Well Fed On the Town

It seems that in almost every part of the world, other than the United States, the street (food) vendor is a fixture of life.

I spent some time studying in China where I could purchase anything from crickets on a stick to grilled chicken skewers off the street. In Lebanon, I bought Arabic coffee and grilled corn from street vendors, and in Prague, I bought sausage stuffed with cheese. My brother still dreams about the street food he had in Singapore, wishing for the day that comparable grub finds its way here.

In these countries, and many more, there was never a question of cleanliness about the food. Often times, it looked (and tasted) better than what could be found in restaurants– hey the kitchen was in front of my eyes! The street vendors were in place for the workers, the passersby, for anyone looking for a quick fix from their hunger pangs.

In the United States street food vendors have had some hard times. They are few and far between. In my travels around the country, I cannot recall any city where street food is a thriving culinary option, other than New York City.
Here, the street vendor is a fixture of life. I remember visiting as a child in the 80’s. No visit was complete without a hot dog and pretzel smeared with mustard from a street cart. Tourists still flock to these same hot dog carts and peanut hawkers. It is special to New York.

Now that I live here, the street vendor doesn’t seem so special. Forget the hot dogs and pretzels. In winter I get fresh roasted chestnuts. When I worked in midtown I grabbed Indian dishes galore from the boys in the 40s. And when I come home late, I get fresh tacos or a hot gyro (2 different carts) from the guys down my street.

New York City is different than every other country I have purchased street food from because of its’ selection. It’s not just a local culture selling their local food, but the fabulous immigrant diversity brings a plethora of cultural food memories. When it comes to food, I love this town.

Still, the street food cart, even in New York City, is under appreciated. People won’t touch the stuff, claiming it’s dirty, ill-kept health hazards abound or that it is greasy.
False. False. False.

Street vendors need permits from the Health Department so there is no risk in diving in. In fact, the street cart may be cleaner than the kitchen in your favorite restaurant. At least here you can see your food from start to finish, even any butter or oil they use during cooking. Honestly though, the hardest part is deciding who to buy your food from!

To help set the wave in motion, the Street Vendor Project is looking to change the way New Yorkers look at street food. Not only do they rally behind vendor’s rights, but they hold an annual cook off between vendors. Now in its third year, The Vendy Awards celebrates the street food culture of New York.

Each year, nominations open in the summer. The public votes on their favorite food vendors, gives the location, and reason for nomination. The judges, this year’s range from Ed Levine, Sarah Moulton and Andrea Strong, seek out the vendors, try their foods and narrow the field to 5 finalists.

The great cook off is held September 29th this year, open to everyone. Location is yet to be determined, but tickets are available on the website. If you have ever been unsure about street food, now is the time to try it. This is the best of the best so come hungry!