (pork), stew chicken, skirt steak or roasted chicken.

BUT WAIT... there's more...
So you know that moment when you've finally settled on spending close to $10 on lunch when you probably shouldn't have. But you were STARVING so you just did it.

How about that feeling that you get when you realized you just spent your last but then you discover the FREE food in your office building celebrating somebody's something. That's right...

RIBS... Ribs and chicken. Ribs, chicken and cake. After Sophie's. Maryam says ribs were big ol' Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum, which makes us wonder....should we go in search of the best ribs???? To be continued...


Stuffed,

Olivia

Later that evening ..

Little Poland was visited.. and more food was devoured.

Forget About it

Ok, so we did A Salt & Battery because it is simply awesome.

But let's talk about today cuz it's fresh in my brain. Caribbean Kitchen, between Kmart and 1 Penn Plaza in Midtown. If you're in between 14th and 50th streets (8th and 5th avenue) it's a decent 2 stop destination. If close enough walking there is worth it. Oh, except when the news misinforms you constantly about everything that's worth something to you like the weather, but I digress...

It's in between arguably an alley and a what some call a whole street! I'd call it more of a pavement corridor from one block to the next. A "short cut" if you will.

We got a large order of the jerk pork with rice and peas plus an added secret ingredient. Ask for some of their curry chicken sauce over the rice I'm confident it's tasty with any dish. We both had our choice of soda; Olivia :pineapple and Maryam: ginger beer. Total : $12, split 2 ways= $6 per person. YUUUUUUUUUUUUUM

Oh wait there is a down fall, i couldn't tell if i was eating a tongue or some fat, but i tried it anyways. I never could tell, I'd appreciate only meat pieces next time thank you.

Carribean Kitchen, One Penn Plaza (but actual location is between 33rd & 34th St. in between 7+8th Avenues), 212-290-2864.

K bye,

Maryam

The Assault that doesn't Insult

When you have your first post, you really want to make sure it's a good one. So for our first selection, we are eating the best fish n' chips (London Style) that we have had YET in NYC.

But how in the world do you rate food in a fun way? We've decided to rate it on what we are calling a "YUM" factor. Depending on how long it takes you to say "yum" (aka how many u's) really dictates how delicious it is.

A Salt & Battery was assaultingly good. On a YUM factor made us go: YUUUUUUUUUUUUUM

HIGHLIGHTS:
COMBO platter, with chips (small order) with two DIET COKES is $12!!!! We split a might healthy portion and were stuffed to say the least.

It's close, it's cheap, it's delicious, and we did it in an hour.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. duh.

Peace,
Olivia
(originally written by Maryam)