New York Street Food

(credit: NYSF)

We received a nice surprise on Sunday when Food Freaks Grilled Cheese tweeted they were going to be in Central Park on Monday & Tuesday for lunch.  Food Freaks were one of our favorite new vendors at the Taste of the Parks event last June, but we haven’t gotten out to their regular spot by Ft. Greene Park in Brooklyn.

Even though it was raining cats & dogs, we caught a lull in the storm and headed over to 5th Ave & 60th St, right by the entrance to Central Park.  The Food Freaks, Stephen Cusato and John Coppola, were grilling up a storm inside their cart.

After asking for their recommendation, we agreed and ordered the Arthur Avenue sandwich for $7.25.  For those of you not familiar with Arthur Avenue, it’s a section of the Bronx known as the “real Little Italy”.

(credit: NYSF)

(more…)

(credit: NYSF)

Last weekend I went out for some street food, and ended up in Union Square.  One vendor that caught my eye was a new food cart called Morocho.  They were parked on the sidewalk on Union Square West between 14-15 St, and the sign said Peruvian Fusion.

I spoke with the chef, Miguel Samanez, who told me this was their first month on the street.  Miguel was born in Brazil to Brazilian and Peruvian parents, but actually grew up in the Midwest from age 9.  Someone must have taught this guy how to cook Peruvian food though, because it was delicious.

As I usually do at a new place, I asked for the chef’s recommendation.  He suggested Aji de Gallina, a chicken, egg and potato dish that cost $7.  The menu looked really interesting and I wanted to try a 2nd item, so he then suggested a lomo saltado taco, which cost $5.

Aji de Gallina (credit: NYSF)

(more…)

(credit: NYSF)

We first ran across the Chinese Mirch truck at the Choice Streets event a few weeks ago.  At that event, trucks only gave out a sample of their food, and we were looking forward to seeing what else they served.  The truck’s slogan is “chinese food. indian flavors”, which sounded promising.

Since I tried their momos at Choice Streets, on this visit I ordered duck sliders (bao), which cost $8 for an order of 3.

(credit: NYSF)

(more…)

(credit: NYSF)

Another new food truck hit the NYC streets recently called the Munchie Mobile.  It’s owned and run by 3 NYU students, one of whom worked on two other food trucks that I’m sure you’ve heard of.

You know the truck is geared for students when there’s Red Bull on the drink menu, but you don’t have to be a college student to enjoy their food.

They have 1/3 lb burgers, half a dozen different grilled cheese sandwiches, 5 types of pancake dishes (all day) and a few other sandwiches that defy categorization – other than they are all great munchies.  We had a Kiss of the Dragon on our 1st visit.

The entire menu looked good, but now it was time to try a burger.  Their lunches  are too large to get more than one item, but luckily I met my brother at the truck, so I got The Magician for $8, he got a Bleu Dream for $7.50, and we split them.

(credit: NYSF)

(more…)

(credit: NYSF)

One of the true pioneers of the NYC food truck scene is Kim Ima and The Treats Truck.  They have been around since 2007, and were given a Best Dessert award at the 2008 Vendy Awards, before the Best Dessert category even existed.

Always evolving, last year Kim came out with the Treats Truck Baking Book, and last weekend, the Treats Truck Stop opened at 521 Court St in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.  We heard there was a toast (with milk and cookies) and a ribbon cutting.  The closest subway stop is the Carroll stop on the F or G.

But this column is about food trucks, and last week I stopped by the Treats Truck to sample a selection of different treats.  I got a Mexican brownie, a raspberry ring and a kitchen sink crispy.

raspberry ring (credit: NYSF)

(more…)