Since the Giants devour pizzas from Long Island's Umberto's after every Friday practice, you wouldn't think a little four hour flight would stop them while they're in Indianapolis for the Super Bowl, right? Except the Giants aren't going to be returning to New York for their weekly meal, they're having it delivered to them—never underestimate the power of superstition when it comes to the sports set. But what's really absurd is that the pizzas just got a police escort to LaGuardia Airport! more ›

How many times have you packed your lunch this week? How many cups of coffee have you picked up on your way in to the office? Do you keep track of how much you're spending? No? Yeah, didn't think so, because if you knew how much cash you dropped on seemingly minor expenses, you'd be brown-bagging it and home-brewing it every day for the rest of the year. more ›

You know how in Mad Men people take lunch hours (and smoke in their offices, and have whiskey for breakfast)? Well it's time to reclaim that mid-century mentality! Because currently the average worker only takes 20 minute lunch breaks, and those are taken at their desk (and they aren't even 3-martini lunches). Seriously, Don Draper would never be caught saying nonsense like this. more ›

With the threat of having to pay for student Metrocards looming over public school parents, now they'll have to worry that their kids won't even be able to eat once they get there. The Department of Education, which usually pays for lunch for 73% of the city's public school kids, has send an email to 500 school principals saying they can't afford the bill anymore. Apparently, some kids who aren't eligible for free lunches have been getting away with not paying the $1.50 for a meal, and the DOE says the schools' budgets will be charged for any outstanding fees. more ›

Since he announced his interest in running against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former Tennessee lawmaker and New York newcomer Harold Ford was having a hard time making friends in this "city of transients." But that's come to an end now that he's buddied up with Brooklyn political boss and power broker Assemblyman Vito Lopez (D-Bushwick), whose influence might help Ford avoid the lengthy and costly process of petitioning to get his name on the primary ballot. According to the Observer, after lunching with the Lopez twice at Cono and Sons in Williamsburg, the Party Boss was willing to offer a "personal endorsement" of Ford, while the likely Senate candidate said this of his new friendship with the Lopez: "It's amazing that it's been a week. I feel like it's been about two years, three years since we've known each other." Recent polls show Gillibrand leading Ford 44 percent to 27 percent, however 25 percent of voters are still undecided. more ›

City officials often tout their far-reaching efforts to make school lunches healthier for students. They even called in Rachael Ray for help. But according to a Daily News investigation, school meals remain as unhealthy and as remarkably disgusting-sounding as they've always been. more ›

This town is crawling with mice and rats and terrifying mutant cockroaches, so it's funny WABC "Eyewitness News" is so shocked to find the city school system has a bit of a rodent problem. The fact that school lunch is unappetizing isn't exactly flashing-siren news, but this is revolting nonetheless: Records obtained through Freedom of Information show that 545 school cafeterias had one or more critical health violations, and about one-third of those violations were for mice and mice droppings. Perhaps student Jose Rodriguez said it best: "Nasty. It's disgusting, but it's really not surprising." more ›

Think of it as functional street art. Pratt Grad student Ali Pulver has created portable, temporary eating surfaces for those lunching at street carts. The tiny tables are by far the best options, but she's got plenty more ideas she's put into practice on her Pop Up Lunch blog. Where's the most unconventional space you've dined in the city? [Midtown Lunch via Boing Boing] more ›

Police shut down part of West Third Street today so President Obama and former President Bill Clinton could enjoy a leisurely lunch at Italian restaurant Il Mulino, a Village mainstay. The two political powerhouses dined for about an hour and a half following Obama's big speech at Federal Hall urging Congress to pass stronger regulations on the financial industry. Did they chat about that one time Barry wrested the Democratic nomination from Bill's wife? No one knows, but according to reports they dined alone in an empty restaurant, so there was probably no standing ovation, like when Barack and Michelle finished their meal at Blue Hill. As they walked from the restaurant to their waiting limos, Clinton lapped up a reporter's question about the quality of the food, saying, "It was good. It was Il Mulino, how could it not be?" Suck it, Yelper B.D.! As for what they ate, Clinton remarked, "We had fish, pasta and salad. It was very healthy. Even I was healthy." Meanwhile, over on Hudson Street, former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich glumly dined at a picnic table outside at Lucy Browne's. The street was not closed for security, and no one stopped Eater from getting this classic photo. more ›

La Cense, an 88,000 acre Montana ranch that uses sustainable farming methods to raise 100 percent grass-fed cattle, launched its first burger truck in midtown today, at 48th Street and Park Avenue. And the crowds went wild! La Cense's consulting burger chef is none other than Adam Perry Lang, the pitmaster-owner of Daisy May's BBQ, not to mention a classically trained veteran of the Le Cique, Daniel, and Chanterelle kitchens. And so a long line of determined guinea pigs formed almost immediately this morning, and according to some reports it stretched over a half hour long. more ›

Here's the latest installment in our ongoing quest to find a good, cheap meal that won't kill us or our budget. more ›

Here's the latest installment in our ongoing quest to find a good, cheap meal that won't kill us or our budget. more ›

Technology meets lunch meats: Scanwiches features "center-cut" scans of sandwiches from cafes and delis in the Soho, Chinatown, and Lower East Side vicinity. Dare we hope for a scan of the an M&O Deli turkey sandwich, which is only offered on Tuesdays and Fridays? [Via reader Jeff] more ›

Here's the latest installment in our ongoing quest to find a decent cheap meal that won't kill us or our budget. more ›

More budget and waistline conscious New Yorkers around the city are packing lunches at least a few times a week. Aside from sporting a Spongebob Squarepants lunch box or re-using shopping bags, there are plenty of stylish and eco-friendly options out there. more ›

Reader Anthony just sent in this image from Cookshop, on the corner of 10th Avenue and 20th Street, saying that "diners with plates in hand abandoned their al fresco dining as thick black choking smoke headed towards the Cookshop." No word yet on whether they returned to settle their bills. more ›

It's been a while since we've chimed in on the happenings at Momofuku Ko, so take your medicine. You'll no doubt recall how chef David Chang's 12-seat restaurant is impossible to get reservations for, unless you're willing to ho yourself out through Craigslist. But now it may be a teensy bit easier to get in because the joint will soon be opening for a 16-course "lunch tasting menu." The bad news is that it costs $150 per person and lasts three hours, excluding all but the most idle bon vivants. But for those who do qualify, a blogger for Bon Appetit was able to preview the menu and has posted the first detailed account of all 16 courses. Bacon dashi with bacon fat poached shrimp, anyone? [Via Eater.] more ›

Who doesn't enjoy a peaceful lunch in Central Park? The above illustration is succinct in showing the ornithological, et al, breakdown of just who's getting leftovers. From pigeon to rat, there are two-winged and four-legged creatures savoring every dropped crumb in the park -- and they're just as pushy as some human New Yorkers when it comes to their lunch break. more ›

While the man who suspected of stealing women's purses during the morning subway commute has been caught, it turns out there's another fiend with a similar penchant. The Post says a "well-dressed, well-coiffed daytime purse-snatcher has been targeting unsuspecting women as they lunch at Midtown tourist spots." more ›

First there was the Spitzer Spritzer at Teddy's and now, Sandwich #9: Hot Tongue on Rye. Eisenberg's owner Josh Konecky explains to Gobble the creative process behind today's special:

So, who came up with the sandwich? Spitzer came up with it. [pause]. No, I came up with it. Did you already order? more ›

The California based Westland/Hallmark Meat Company is recalling all its raw and frozen beef products distributed since Feb. 1, 2006 – a total of 143 million pounds of ground beef. The largest beef recall in history was announced after an undercover Humane Society video showed workers kicking sick cows, jabbing them in the eyes and using forklifts to force them to walk to slaughter. (See the video here.) more ›

After the Humane Society revealed a tape of mistreatment of cows at the nation's "No. 2 supplier of ground beef to the National School Lunch Program," burgers and other beef products were temporarily yanked off NYC schools' menus. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had put an "administrative hold" on all products from Hallmark Meat Packing Packing in Chino, CA and asked all schools to stop using products from Westland/Hallmark Meat. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a shooting at 104th Ave. and Remington St. in Queens, a bank robbery on Lexington Ave. and 45th St. in Manhattan, and a gas main break on Van Siclen Ave. in Brooklyn.
• Midtown Lunch considers why it was left off the positive press clippings wall of the new Goodburger.
• New York Shitty wonders about these Bed-Stuy guard dogs - they only have ten feet of leash and don't seem to have much food.

When it comes to sushi our tastes skew authentic. Mackerel. Amberjack. Occasionally a tuna and natto hand roll, not Christmas or Dragon rolls. Nevertheless, Gothamist remains a sucker for a gimmick. So when Sakae Sushi, a Singapore-based kaiten – or conveyor belt sushi restaurant – recently opened its first New York City location we couldn’t wait to tear open our disposable chopsticks and begin grabbing tasty morsels as they paraded down the runway. Midtown Lunch’s sneak peek and a perusal of Sakae’s 30-page menu, with everything from typical nigiri-zushi to oddities like corn salad sushi, as well as ramen and yakitori added to the intrigue. more ›

Go! Go! Curry: This Japanese fast food hot spot had lines down the block when they opened in the Garment District last spring; now they’re building on the buzz and branching out in the East Village. We’ve become addicted to their belt-busting Grand Slam (pictured), “a monster platter that comes with fried chicken, pork sausages and a hard-boiled egg, among other things. The thick, sweet sauce has a tiny kick of heat and is served over rice with such toppings as slices of tonkatsu, fried pork cutlet.” Or for half the price and calories, you can keep it simple but savory with the curry rice sans toppings, a classic Japanese comfort food. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a staircase collapse on Pennsylvania Ave. in Brooklyn, an unusual escort on Van Wyck and Atlantic Aves. in Queens, and a person fatally struck by a train at 170th St. and Jerome Ave. in the Bronx.
• 2007 marks the 25th anniversary of the Commodore 64 PC. The computer, which attached the primary system with the monitor and the keyboard, had a whopping 64K of memory. 17 million were sold.
• A bootleg recorded by an audience member at Rutgers turns out to be the only surviving recording of a live Woodie Guthrie performance in existence.
• Manhattan doormen vs. Brooklyn doormen. Union vs. Non-Union. A comparative study.
• Reporting that one's breasts are humongous seems akward. We imagine Tom Brokaw announcing that he's hung like a horse would be less so.
• An improperly vented furnace and dryer nearly killed 19 people at a party in Newark, NJ, as carbon monoxide accumulated in a house.
• If you've ever been to a Betsey Johnson boutique, then how her apartment is decorated should come as no shock.
• Warning: Pop Burger burgers are bigger than they appear, according to Midtown Lunch.

Attention Pacific Northwest: New Yorkers don't care about your cuisine. None of Jeffrey Chodorow's blogging, full page ads in the Times or other theatrics could save Wild Salmon from its imminent closure. After Eater circulated news of its potential doom, Chodorow issued a statement, published on Grub Street, "Regrettably, we will be closing Wild Salmon after the new year. We were excited about bringing the food and wine of the Pacific Northwest to New York,... more ›

EVENT: Berlin takes over New York this month with the Berlin in Lights Festival. Through the 18th you can soak up the German city through film, music, art, architecture and more. This evening you can check out a couple of Berlin-esque events. First up is the "Urban Design and Memorials" dialogue. A panel discussion which will touch on the "challenges of integrating memorials into the urban fabric, and how Berlin and New York address issues... more ›

Bacaro: Frank DeCarlo of Peasant and his wife Dulcinea Benson transport you to Venice in their 80-seat wine bar/restaurant on the Lower East Side. Northern Italian menu offerings include cicchetti, (think Venetian bar snacks) like crostini, sardines, artichokes, and more, cheeses selected by Lou DiPalo, and pastas, quail, and duck for those seeking heartier fare. 136 Division Street, between Orchard and Ludlow Streets, 212-941-5060. more ›