One side effect of the Occupy Wall Street encampment at Zuccotti Park is that local workers who used to eat lunch in the park have been going elsewhere. And the Street Vendor Project (which you know from the Vendy Awards it organizes) also points out that the "extremely generous donations of food to the movement have made business tough for local food vendors." But help is on the way: It was announced today that the Project has teamed up with Occupy Wall Street to let those who want to donate food to the movement do so, while also helping local businesses. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg, who apparently harbors a dirty water habit himself, thinks the city's street food vendors should be subject to the same letter grading system as brick-and-mortar restaurants—but the Health Department isn't so sure. more ›

Just a friendly reminder that the Red Hook Food Vendors will be making their triumphant return to the Red Hook Ball Fields this weekend, bringing with them delightful fried rellenitos and barbacoa tacos. For many, this marks the semi-official start of summer, and Untapped New York learns that this year, the Vendors are launching a "green technology" project called The New Marketplace this year. Oh, and there will also be soccer, but who wants to think about physical activity when the sweet smell of pupusas fills the air? more ›

The city's Independent Budget Office has issued its first-ever report on street vendors, and the title should give you some indication of its contents: "Street Vendor Regulations Are Costly, Confusing, and Leave Many Disgruntled." The report [pdf] finds that $14.9 million in unpaid vendor fines covering 2008 and 2009 remain uncollected. The city is spending an estimated $7.4 million a year on vendor-related expenses, but revenues from fees, licenses and fines totaled only $1.4 million last year. Should the city send goons to collect? The IBO concludes that the revenue gap isn't entirely the vendors' fault—the patchwork of rules are complicated, and the fines onerous, especially if a $50-a-day food vendor has his license suspended. more ›

The life of the street cart vendor is understandably hard; if they're not tumbling and tussling with each other for real estate, then they're probably trying to hold it in. Here's another notch for their hardship post: according to the Post, some food vendors have been forced to sleep in their carts, so as to not lose prime spots on the street. more ›

Tickets are now on sale for the 6th Annual Vendy Awards, the "intense grill-to-grill cook-off" to determine NYC’s top street chef. Five street vendors were chosen by over a thousand eaters who voted on the website for The Street Vendor Project, which advocates on behalf of street vendors. The tasting/competition will be held on September 25th on Governors Island, and the finalists are Yassir Zraouli and his Moroccan inspired Bistro Truck; Astoria’s self-appointed “King of Falafel” Freddy Zeidaies; the Venezuelan truck Patacon Pisao, based out of Inwood; traditional Mexican truck El Rey de Sabor in midtown; and last year's Rookie Vendor winner, Oleg Voss of Schnitzels and Things. The winner of the coveted "Vendy Cup" will be decided by a panel of judges evaluating flavor, portability and personality. more ›

The Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center surveyed folks in Union Square and Central Park on Monday, and they report back that 94 of 100 wanted artists to stay. Artists are, of course, staying—but under the new proposed regulations they would be cut down significantly in certain city parks. They compiled this video, where locals praise the art community in city parks, and wonder how anyone could possibly find it difficult to navigate around the vendors that are set up there. more ›

Sure, all the fancy brick-and-mortar restaurants in the city will be posting letter grades from the DOH, but what about this roasted pig? City Council member Dan Garodnick has introduced legislation that would make street vendors publicly display letter grades so consumers know just how clean that hot dog is, whether they want to or not. On his website, Garodnick says, "Whether it’s a falafel, a taco — or even a hot dog — consumers deserve to know that the food that they are eating has been prepared and handled properly, no matter where they buy it." more ›

On January 1st a little-noticed Health Department rule will take effect, prohibiting street vendors from selling any seafood products. This is going to put a dent in the business of such vendors as the Schnitzel Truck, the Endless Summer Mexican truck, and the NYC Cravings Truck, to name a few. The Health Department's new code [pdf] declares that "no fish, shellfish, or any food consisting of or made with an aquatic animal...shall be prepared, stored, held for service or sold from a mobile food vending unit." Blogger Midtown Lunch, which spotted the change today, is not taking this well: more ›

Under the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge yesterday afternoon, five vendors of New York City street food gathered for the 4th annual Vendy Awards, the Oscars/Golden Globes/MTV Music Award/Olympics of street food. In contention for this year's award were Fauzia's Delights from The Bronx, the Biriyani Cart from Manhattan, Kwik Meal from Manhattan, Soler Dominican from Brooklyn, and Calexico Carne Asada from Manhattan. And for the first time at the Vendys, a people's choice award for best dessert vendor was up for grabs. Contenders in that group included the Treats Truck, the Dessert Truck, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, and Wafels and Dinges, which was a no-show. more ›

The Vendy committee just announced an additional category for this year's awards: Best Dessert Vendor. Unlike the Vendy Cup winner, which is chosen by a panel of judges, this special award will be a people's choice award, with attendees of the October 18th fundraiser at the Tobacco Warehouse making the ultimate decision for the sweetest truck around. The usual suspects make up the list of contenders: The Treats Truck (Kim Ima), Dessert Truck (Jerome Chang/Chris Chen), Van Leeuwen Ice Cream (Ben Van Leeuwen, pictured) and Wafels and Dinges (Thomas DeGeest). Tickets to the Vendy Awards are $80 and are available online. Proceeds benefit the Urban Justice Center Street Vendor Project. more ›

The eaters have spoken! This year's Vendy Award finalists, culled from the public's nominations for best New York City street food vendor, were announced yesterday. The big news this year is that the Bronx is finally making its first showing, while the decidedly non-Mexican guys who run the Southern Californian Mexican cart Calexico will get another shot at the title. Get to know your nominees in this sweet video, which also features passionate testimonials from their devoted customers. more ›

It's time again for the battle of the street carts -- this year's Vendy Awards are scheduled for October 18th from 3 - 7 p.m. at the Tobacco Warehouse in Dumbo. Tickets are now on sale for $80, with proceeds benefitting the Urban Justice Center's Street Vendor Project, a nonprofit protecting the rights of vendors throughout the city. Nominate your favorite vendor today. Who knows, maybe he or she will become one of the finalists and be propelled into Vendy fame along with the likes of the Hallo Berlin cart, Sammy's Halal, and the Dosa Man. more ›