This year’s Philly Vendy winners field were:
Vendy Cup Winner – The Smoke Truck which features traditional Southern barbecue and soul food, owned by Mark Coates (chef) and Chris Martino.
People’s Choice Winner – Vernalicious, whose owners Verna Swerdlow and David Jurkofsky prepare eclectic comfort foods such as pulled pork grilled cheese and banh mi.
Best Dessert Winner – Lil’ Pop Shop had popsicles featuring the best local produce and dairy from the Philadelphia area in unique flavor combinations such as Cantaloupe Rose, Goat Cheese with Black Raspberries and Honey, Chocolate with Salted Caramel Brownie.
The rest of the Vendy finalists were:
The Foo Truck, whose specialty is Asian street food such as pork belly, braised meatballs, and lemongrass chicken (no relation to Susanna Foo).
Delicias, run by two Venezuela-born arepa and empanada specialists on the 3400 block of Market Street.
Yumtown, a seasonal operation – normally found at Temple University – whose locavore approach might be dubbed “farm to steering wheel.” Among the selections are meat loaf sandwiches, soups, and empanadas.
Tacos Don Memo, a Penn campus veteran whose fish tacos draw lines stretching down 38th Street.
Lil Dan’s Gourmet, an Italian-inspired truck – mostly sandwiches – that shifts between Drexel’s campus and LOVE Park.
Little Baby’s Ice Cream, the upstart dessertery that will open a Fishtown storefront in August.
Congratulations to everyone who participated, as well as to the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, who produced the event.
If you didn’t get a chance to go, here another opportunity. The winners of both the 2011 and 2012 Philadelphia Vendy Awards will roll into Eakins Oval on Thursday, Aug. 2 for the Winners’ Oval Event. Besides Saturday’s winners, the 2011 Vendy Award winners – Sweet Box, GiGi & Big R’s and Cucina Zapata – will sell food from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is free and food is pay as you go.
