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)
February 24, 2006
NY Dosas - All-Vegan Cuisine
Vendy Award Finalist 2005Location: Washington Square South and Sullivan St.
Vendor's Name: Thiru Kumar
Hours: 11:00am - 5:00pm
Days: Weekdays
Dishes: Dosas, Samosas, Roti, Veggie drumsticks, and more
Prices: $4-$5 for Dosas, $1-$2 for appetizers
Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike line up on the south side of Washington Square park during the lunch hour to get a taste of the all-vegan cuisine at this Indian food cart. The dosas which give the pushcart its name -- thin lentil pancakes rolled and stuffed with a variety of fillings -- are cooked to order until deliciously crisp, and served up with coconut chutney and a small dup of dhal, a savory lentil soup, at a cost of 4 or 5 dollars. But the menu doesn't stop there, offering a number of other indian specialties: samosas, spring rolls, lentil doughnuts, and more. For my money, though, the real delicacy isn't even listed at all: ask the vendor for the "veggie drumstick," and for one dollar a piece, he will give you a delicately flavored morsel of home-made soy protein, wrapped around one end of a small stick of sugar cane in imitation of a chicken drumstick. Fried in a wok until crunchy and golden and served with a translucent red hot sauce, this is what keeps me coming back.
Hours are 11 A.M. through 5 P.M. (unless he sells out earlier). Between noon and 1 P.M., the line gets long, so be prepared to wait (unless you only want appetizers, in which case just pull up to the window instead of waiting in line), or, alternately, phone in your order in advance @ 917-710-2092.
Posted by Sam on Feb 24, 2006 | Permalink | Comments & User reviews (1)