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April 26, 2006
56th St @ 7th Ave - John
Vendy Award Nominee 2005Location: 56th Street at 7th Avenue, NE corner
Vendor's Name: John
Hours: Lunch (about 11:00-5:00)
Days: 5/week?
Dishes: Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Steak, both as either sandwich/platter, sausage, hot dog, burgers
Price: steak $5 sandwiches, $6 platters
This guy impresses the hell out of me. He plies his trade around the corner from Carnegie Hall, and as far as I'm concerned he is talented enought to be on stage.
His cuts of meat are unseasoned when he pulls them out of his big white cooler, and wonderfully fresh. He throws them on the griddle for a minute, then on the charcoal grill, then puts them back on the griddle to chop them up for you.
It is such a dead-simple meal he doesn't even put salt on it unless you ask for it (so ask for it). The chicken breast, so easy to overcook, is perfect and moist.
And then he pulls out the rib steak! Yeah you heard me right - rib steak. "I can only cook what I like to eat," he says modestly. (He's so modest, in fact, he demures when I ask to take a picture, saying "I'm not ready").
Tender, fresh, mild, perfect. I'd skip the sandwiches and go straight for the platters, because the star here is the meat, and the bread somewhat overshadows. With yellow rice and a nicely dressed tomato-and-lettuce salad, the platters are ideal - and don't you dare ruin your steak by getting BBQ sauce!
Posted by Sam on Apr 26, 2006 | Permalink | Comments & User reviews (0)
April 13, 2006
MUDtruck - Jolly Orange Giant
Location: Astor Place (4th Avenue at 8th Street)
Hours: 9am-3pm
Days: 7/week
Dishes: Coffee, Tea, Pastries
The friendly orange truck parked near the Astor Place Uptown 6 Station is a familiar sight to East Villagers, and a pleasing alternative to the well-known corporate behemoth, which has occupied strongholds within eyeshot to both the east and the west. The coffee is better, the prices are better, the music is better, and you don't need to learn a new language to place an order (the sizes, refreshingly, are "small" and "large"). So if you find yourself undercaffinated in Astor Place, do yourself a favor -- drink orange!
Posted by Sam on Apr 13, 2006 | Permalink | Comments & User reviews (1)
April 04, 2006
6th Ave @ 14th Street - Maria
Location: 6th Avenue at 14th Street, SE corner
Vendor's Name: Maria
Days: 7?
Hours: 11am-5:30pm
Dishes: Shish Kebab, Kebab Sandwiches, Hot Dogs, Sausages, Pretzels, Knishes
Maria is a titan in the food-cart buisiness. Long-time owner of a commissary in Chelsea (which I learn she has, sadly, lost the lease to recently), she has also recieved numerous newspaper write-ups, which she proudly displays plastered to the side of her cart. She can often be found working alongside her son, who she brings along to do some of the heavy lifting her advanced years preclude. But this veteran troops on -- I'd be surprised if she ever stops.
Shish kebabs are the order of the day here, and she does 'em as perfect as I've ever tasted. So if you're in the area, pick one up -- for my $2.50, there's no better snack.
Posted by Sam on Apr 4, 2006 | Permalink | Comments & User reviews (0)