New York Street Food

After 11 months of securing permitting, Carlos Muela and his contractors are breaking ground on SoMa Streat Food Park, a triangular lot at 346 11th Street, at Division, in San Francisco.  The triangular lot will have spots for nine trucks, shelter for up to 200 diners, lights, and permanent restrooms.

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We were contacted over the weekend by La Cocina in San Francisco, a non-profit organization dedicated to working with low-income entrepreneurs who are launching, growing and formalizing food businesses.

Last year they launched San Francisco’s Street Food Festival to great success.  This year, in conjunction with the SF Street Food Festival on August 21st, they are hosting the first National Street Food Conference.

La Cocina invited us to be part of the 1st National Street Food Conference.  Unfortunately, we cannot make it, but it looks like a fantastic event.  Click through for more details on the festival and conference.

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Barbarella’s Diary of a Diva in San Diego hits the following food trucks – Spencer on the Go, The Nom Nom Truck, Nana Queen, Grill ‘Em All, Austin Daily Press, Crepes Bonaparte and Bayou Bowls.  It was all for a Food Network taping of a show tentatively entitled Food Trucks. [San Diego Reader]

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There are several upcoming festivals that may be of interest to New York Street Food readers.

In Portland, Willamette Week’s annual food cart festival, Eat Mobile, will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2010 under the Morrison Bridge at SE 3rd and Belmont.  Attendees will be able to sample from 30 food carts all in one place, for the same price it would cost to eat a full meal at one of them -$7.   All event proceeds benefit MercyCorps Northwest’s local economic development program.  In addition to a copious amount of food and beer, vendors will compete for the coveted Carty Award; judges include a panel of food luminaries in town with International Association of Culinary Professionals.  They are also looking for volunteers.  If you’re interested please email promotions@wweek.com.

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Starting next month, Central Park vendors will bring apples and bananas to hot dog and ice cream territory.  Not only will the new fruit carts’ offerings be healthier than normal vendor fare, it will be cheaper.  According the NY Post, they’ll sell “three bananas for just a buck, half-pound boxes of strawberries for $2 and mangoes for $1.50.”

A spokesman says the Parks Department is “trying to vary our food offerings and include healthy and diverse options.” Still, New Yorkers weren’t all enthused. “Bring on more junk food!” said one bagel-hardened skeptic.

The new fruit stands are an extension of the city’s Green Carts campaign, which we previously wrote about here.  Their inventory will come from the Hunts Point Market.

Look for them at three locations: parkside on Fifth Avenue between East 80th and East 81st streets, Fifth Avenue between East 86th and East 87th Streets, and West 110th Street between Lenox Avenue and Central Park West. [Gothamist]

Golden Gate Park will become the home to mobile versions of Blue Bottle Coffee and Annie’s Hot Dogs behind the band shell and Let’s Be Frank will park itself in front of the Conservatory of Flowers.  Annie’s will also sell at Civic Center Plaza and near Spreckels Lake in Golden Gate Park.

Justin Herman Plaza will get Let’s Be Frank, La Colombe Bakery, La Cucina and Onigilly while Blue Bottle will get a second location at Mission Dolores Park, which is not going to be completely closing for renovation after all, possibly.

Rec and Park hopes to generate $145,000 a year in revenue once the vendors are up and running by this summer. It’s a small step to closing a $12.4 million shortfall, but Supervisor and mayoral hopeful Bevan Dufty is still looking to bring non-corporate street food vendors out of the shadows. [NBC Bay Area]