"food vendors" news and stories

Street vendors in New York do a lot more than sell falafel and knishes. They're heroes -- from uncomommon acts such as spotting a car bomber in Times Square, to everyday gestures of kindness such as helping an elderly person cross the street. So the Vendy Awards, the annual prizes given to Big Apple vendors, is getting a new "Most Heroic Vendor" category, reports the New York Daily News.

The award, says the Vendys website, was inspired by Tunisian fruit vendor Mohammed Bouazizi, whose dramatic act of protest against the Tunisian officials that confiscated his produce and harassed him set the stage for the Tunisian Revolution. (On December 17, 2010, Bouazizi set himself on fire, leading to protests that shook the Tunisian government.)

While the Vendy Award winner is chosen by judges, the heroes among us are chosen by the people themselves.

Want to nominate a New York City street-vendor hero? Cast your vote here.

SoCal Burger. Photo: Yogma/Flickr

• In search of the best burger, the Times talks to a slew of gourmet chefs about the recipe for patty perfection.
• The Jets and the Sharks aren't the only ones busy with turf wars -- old-school food vendors are battling a growing onslaught of gourmet street fare on the streets of New York. To top that off, six have been arrested on permit-fraud charges.
  
• Move over foie gras -- seal meat, served in Montreal, is the food world's latest faux pas.
• Restaurants in France breathe a sigh of relief as the meal tax falls from a whopping 19.6 percent to the more reasonable 5.5 percent.
• Beans and rice, as seen through the eyes of Joe Quintana, executive chef at Rosa Mexicano.
• "Twelfth Night" fans rejoice: Central Park's Delacorte Theater now offers a whole realm of food beyond the usual pretzels and hot dogs.
• The Minimalist makes some flavored oils.