NY FAQ: Street Cuisine Archives

Vendy Award to Jackson Heights Halal Vendor

At this time, Eater welcomes Samiul Haque Noor of Sammy's Halal to the dancefloor. Noor, who dishes up halal chicken, lamb and beef over rice in Jackson Heights, took the cup at the second annual Vendy Awards last eve. Noor, per the NYDN: "People say the difference in my food are the spices." For bonus flavor, Gothamist's Laren Spirer files from the party.

N.B. Eater operatives were spotted at the street cart of Vendy finalists Calexico on the corner of Wooster and Prince in Soho last week. Verdict: La Esquina, eat your heart out.
· Halal Cart Takes Vendy Award [Gothamist]
· Halal-aleuja at Vendys [via NewYorkology]
· 2006 Vendy Awards Finalists [streetvendor.org]

Code Red Shutter Alert: Le Kiosk

From the East Village comes this Shutter Alert from an Eater reader:

This morning I stopped for an iced coffee with my girlfriend at Le Kiosk, the beloved Euro-pagoda in the park on Houston and First Ave., and they had a petition on the counter to keep the place open. From what I overheard, there's some sort of hearing on Wednesday, they're supposed to close in 45 days, and there's talk of a Wendy's (!) trying to open up in the same location. I'm hoping the Wendy's thing is just a scare tactic to get people fighting for Le Kiosk, but even Le Kiosk simply closing down would be a tremendous loss for the neighborhood.

A Wendy's? Surely someone is just toying with our fragile psyches on this one, no? Please?
· Street Eats: Le Kiosk [Gothamist]

No Mud at Astor Place Update: The Mud Is Back

Yesterday's item about the Mud Truck's absence from Astor Place sparked a string of emails to our inbox. Rest easy, caffeine addicts. The news is good. Notes one reader, "Per the store this morning, the truck broke down. Might be back today, def. be back though." Then comes FOEater Jennifer Leuzzi to really get to the bottom of things:

Mudman1 [license plate tag] is back on 4th ave and astor, right by snack hq, which led to this conversation today:

MmeSnack: So where were you guys yesterday?
Mudman1: We don't take a day off we broke down. No start truck-starter, fuming fan [as in fire] other electrical/garage type. Repairs that needed to be made during the work day. [A repair guy was actually finishing up on one of the exhaust-fans while the coffee fans wait in the rain.]
MmeSnack: Small mocha latte for me.

The kids at Curbed also picked up on this item today; comments there flesh out a bit more flavor. Regardless: double shot, svp.
· Breaking: No Mud At Astor Place [~E~]

Breaking: No Mud at Astor Place

The week dawns with alarming news from Astor Place in the East Village. A reader emails:

There's no MUD Truck out at Astor Place this morning. VNU employees are dragging all over Wanamakers. Where's my coffee?

· The Mud Truck [themudtruck.com]

Vendy Awards Update: And the Vendy Goes To...

... Rolf Babiel, the bratwurst street vendor who calls 54th Street near Fifth Avenue home. On the Vendy nominee page, a fan describes what makes Rolf the man:

The food is cheap and fantastic. He offers his wares with a really crusty bun, two types of kraut, the BEST sauteed onions and homemade mustards and curry sauces. The line for the food is long, because it's THAT good.

And thus endeth the first annual awards for best New York street vendors.
· In a Battle of Street-Food Vendors, the Wurst Wins [NYTimes]
· Street Vendor Finalists [StreetVendor.net via NewYorkology]
· Vendy Awards Update: Where to Eat on the Street [~E~]

Vendy Awards Update: Where to Eat on the Street

In advance of next week's First Annual Vendy Awards, Manhattan Users Guide offers up the street corners where the nominated vendors ply their trade:

Thiru Kumar is at Washington Square South across the law school.
Tony Dragonas is at 62nd and Madison.
Ralf Babiel is on 54th near 5th.
And the Halal team cooks at 53rd and 6th, after 8pm only.

· Odds/Ends (last item) [MUG]
· First Annual Vendy Award Nominees [~E~]

First Annual Vendy Award Nominees

After a round of nominations from the public in August, the nominees for the First Annual Vendy Awards—to be given to the city's best street vendors—have been announced. The ballot:

● Thiru “Dosa Man” Kumar – known for his vegan dosas and samosas, Thiru is “not just a vendor, he is a role model for us all”. More importantly, he serves the “best damn street food in town,” according to his customers.
● Tony “the Dragon” Dragonas - the line runs “around the block” for Tony’s chicken, served up in “generous portions” and “with a smile.” But will he reveal his “addictive secret spices” that keep them coming back for more?
● Rolf “Hallo Berlin” Babiel – his traditional German sausages (with sautéed onions and homemade mustard) are “five stars all the way,” they say. But will they sway the judges?
● Team “Best Halal” (Mohammed, Mustafa, Islam & Sam)z - People are so “fanatical” about their food that it takes a whole team to serve it up. “Best Halal” has such a “cult following” that people drive all the way from PA and MA to have some.

Awards will be given at a banquet November 10; tickets are $35.
· First Annual Vendy Awards [StreetVendor.org]

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