Meat Cloud

“Meat cloud” is a condition that affected the New York Times building from Wolfgang’s Steakhouse; The Newspaper Guild of New York released on March 11, 2014, “‘Meat cloud’ vexes BizDay staffers at NY Times building.” The blog The Food Section added “meat cloud” to its Dictionary of American Gastronomy on March 12, 2014:
 
“Meat Cloud (noun): A pungent, potentially noxious mass of smoke caused by the cooking of meat in a restaurant kitchen.”
 
 
The Newspaper Guild of New York (Local 31003, CWA)
‘Meat cloud’ vexes BizDay staffers at NY Times building   
03/11/2014
Several weeks ago, a group of BizDay reporters on the second floor of the Times building alerted us to an odor of cooking meat from the steakhouse downstairs that was lingering over part of their work space. They had brought the matter to the attention of the Facilities Department last fall, but the smells persisted. Several BizDay employees were suffering health effects, including burning eyes and breathing issues, from what had been dubbed a “meat cloud.”
 
The Guild gathered information and pursued the matter with Labor Relations. Shortly afterward, the Facilities Department worked on a ventilation duct coming into the newsroom where the odor was most noticeable. But the problem continued. Labor Relations then agreed to our suggestion that the air be professionally tested, which was done by industrial hygienists on Feb. 18. On Friday, The Times received the results: no carcinogens, carbon monoxide or other harmful elements were detected.
   
New York magazine
3/11/2014 at 3:00 PM
New York Times Reporters Haunted by Unconquerable ‘Meat Cloud’
By Joe Coscarelli
It has returned. The scent of meat that loomed over New York Times business reporters more than two years ago is back ... with a vengeance? “Several BizDay employees were suffering health effects, including burning eyes and breathing issues, from what had been dubbed a ‘meat cloud,’” the Newspaper Guild reports in an updated complaint, citing Wolfgang’s Steakhouse downstairs as the more than likely culprit. But seriously: Is Andrew Ross Sorkin going to be okay?
 
Gothamist
A Malicious Meat Cloud Is Suffocating The Times’ Business Reporters
Lauren Evans in Food on Mar 11, 2014 6:00 pm
Some of the city’s highest-profile journalists are under attack by an enemy meat cloud, which has been reeking ha ha havoc on the second floor of the New York Times’ midtown offices for several weeks now.
 
The Newspaper Guild of New York today announced the plight of the Times’ Business reporters, who are suffering the effects of an aggressive meat scent wafting from the Wolfgang’s steakhouse below. The problem apparently began several months ago, and the matter was brought up with the Facilities Department last fall—“but the smells persisted.” Smells which, unfortunately, are not only bothersome, but potentially harmful?
     
The Food Section
Meat Cloud
POSTED BY JOSH FRIEDLAND ON MAR 12, 2014
Meat Cloud (noun): A pungent, potentially noxious mass of smoke caused by the cooking of meat in a restaurant kitchen.
 
New York Magazine reported on the discomfort of New York Times staffers enveloped in a meat cloud believed to be emanating from the kitchen of Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, located within the New York Times Building.