SOLBER PUPUSAS
Owners: Reina Bermudez-Soler & Rafael Soler
Years vending: 12
Locations: Brooklyn Flea, Smorgasburg, Red Hook ball fields, Brooklyn
Born: El Salvador (Reina) & Dominican Republic (Rafael)
Connect: @solberpupusas, www.solberpupusas.com
Food: Pupusas (traditional Salvadoran corn patties) & other Central American and Caribbean specialties.
Tell us something about you or your business:
We were Vendy finalists in 2008. We are proud that we helped bring pupusas to the American mainstream palate. Rafael often jokes that he has been lovingly baptized with a nickname by his patrons: “Mr. Pupusa”
Why do you deserve to win the Vendy Award?
We would like to win the Vendy Cup, but it is more important for us to win over the people who will try a pupusa for the first time. We hope they love it and buy it not just from us, but from other people who depend on it for a living. To us, the pupusa deserves to win the Vendy Cup. We simply serve as ambassadors that deliver it.
The best Central American food you can find — I wait on line each weekend just to eat the sample platter!
EGGSTRAVAGANZA
Owners: Arturo Macedo
Years vending: 15
Connect: @ETRAVAGANZA, http://mycoffeeonparkave.blogspot.com/
Location: 51st Street & Park Avenue
Born: Mexico
Food: Mexican & American style. Specialties include mexican wrap and egg sandwiches
Tell us something about you or your business:
When I was young, I came to America chasing an opportunity. I worked in a restaurant, learned how to cook and was inspired. I had the chance to start my own business, combining my family’s traditional cooking and American cooking, creating unique and delicious flavors–this is the opportunity I came here for. My father is a butcher and makes the delicious chorizo we use especially for us.
Why do you deserve to win the Vendy Award?
I deserve to win because everything didn’t come easy for me. I work hard everyday, wake up early in the morning and prepare food when I come home. No matter rain or snow, hot or cold, I am there at my corner, smiling to everyone. My business supports my family. This is my dream, my soul and my heart. I always say, “the elevator to success is out of service. Please take the stairs step by step!”
They hooked me with their grilled cheese with chorizo and bacon, and kept coming back for more with their unequivocally perfect egg sandwich. Run by the lovely Aurturo, Eggstravaganza is a true gem.
CHIMICHURY EL MALECON
Owners: Manuel Cruz, Celia Dominguez and Monica Cruz
Years in business: 25
Connect:@ChimiElMalecon, www.chimichury.com
Location: West 207th Street and Sherman Avenue
Born: Dominican Republic
Food: Dominican hamburgers called Chimis
Tell us something about you or your business:
We started our business over 25 years ago to bring a familiar food from the Dominican Republic to the growing demand of Dominican immigrants in the Inwood & Washington Heights neighborhood.
Why do you deserve to win the Vendy Award? We have been in the business for over 25 years, and have a had a strong neighborhood following since the beginning. That said, we are proud and excited that New Yorkers from beyond our neighbor have recognized our chimis as some of the most delicious street food in NYC. Winning a Vendy Award would be the ultimate form of recognition
Take it from a born and bred Dominican, these chimis are better than those in the homeland. Not to mention, the sauce is like crack!!
SOUVLAKI GR
Owners: Pavlos Sierros, Abby Sierros & Kostas Plagos
Years in business: 1
Connect: @souvlakitruck, www.souvlakigr.com
Location: Old Slip & Front Streets
Born: New York City, by way of family from Greece (except Abby)
Food: Traditional Greek street food. Specialties include pork pita souvlaki with tyro kefteri (spicy feta & dill) and greek fries
Tell us something about you or your business:
This is our second Vendy Awards appearance. As of today, our truck has been on the road only 401 days. We attribute so much of our immediate success to the legions of foodies, bloggers, twitter followers and loyal customers who have cheered us on and spread the word since day one.
Why do you deserve to win the Vendy Award?
There exists a healthy competition and great mutual respect between all of the street vendors, and we’re proud to be a part of such a group. We admire all them and truly are just happy to be here for the second year in a row.
Souvlaki GR delivers Greek gold better than any food truck or restaurant I have sampled. Where’s the beef? More like where’s the lamb?!
TAMALES GUADALUPE
Owners: Guadalupe Galicia
Years in business: 14
Location: Knickerbocker & DeKalb Avenues, Brooklyn
Born: Mexico
Food: Mexican tamales
Tell us something about you or your business:
I am a single mother of 5, working hard everyday to support my family. I am proud to say that all of my kids are in school and I am giving them opportunities that I never had. The police have harassed me, but I stand strong and will not give up. I have a dream to open up a small restaurant, and with the support of the Vendy Awards and all of you, I know I can do it.
Why do you deserve to win the Vendy Award?:
My tamales are the best. My customers come back week after week, day after day, always telling me that others don’t compare. I make both traditional and Oaxacan tamales in five flavors: rajas, green, red, mole and sweet. My tamales are full of delicious and unique flavors, try them, I’m positive you will agree.
Guadelupe’s tamales remind me of home. A quick, healthful delicious meal served with a smile. Aside from the food, I look forward to the days when her adorable daughters are by her side and greet me with a hug.
TRINI-PAKI BOYS HALAL FOOD
Owner: Fatima Khan
Years in business: 22
Location: 43rd Street & 6th Avenue
Born: Trinidad
Food: Trinidadian/Pakistani. Specialties include curry chicken over rice & biriyanis
Tell us something about you or your business:
I came to New York in 1977 to build a better life for myself. I started off as a babysitter, but I always knew that I wanted to cook. When I met my husband, who is from Pakistan, together we started Trini-Paki Boys—named after my sons. I do all the cooking, and I love it. My husband no longer helps with the business, but my son, Muhammed is at the grill everyday.
Why do you deserve to win the Vendy Award?
I put all of my energy and my heart in my food. My food is good, unique and is made with love. My customers are like family, some of them have been coming to my cart since I began. I grind my own spices, make all my sauces from scratch and I never went to school to learn how to cook, I learned in my mother’s kitchen.
One of the very first carts in NYC to ever serve chicken over rice, this cart is an amazing blend of food from Trinidad and Pakistan. Their “hot sauce” is actually Trinidadian pepper sauce.
SAM’S FALAFEL
Chef/Owner(s): Sam
Years in business: 14 years
Location: Zucotti Park- Cedar St and Broadway, Manhattan
Born: Egypt
Languages: English, Arabic, Hebrew, Dutch & German
Food: Falafel Sandwiches & Platters
Tell us something about you or your business:
I’m from Egypt and in the Middle East falafel is like pizza in the US. When I first tried making in falafel it didn’t come out right, so I asked all of my friends what I needed to do so they were the best. Everyone told me something different– more coriander, more parsley, less onion. After years of experimenting I finally found the right balance– the recipe that i now use at Sam’s Falafel. I came to NYC from Egypt in 1995.
Why do you deserve to win the Vendy Award?
I make everything from scratch with high quality ingredients. In Egypt, I worked as a translator–I speak 5 languages–but when I came to NYC I decided to make falafel. I love what I do, it is hard work, but cooking is my passion, and my customers, my best friends.
Sam’s Falafel is unmatched in deliciousness—his pita sandwiches are stuffed to the brim with everything you could ask for–falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, tomatoes, eggplants, caramelized onions and hot sauce.
