Have You Nominated Your Favorite Vendor for a Vendy Yet?

 

You have just shy of two weeks to get your noms in for the 2013 Vendy Awards, scheduled for Saturday, September 7th at Industry City in Sunset Park. You'd better get moving 'cause time's a wasting...

We love the Vendys. Not just for the awesome food and the fun day of eating and drinking, but also for what the Vendys stand for—they’re the primary fundraiser for the Street Vendor Project. Part of the Center for Urban Justice Center, the Street Vendor Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a voice for the thousands of people who sell food and merchandise on the streets of our city. It also means that a portion of your ticket is tax deductible—pretty sweet.

Popularly known as the “Oscars of street food” the Vendys is a pretty darn big deal in the food world, but what’s so special about the event is that it recognizes the vendors and puts all of their hard work and dedication on display. Over the past two years of researching and writing our cookbook we’ve had the chance to collect amazing stories and recipes from a number of Vendy finalist and winners.

Our cookbook, New York à la Cart: Recipes and Stories from the Big Apple's Best Food Trucks features FIVE of the Vendy Cup Winners:

• HALLO BERLIN
• NY DOSA
• COUNTRY BOYS
• KING OF FALAFEL AND SHAWARMA
• SOLBER PUPUSAS

FOUR of the Vendy Dessert Winners (would you expect anything less from us?!):

• THE TREATS TRUCK
• WAFELS & DINGES
• KELVIN NATURAL SLUSH TRUCK
• WOOLY’S ICE

And TWENTY ONE Vendy Finalists:

• A-POU’S TASTE
• VERONICA’S KITCHEN
• UNCLE GUSSY’S GREEK TRUCK
• EGGSTRAVAGANZA CART
• BIRYANI CART
• KWIK MEAL CART
• PATACON PISAO
• CHIMICHURY EL MALECÓN<
• MISS SOFTEE
• COMME CI COMME ÇA
• BIÀN DANG
• COOLHAUS
• THE CINNAMON SNAIL
• VAN LEEUWEN ARTISAN ICE CREAM
• BIG GAY ICE CREAM TRUCK
• DESSERTTRUCK
• MEXICUE
• SCHNITZEL & THINGS
• TAMALES GUADALUPE
• FAUZIA’S HEAVENLY DELIGHTS
• TORTAS NEZA

Anyone that hasn’t won the Vendy Cup (or category Vendy i.e. Desserts) can compete again. From just the finalists listed above there are a ton of vendors that are more than worthy of another chance at the big cup. Regardless of whom you nominate, do it and do it soon! Noms close on June 15th. Show your favorite vendor some love. And though the big day might be 3 months away, the event does sell out, so buy your tickets now. Early bird tickets are already gone. Don’t wait until they announce the finalists because you might be shut out as well!