Nosh on Colombia arepas, curry fish balls from Guangzhou, and Afghani mantu while enjoying the prettiest views of Manhattan from Governors Island, right in the middle of New York Harbor.
Awards season is here again, but hungry New Yorkers aren’t interested in the Emmys, the Oscars, or even the Tonys. This weekend, the crowds will be boarding the ferry and heading to Governors Island and the 14th annual Vendys, a street food competition for the best vendors in New York City.
Twenty-five food carts, all nominated by the public, will cook off for awards across 5 categories—Best Breakfast, Best Dessert, Best Market, Best Rookie, and the prized Vendy Cup. Winners are chosen by a panel of judges and attendees.
Food from Burma, Columbia, Bangladesh, Mexico, Turkey, and beyond are represented this year. The Vendy’s is the Olympics of food cart competition, so choosing a favorite is tough. For $100, general admission tickets get you unlimited sampling from all 25 vendors, plus unlimited beer from Brooklyn Brewery and wine from Santa Cristina Wines.
The Vendys is certainly a celebration of the city’s fabulously diverse street food culture, but it’s also a fundraiser that benefits the Street Vendor Project of the Urban Justice Center, a non-profit that provides legal services and training for thousands of street vendors throughout the five boroughs. That means that tickets are a tax-deductible donation, so what are you waiting for?