There are dozens of tasting events in this town, but only a small handful feature as diverse a group of cooks as the annual Vendy Awards, which arrive on Governors Island Saturday, September 24th. But it’s not just stuffing your face on fried fish sandwiches, curry goat, shawarma or Mexican paletas that should drive your decision to buy a ticket for this incredible day of unlimited New York City food and drink. Street vendors are a vital, delicious part of everyday life for New Yorkers, but those who run so many of our trucks don’t always have it easy finding space to cook or sell and often get walloped with fines they can hardly afford in the normal course of doing business. That’s why the Vendy Awards started, to raise funds for the Street Vendor Project, a membership-based non-profit organization that stands up for the rights of city vendors of all kinds.
At next Saturday’s event–accessible by ferry–dozens of vendors will compete for the one and only Vendy Cup for a panel of impressive judges, while the rest of us stand by and eat. Will the winner be La Newyorkina and their incredible Mexican paletas? (Those were the subject of one of our recent NY1 episodes, by the way, not that we’re biased.) Woolys and their Taiwanese and Hawaiian inspired shaved ice? Korilla’s Korean BBQ? The Italian Pastries from La Bella Torta? The soft serve from Miss Softee?
One lucky reader will find out for free because we’ve got a pair of tickets to giveaway. Here’s how to win: Tell us right here in the comments fields below which little known Manhattan street cart vendor you love that we should be covering in our pages, and why. We’ll pick a winner on Tuesday.
