Staten Island residents have complained that the growing number of halal food trucks that are setting up shop in front of parking lots are making traffic worse in those areas, Feb. 25, 2013.

STATEN ISLAND — An influx of food carts on Staten Island is clogging the borough’s already congested streets, motorists said.

Dozens of food trucks have appeared on street corners and in parking lots, locals said. The problem is particularly bad at large mini malls with many restaurants — favored spots for vendors vying for customers.

Drivers said pulling in and out of the lots has become harder, exacerbated by cars double-parked as drivers wait for food.

“They sprouted up all over Staten Island,” said Tony Cosentino, a member of Community Board 1, about the carts.

“They create problems in all the parking lots. They kind of exacerbate the situation.”

There are currently 36 food truck permits issued for the borough, more than double the 14 that were approved in 2011, according to the Health Department.

Ken Tirado, a board member, said the corner of Victory Boulevard and Clove Road — an intersection that’s already notorious for bad traffic — has gotten even worse. A halal vendor who recently set up shop nearby places cones in the street in front of his cart, Tirado said.

“That is an example of one of these street vendors totally hurting traffic flow and causing big problems,” he said.

Residents said the food trucks can make it harder for them to see when pulling out of parking lots on Staten Island, Feb. 25, 2013

The cart was not there last week, and owners and workers at other food trucks refused to comment to DNAinfo.com New York.

Tirado said he and the other board members aren’t against the trucks because of the food they make, but would rather see them only at fairs or in parks.

“It is true that a lot of the legitimate food trucks, the ones that present a unique ethnic food, are welcome to a lot of fairs,” he said.

“But these street vendors are just sort of setting up shop, taking metered parking spaces away from other businesses.”

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130226/st-george-port-richmond/food-truck-influx-adds-staten-islands-traffic-woes-drivers-say

“I enjoy it. You talk to people. You don’™t have a boss over your head — that’s a big plus. I like working, being on the street, and just enjoying people,” says Mike Zocchi of his hot dog truck business.
Staten Island Advance/Mark Stein

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. –Mike Zocchi’s hot dog truck is open for business, and despite the fact that beach and baseball season has come and gone, Zocchi has no intention of closing.

A month ago, the Huguenot resident laid claim to Huguenot Avenue, near Arthur Kill Road, as his business location, a site where he’s served up hot dogs, chili dogs, coffee, soft drinks and soup to folks passing through the neighborhood.

“There’s a lot of traffic up and down Huguenot (Avenue),” said Zocchi. “A lot of people travel to work, to (the West Shore Expressway). I’m getting a lot of regulars now and people from the neighborhood, which is nice.”

Zocchi works out of a white truck he calls The Dog House. During his shift, which usually begins at 9 a.m. and ends around 3 p.m., the South Shore resident listens to 1010 WINS or WCBS-FM 101.1.

Although some food trucks disappear during the winter, Zocchi plans on sticking it out through the cold season. He’ll be serving up breakfast and lunch, including his homemade chicken soup, throughout the winter months. Meanwhile, he’s building his reputation for the summer.

“We’ll see what happens. If it builds up, I made get a grill on board for eggs and that stuff,” he said.

Zocchi initially set up shop in Brooklyn, but traffic and difficulty maneuvering the truck made him decide to work closer to home.

“I might as well try it out in my own neighborhood and see how I make out,” he said. “I like seeing the customers enjoying themselves with the food. Hot dogs, you can never beat them. Especially Sabrett.”

He previously managed a restaurant at the Salisbury Hotel in Manhattan. But Zocchi always wanted to own a restaurant. He figures this is the closest he’ll get to operating his own establishment.

Some time ago, he saw a white truck for sale online and figured it was his chance to give it a go.

“I enjoy it. You talk to people. You don’t have a boss over your head – that’s a big plus. I like working, being on the street, and just enjoying people,” he said.

Zocchi’s truck can also be booked for events. For more information, call, 347-977-6351.

http://www.silive.com/southshore/index.ssf/2013/01/new_food_truck_in_huguenot.html

The relief efforts continue to come in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, but one Rhode Island man is answering the call for help with his food truck.

Tony Hall stocked up his kitchen with donations at Restaurant Depot in Cranston before heading to Staten Island. Many are still without power there after Hurricane Sandy, so Hall is bringing the restaurant to them.

However, once he arrives, he will not be the only cook on his food truck.

“One of our goals is to allow families to come in and actually cook a meal for their family,” Hall said. “Cook it the way they would like it.”

They are small comforts like letting people season their own food that Hall hopes will make a big difference.

“We have an 8 foot long counter so you could have two or three people cooking meals at the same time.”

The set up comes from experience. The windows of his truck are plastered with newspaper clippings about him cooking for the victims of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

A new disaster brings a new wish list of donations he needs before he takes off including propane tanks and non-perishables. Strangers dropped of items by the bag and by the truck Thursday. Together they add up to one man’s recipe for relief.

“For a long time I’ve asked myself why I do this,” Hall said. “And I think it is seeing how happy people are when I get there. That makes me happy.”

Hall left for Staten Island Thursday night, but if you would still like to help you can contact him directly at 401-406-1683.

http://www.abc6.com/story/20046669/ri-man-uses-food-truck-for-sandy-relief

]]> http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2012/11/staten-island-nyc-ri-man-uses-food-truck-for-sandy-relief/feed/ 0 http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2012/09/meet-the-2012-vendy-awards-finalists-the-best-of-nyc-street-food-video/ http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2012/09/meet-the-2012-vendy-awards-finalists-the-best-of-nyc-street-food-video/#comments Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:46:39 +0000 MobileFoodNews.com http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=28530 By Liza de Guia of FoodCurated.com | Huffington Post

Founder and Chief Storyteller, food. curated., www.foodcurated.com

What are the secrets behind the top street food vendors in New York City? Come find out!

From tasty homemade white sauces, to spicy meat marinades, to handpicked oregano straight from the hillsides of Greece, food. curated. takes you through a tour of each vendor’s personal stories to find out what makes them one of the best food trucks in the city.

Look out for the “Torta Puma”, a 10+layered torta sandwich that only few have managed to finish alone. Or the $1 Xin Jiang spiced lamb kebabs grilled to perfection under the busy Manhattan Bridge in Chinatown. These are the street food elite, the 2012 NYC Vendy Awards Finalists: six food vendors cooking up special plates unlike any other in the 5 boroughs.

1. The Cinnamon Snail Vegan Organic Food Truck
Schedule: Always on the move, for latest Manhattan coordinates, visit: @VeganLunchTruck

2. Piaztlan Authentic Mexican Food Truck
Schedule: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 8pm, May-October at the Red Hook Ballfields, Brooklyn @PiaztlanBK

3. Uncle Gussy’s Traditional Greek Cuisine
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 11am -3pm at 51st St and Park Ave, Midtown, Manhattan @UncleGussys

4. Tortas Neza
Schedule: Daily from 1pm-1am at 111th Street and Roosevelt, a few blocks away from Citifield, Queens

5. Hamza & Madina Halal Food
Schedule: Everyday, 10am – 4am at 254-05 Hillside Ave, Glen Oaks, NY

6. Xin Jiang Prosperity Kebabs
Schedule: Monday-Sunday 10:30am-8:30pm at the corner of Forsyth St & Division St, Chinatown

Thanks for watching food. curated.! Congrats to all the finalists! I would love to hear all your comments and thoughts on the videos. Be sure to get your tickets to the big NYC Vendy Awards Event on September 15th.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/liza-de-guia/meet-the-2012-vendy-award_b_1854025.html

Food trucks are not a new craze, yet they’re still one of the most popular ways to eat in New York City.

And as the craze grows, with more people opting to eat from trucks rather than traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants, the food trucks improve, offering high-quality gourmet concoctions that you can’t find anywhere else.

But with so many trucks traversing New York City’s streets, how do you know which ones are actually good?

The editors at Zagat recently came out with their list of New York’s 8 Best Food Trucks to help guide us. There are a few unconventional ice cream trucks, a Korean taco truck and a roving waffle mobile..

#8 Kelvin Natural

Facebook/Kelvin Slush

Location: @kelvinslushKelvin makes addictive slush drinks, like ginger slush with blueberries and citrus slush with fresh mint, which are perfect for cooling you down on a hot summer day.

#7 Yvonne’s Jamaican

Zagat

Location: 71st and York Ave.Parked on the Upper East Side, Yvonne’s Jamaican serves up a changing roster of traditional Jamaican and Caribbean food, like jerk chicken, curried goat or oxtail stew. There’s often a line, but it’s worth waiting for.

#6 Wafels & Dinges

Facebook/Wafelsanddinges

Location: @waffletruckThis fleet of roving waffle-making trucks offers a taste of Belgium, with their authentic and delicious pressed waffles, which can be topped with a variety of sweet and savory “dinges” (toppings).

#5 Korilla Food Truck

Flickr/dpstylesâ„¢

Location: @korillabbqThis cool Korean BBQ truck serves tasty grilled meats and veggies with sticky rice. They also make Korean tacos topped with items like spicy kimchi.

#4 Big Gay Ice Cream Truck

Facebook/Big Gay Ice Cream

Location: @biggayicecreamThe Big Gay Ice Cream Truck is a fabulous, dressed-up ice cream truck that serves traditional soft serve flavors (vanilla, chocolate) with “flamboyant” toppings (curry coconut, cayenne pepper).

They also have creative and entertaining names for their ice cream concoctions, like “Salty Pimp,” “Bea Arthur” and “The Mermaid.”

#3 Taïm Mobile

Facebook/The Taim Mobile

Location: @taimmobile This mobile vegetarian Israeli food vendor serves arguably the best falafel in the city: it’s fried, crispy and incredibly flavorful. Pair that falafel sandwich with saffron aïoli fries, one of their fresh salads or a smoothie.

Be prepared to wait.

#2 Coolhaus

Twitter/@CoolhausNY

Location: @coolhausNYThis L.A. import serves incredible freshly-made ice cream sandwiches made from quality ingredients like artisanal ice cream sandwiched between locally-made cookies.

#1 Luke’s Lobster Truck (Nauti)

Facebook/Lukes Lobster

Location: @lukeslobsternyNauti, Luke’s Lobster’s food truck, serves meaty and satisfying Maine lobster rolls. It’s a bit pricier than other food trucks (it is lobster, after all), but it’s still worth chasing after.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-8-best-food-trucks-in-new-york-city-2012-8?op=1#ixzz25Nf9ozK5

 By Tracey Samuelson | WNBC.org

Food trucks at their new space in a vacant lot at Canal and Varick Streets. (Amy Eddings/WNYC)

If New York City used a bidding system to issue food truck permits — much like it does for taxi medallions or park concessions — the city could add $37 million to its coffers.

Enough for you?

You probably heard that on Wednesday, New York City announced that it would enact a ban on the sale of huge sodas (and some other sugar-heavy drinks) at some public places, namely movie theatres, restaurants, and street vending carts.The Center for Science in the Public Interest applauds the move.

The outcry has been deafening. You can read some of the “comments” appended to the New York Times story here. And as you can imagine, the sugary drinks industry is complaining.

Until recently, I personally have guzzled hundreds of gallons of caffeine-laden colas, some with sugar and some with equally perilous artificial sweeteners, so I think I can offer a somewhat balanced view. Let’s look at three facts:

• The obesity epidemic is dangerous to the health of individuals and to the future of our nation’s health care system. (we spend $14 billion a YEAR on obesity-related diseases such as diabetes).
• Sugary drinks have empty calories.
• People often don’t do what’s in their own best interest.

It’s the last one that starts the heated discussions. On a radio talk show Wednesday, I heard nutrition expert Liz Applegate criticize the move, saying that it’s a question of personal responsibility. Well, she has an impressive resume, but the “personal responsibility” line is exactly what all the makers of dangerous things (cigarettes, guns, pink slime burgers) say when threatened by attempts to curb their freedom to sell their products.

Two years ago, San Francisco banned the sale of sugary sodas in vending machines on city property. Somehow, the sky did not fall.

As a psychologist specializing in eating disorders for 25 years, I saw first-hand how people struggle to make good on their intentions to be healthy. And that doesn’t even count the people who aren’t even trying to eat healthily. As an academic who has published journal articles on obesity and read the research, I’m alarmed by the danger to our country.

What do you think? Obesity costs YOU in the form of your health insurance premiums, even if you aren’t overweight or obese. Should this ban proceed?

http://www.examiner.com/article/mega-soda-ban-new-york

]]> http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2012/06/mega-soda-ban-in-new-york/feed/ 0 http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2012/01/license-caps-send-nyc-food-vendors-to-black-market-public-parks-private-property/ http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2012/01/license-caps-send-nyc-food-vendors-to-black-market-public-parks-private-property/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:19:15 +0000 MobileFoodNews.com http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=24297 by Jan Fletcher | Intuit Go Payment Blog

David Weber (pictured), president of the New York City Food Truck Association

Mobile vending permits are hot commodities in New York City: Due to an estimated 15-year wait time for legit applicants, a two-year, $200 permit can fetch more than $20,000 on the black market, The Wall Street Journal reports.

According to city officials, municipal laws cap the number of food carts and trucks allowed to operate. Citywide vending permits (the most coveted category) are capped at 2,800, and 200 more are borough-specific (50 per borough, Manhattan excluded). People with disabilities and veterans have access to an additional 100 permits allotted to both of those groups. Seasonal operators and those who operate “green” (produce) carts compete for a separate allotment of another 1,000 permits for each group. All together, these total 5,100 permits. 

David Weber (pictured), president of the New York City Food Truck Association and author of the upcoming book The Food Truck Handbook: Start, Grow and Succeed in the Mobile Food Business, says he is seeking legal alternatives to costly, illegal license transfers, such as park concessions and sales on private property.

The city’s parks intermittently issue requests for proposals to operate park concessions, and there’s no waiting list for these restricted area permits. Weber recommends new vendors go this route, which provides “a great way to get into mobile vending in a very high traffic location.” The strategy gives new vendors better odds at obtaining legal permits and benefits park patrons through enhanced amenities, he explains.

Weber says his association, whose 28 members collectively operate 45 trucks, also aims to establish “food truck courts” on privately owned parking lots. Members would share any rental costs. “We’re trying to find specific locations that can accommodate a couple of trucks at a time and create little hubs for food trucks to vend safely,” he says. “You could find your own parking lot and put your truck on that parking lot every single day of the week.”

The regulatory scheme in New York City, as it pertains to vending, allows vendors to move to different places throughout the week, Weber adds. “We think that’s a great opportunity to learn more about your customers and get your brands exposed to the most people possible. So, we’re trying to create a system that sort of mimics that.”

The synergistic effect of parking multiple trucks in one place would also boost business, he says. “It’s safe and stable. Street parking is quite hard in New York City, and it’s even harder when you’ve got a big truck — and a bunch of vending rules to contend with — to find a spot that’s legal.”

Due to the impact of licensing restrictions on vendors, leaders of Occupy Wall Street have teamed up with the Street Vendor Project to advocate for New York City’s mobile vendors. The project’s leaders commissioned a study which concluded that the city’s street vendors face a “regulatory landscape [that] continues to be heavily restricted and difficult to navigate.”

http://blog.gopayment.com/mobile/license-caps-send-nyc-food-vendors-to-black-market-public-parks-private-property/

The food truck trend is no quick-fading fad, according to a new report.

Research by the National Restaurant Association found that interest in food trucks is up from a year ago, and the western U.S. remains the epicenter of the trend.

In a recent survey, 59 percent of consumers said they would likely visit a food truck if their favorite restaurant offered one. That’s up from 47 percent a year ago. Almost one in five said they had seen a food truck in their community during the summer months, and 28 percent of people who said they saw a truck bought something.

Hudson Riehle, senior ice president of the research and knowledge group at the association, attributed some of that interest to customer convenience. “Though food trucks are often equated with chefs and entrepreneurs, they also present opportunities for operators of established restaurants to expand their operations and presence,” he said in a news release.

In the survey, consumers in the western U.S. were far more likely to see a food truck roaming around — 29 percent said they had, compared with 24 percent in the Northeast, 15 percent in the South and 9 percent in the Midwest.

Of course, we’re still not likely to see them here in the Inland region. Until recently, Riverside and San Bernardino counties prohibited food trucks serving up fresh food prepared on site. They were reportedly the only two counties in the state where the popular, gourmet food trucks could not ply their trade. Riverside County still prohibits them. San Bernardino County supervisors recently approved loosening restrictions there, but only on a limited basis.

Holiday hiring could edge up slightly over last year, but probably not by much, according to a recent report.

In a survey of company hiring managers, Snagajob.com found that 51 percent of them intended to hire seasonal workers for the end-of-the-year holiday shopping rush. That’s nearly the same as last year, when 50 percent said so.

On the upside, it’s a big improvement from 2008, when only 43 percent of hiring managers intended to add jobs.

Taken together, this year’s respondents will hire, on average, 4.1 workers apiece. That’s up from 3.9 last year and from 3.1 in 2009.

A larger percentage — 25 percent — believed sales would increase this year. Only 18 percent say sales will go down.

“We’re definitely seeing incremental improvements in the holiday, seasonal job market, even if we haven’t yet returned to pre-recessionary levels,” Shawn Boyer, CEO of the hourly job site, said in a news release.

The job site recommended job seekers look to shipping companies for seasonal work, or winter resorts, tax-preparation companies, craft stores or restaurants, among others.

General Growth Properties, the Chicago-based company that owns the Galleria at Tyler in Riverside, is bringing a food-truck cupcake business into one of its New York Malls, and it could be the start of a larger rollout.

Crain’s New York Business reported recently that CupcakeStop, a 2-year-old New Jersey-based truck operation, was invited to open a kiosk inside the Staten Island Mall selling not just cupcakes, but cakes, pies and other baked goods.

According to the report, CupcakeStop’s CEO, Richard Kallman, said he is in discussions with General Growth to duplicate that plan in the mall owner’s other properties.

http://www.pe.com/business/content/tiffanyray/stories/PE_Biz_D_raynotebook23.31ba481.html

photo by Daniel Avila

Celebrate New York’s food truck culture with a weekend-full of tasty festivals

The New York food truck business is absolutely booming nowadays. This is not your great-great grandmother’s Civil War-era chuckwagon or Central Park dirty water hot dog vendor (we love them too, but there’s a time and a place!).

With the warm weather still upon us, you won’t mind waiting in the occasional outdoor line for your next meal. It’s a good thing too, because, beyond the trucks that appear outside your office daily, September is the go-to month for food truck events.

The Staten Island Foodie Truck-athon is being held at the St. George Esplanade this Saturday, September 17th, from 11am-5pm in celebration of the borough’s 350th birthday. Here fourteen of New York’s finest vendors will converge, offering a plethora of snacks and meals from lobster to cupcakes to souvlaki.  Entrance to the festival is free of charge.

If you can’t make it on Saturday, Prospect Park is holding its second-to-last, every-third-Sunday Food Truck Rally from 11am to 5pm on September 18th, and again on Sunday, October 16th. Here you’ll be able to sample fresh, excellent food from sixteen trucks (many of the same from the Truck-athon).  Event organizers will also be raffling off an iPad.

And, of course, you won’t want to miss the 7th Annual Vendy Awards that you may have read about earlier this week.

Food trucks embody the spirit of the American dream, stimulate the economy and keep New Yorkers healthy and affordably well-fed. If you love what you eat this weekend, check out the NYC Food Truck Association’s webpage and sign the petition to keep this invaluable mobile-food culture alive and well.

http://joonbug.com/newyork/firstcourse/Gourmet-On-the-Go/w5fFRMe9F17