Midtown Lunch

With the temperature starting to dip down, it’s not surprising to see places rolling out the hot soups and warm specials for the winter.  Food trucks especially seem to be taking the lead… for example, Rickshaw Dumpling Truck just introduced Miso Soup to the menu.  You can get it alone for $3, or added to an order of dumplings as a the perfect side dish. 

In sweeter news, hot chocolate has returned to the Dessert Truck as a winter special, and the Treats Truck says they plan on adding their own hot chocolate very soon. Rickshaw & the Treats Truck are in Midtown today on 45th btw. 6+7th, and the Dessert Truck is in their normal spot on Park Ave. and 52nd.

But wait there’s more… chicken noodle soup (and homemade fudge) is after the jump.

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5 vendors battled it out at the Fourth Annual Vendy Awards on Saturday night, and for the second year in a row, a Midtown cart was the crowd favorite, but failed to take home the Vendy Cup. Last year it was Kwik Meal… this year the Biryani Cart. Despite putting forward an amazing effort, and getting the most votes from the largest Vendy Award crowd ever, the Biryani Cart lost to the Soho based Calexico Cart- who were awarded the Vendy Cup by the tastebud-less distinguished judges. Kwik Meal was the judges’ pick for runner up.

I don’t want to say Meru and the Biryani Cart were robbed… but I kind of think the people’s choice award says it all. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Calexico Cart- and if they ever decide to move their burrito cart from 25th & Park into Midtown proper, I will be the first one in line for one of their awesome carne asada burritos. But man did I want the Biryani Cart to take the whole thing… and based on the plate of food they served- they really should have.

Food porn, dessert award and more, after the jump…  Read more »

This years Vendy Awards is shaping up to be the best ever.  For the first time ever, a second category has been added: dessert!  This morning, the four nominees were announced for best dessert truck, and 3 of the 4 finalists are Midtown Lunch favorites.  The Treats Truck, The Dessert Truck, and Wafels and Dinges all made the cut, with the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Truck being the only choice that doesn’t spend at least one day parked in Midtown (what gives man?!?  Can’t we get a hipster ice cream day up in this piece?)  The award for best dessert will be voted on by the people rather than the judges, and the new additions mean that now an $80 ticket will get you food from 9 different vendors.  Like I said… best… vendys… ever.  If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, you may want to get on this now since the event has sold out every year.  Plus, all the money goes to benefit the Street Vendor Project, so you can feel good about yourself while chowing down food from nine (that’s right, nine) different carts!

Related:
2008 Vendy Nominees Announced and Midtown Gets 2

Photo by nycblondieandbrownie

As you knew from our post on Tuesday, Wednesday was a big day on 45th btw. 6+7th. The newly launched Rickshaw Dumpling Truck and the Treats Truck were parked next to each other in what Eater dubbed “Food Truck Row.”  There was even a halal cart and ice cream truck thrown in for good measure.  But don’t get too excited for a repeat.  While The Treats Truck is planning on being back in the spot today from 12:30 to 2:30 (they alternate with the Waffles and Dinges Truck), the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck is parking Downtown (on Pearl St. right next to the plaza for all of our Downtown Lunch readers.)

No word on whether they will try parking together again next Wednesday, but it isn’t completely smooth sailing.  The same ice cream truck guy that hassled Kim in the Treats Truck when she first started parking on the block, is now hassling Kenny in the Dumpling Truck.  Hopefully with the weather getting cold, the ice cream trucks will be leaving soon anyway…

Back in June we mentioned how long the line for the Treats Truck had become on Wednesdays– the one day a week it’s parked on 45th btw. 6+7th. The owner Kim herself has told me it’s her most popular spot, which may lead one to wonder- “Why don’t you park there more often?”  The people want it.  It would be good for business.  What’s stopping her?  Two words.  Mister.  Softee.  Last spring, when the weather started to warm up, and the Mister Softee truck returned to its regular spot on 45th & 6th, a “conversation” ensued.  Kim was told she couldn’t park on that block, but a “deal” was struck between the two vendors allowing the Treats Truck to park on 45th and 6th one day a week.

And that’s the way things were… until the Wafels and Dinges Truck arrived.   Read more »

This just into the Midtown Lunch Inbox: The “imposter waffle truck” is parked on “Lexington between 58th and 59th” right now “handing out bite sized free samples.”  This is the truck that will eventually be serving pomme frites (they don’t have them today) and different from the Wafels and Dinges Truck, which was planning on parking at 51st & Park today, but was forced to move to 23rd St. & 5th Ave. because there is a movie being filmed on Park Ave.  The Dessert Truck lucked out and got their normal space near Park & 52nd St.  The Treats Truck is closed this week, so conecakes fans are SOL.