The Vendy Awards have a serious sweet tooth, separating an entire category of the awards section for just desserts. When judges Colin Quinn, John T. Edge and just-announced Peter Hoffman (and more!) take to Governors Island on September 24, they'll be sampling wares from more than a few of fine sugar-slinging vendors. Here's a quick rundown of the competition:
Cupcake Crew: A family of born-and-bred Brooklynites who pump out Lady Marmalade (chocolate cake with orange-infused frosting) and Peace & Love (tie-dyed vanilla with vanilla buttercream frosting)-flavored cupcakes with a dash of Italian pride. "I'm bringing the big guns out," Frankie "Cupcakes" Francollo told the Daily News.
La Bella Torte: an Italian pastry truck whose husband-and-wife team serve cannolis, banana-Nutella cake and rosemary olive oil-blood orange cakes. Owner Joe Glaser quit his 27-year-job as a union plumber to start the truck with his wife AnnMarie.
Wooly's: A flavored shaved ice stand at the Municipal Plaza in the Financial District, run by three cousins inspired by their favorite desserts from Hawaii and Taiwan. "We have stiff competition, but the first time I tried this it blew my mind," said co-owner Danny Che, "so I think we should have a good chance of winning."
Miss Softee: Aka Chrissy Michaels, aka Miss Sexy Softee, who's repurposed an old ice cream truck into her own personal sultry ice cream den. "I work really hard to make sure that everyone has the perfect ice cream cone," she said.
Fany's "La Newyorkina" Paletas: Mexico-born, CIA-trained chef Fany Gerson has been selling paletas—Mexican-style ice pops in flavors like pineapple-jalapeno and mango-chili—on the High Line all summer.
Tickets are on sale now for the Awards, taking place on September 24 on Governors Island. Here's an idea of what to expect from years past.
