Midtown Lunch

The finalists for the 2012 Vendy Awards were announced this morning, and it includes a couple of vendors we’re all familiar with.  As expected Uncle Gussy’s scored their first Vendy Award nomination this year, along with Cinnamon Snail (did you try their fig pancakes this morning?)  Rounding out the list are Piaztlan Authentic Mexican Food (from the Red Hook Ball Fields), Hamza & Madina Halal Food (from Hillside Ave in Queens), Xin Xiang Prosperity Kebabs (from Forsyth St & Division St), and Tortas Nezas (from near Citifield in Queens).

But wait there’s more. Want to go to the Vendys w/ me, Brian Hoffman, Blondie & Brownie? Find out how, after the jump…

The Vendy Awards have just announced a new “Early Entry VIP package” which goes on sale today. Not only do you get in to the event one hour before the crowds, but VIPs will also get to hang out with Food & Wine Restaurant Editor (and Vendy judge) Kate Krader, Ed Levine from Serious Eats, and me! There will also be street food mini tours by Turnstile Tours (led by our very own Brian H.), and Siobhan and Alex (aka Blondie and Brownie) will be demo’ing a slushie cocktail with Kelvin Slush that will appear in their upcoming book New York a la Cart: Recipes and Stories from the Big Apple’s Best Food Trucks (Running Press, Spring 2013). If you want to meet the vendors, and eat their food before anybody else, this is the way to do it. Tickets are $145, and all proceeds go to benefit the Street Vendor Project, but there are a very limited number of these so you may want to get on that ASAP. Already bought your tickets? No worries… there’s an “Upgrade” option for just $50 to score the VIP passes.

Buy your tickets, read all about the finalists, and see the first two videos for Cinnamon Snail and Piaztlan Authentic Mexican Food on the Vendy Awards Website.