"governors island" news and stories

New York City has hundreds of street food carts and trucks, but only five were selected Monday as finalists for the sixth annual Vendy Awards, which will take place September 25th on Governors Island. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Street Vendor Project of the Urban Justice League, a non-profit that provides vendors with legal representation and advocacy. One tax deductible $85 ticket buys you all-you-can-eat access to food from each of the finalists' carts and the opportunity to vote for the People's Choice Award, the Dessert Vendor of the Year and the Rookie Vendor of the Year. But the finalists, competing for nothing more than the heralded Vendy Cup and a chance at increased post-event success, are the real draw.

After the jump, vitals on each finalist so you can start scouting the competition ...

In considering a flagship event for what's now the second year of New York City's "July Good Beer Month," -- designing something called "Meatopia" isn't a bad choice to highlight your budding program. Such is the case organizers Jimmy Carbone of New York's Jimmy's No. 43, Time food writer, Josh Ozersky and master pit master Robbie Richter of Brooklyn's Fatty 'Cue who organized and hosted the inaugural Meatopia on Governor's Island (on the southern tip of Manhattan) this past Sunday, July 11. Thousands of meat and beer fans ferried over to the historic island, where they sampled over 30 chef's dishes and indeed drank good beers -- local brewery Six Points Craft Ales even brewed up a special smoked pale ale called "Signal," in addition to having their signature beers "Sweet Action" and "Righteous Rye" on tap.

Although Meatopia was billed as a BBQ festival -- one that in years to come could rival June's Big Apple BBQ Festival -- there were plenty chefs on hand experimenting with items outside the pulled-meat-in-sauce standards. For example, the folks from Bobo were serving up a grilled bacon sandwich topped with pickled green tomatoes, Napa cabbage, and fat baby mayo.

More after the jump...