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Over the weekend, hungry visitors to the Red Hook ball fields were disappointed to find that the famous Latin American food vendors were nowhere to be found. Back in March the Parks Department bent to considerable public outcry and dropped its threat to evict the longstanding vendors, instead granting them a six-year permit.
But it seems the permit approval process – which requires equipment upgrades estimated to cost $15,000 to $30,000 – have delayed the vendors’ appearance. Porkchop Express got Vendor's Committee director Cesar Fuentes on the horn to explain the situation:
“We cannot start until the city approves our permits [and these are] being processed as we speak. Unfortunately, that can still take a couple more weeks before we are given a go. Realistically speaking, we can probably expect to open Mid-June.”In the meantime, some of the vendors have opened stands at the Brooklyn Flea, where Fort Greene shoppers can get their fill of huaraches and pupusas. And the Times’s Peter Meehan stopped by for a taste last week.
Photo courtesy Penguin Rocket.
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That food looks so good I want to stick my face in it and make motorboat noises.
One of these days I'm going to make the trip and buy food there, but since my sorry ass is on a diet I'm going to sit here and cry into my 100 calorie pack of mini rice cakes.
All of this regulation that is supposed to protect really fucks over these entrepreneurs and other small businesses. I'm sick of this nanny-state shit.
Why should people need permits to sell food to each other?
The lines at the Brooklyn Flea for the papusa's/huaraches were out of control. It must have taken over an hour to get to the front of the line. I got some grilled corn and gave up on huaraches. They need a better system! The other sandwich vendors had wonderful stuff in the meantime. I'll get there earlier next time for huaraches.
amsci, I highly recommend getting on a bike and riding over to the soccer fields. Taco consumption is negated by exercise required to get there and back! That's how I justify it at least.
> Why should people need permits to sell food to each other? >
To regulate cleanliness and health issues?
"To regulate cleanliness and health issues?"
A permit may be a cleanliness regulation, but it doesn't mean that the place is clean. To stay in business, you need customers. To have customers, you need good food that doesn't make people sick.
That's the best regulation of them all.
Plus, how many times have you been in a place with a permit, and seen something that is against the health codes?
Permits and licensing are more talismanic than anything else. BC's got it right; the real regulator is not getting customers sick and being held liable if you do.
In any event, there are also food stands in Inwood Hill Park by the soccer fields. I haven't tried them but if the quality of the pupusas at the local restaurants is any indication, they'll probably be good.
that food looks yummy, I hope they'll allow bikes on the Ikea ferry.
If you want GREAT Mexican food, and aren't interested in a game (and be indoors & a table), try Matamoros on 5th Avenue & 45th Street in Sunset Park. Great food. No waiting.
"If you want GREAT Mexican food, and aren't interested in a game (and be indoors & a table), try Matamoros on 5th Avenue & 45th Street in Sunset Park."
Or go anywhere but New York?
I will try the ball fields one day but until then I am going to say that Mexican is probably the only thing that is not totally delicious out there.
matty is right. mexican is really NY's culinary weak spot.
Both the Sunset Park taquerias and the ball fields are worth trying.
The ballfield is all "street food" - very casual eats served in a picnic-like atmosphere. I believe the vendors are generally not Mexican per se but Central American.
The S-Park taquerias (Matamoros and also Ricos Tacos are popular) will also serve you kickass roasted pork tacos, but again, it's pretty casual.
These are "great" in the sense that L&B's square slice or a dog from Gray's Papaya are great.
I tried googling "huaraches", and all I got were links to sandals. What are these in the food context?
> Plus, how many times have you been in a place with a permit, and seen something that is against the health codes? >
Well sure, but does that mean there shouldn't be health codes and inspections? I'm just answering the question "why do people need permits to sell food to each other."
Tulcingo del Valle on 47th & 10th in Manhattan is also very good, if you want to eat indoors. Tehuitzingo is across 47th also on 10th and is decent.
@Rocknrope, maybe I'm spelling it wrong?
OK, here you go. Oversized, open-face taco with a schmear of beans on the tortilla.