Best New Lunch Spot in NYC's Midtown

New York City's Bryant Park may just as well be renamed 'Wichcraft land, considering the number of 'Wichcraft kiosks Top Chef judge and F&W Best New Chef 1991 Tom Colicchio has lining the green (Colicchio also has a standalone spot a few blocks away on W. 46th Street). Earlier this week, another former BNC entered the midtown lunch fray: Matthew Kenney (an F&W Best New Chef 1994). While the menu at FreeFoods NYC on W. 45th Street is organic, there's not much evidence of the raw vegan dishes Kenney created at Pure Food and Wine. I had a deliciously crispy panini of chile-rubbed filet mignon smothered with tomato jam, and a salad with unexpected toppings like cornbread croutons and hominy. Another nice touch: compostable takeout containers.