“Every cart or truck will be getting (a) newly designed decal, and when the inspector finishes the inspection, an ‘A’ looks just like the restaurant A,” says Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health Corrine Schiff.
Beginning in December, all of the city’s 5,500 mobile food vendors will be graded on their food safety and will receive a corresponding alphabet score. A tracking device will also be attached to every unit so inspectors can keep track of each business.”
Read more here.
There are few things more closely associated with New York City than the smell of roasted peanuts and the ubiquitous carts selling shwarma, hot dogs, or decidedly-not-cold-brew iced coffee. There are around 20,000 street vendors in NYC, but the city only hands out 5,000 permits a year for a cost of $300 each – meaning many sellers are operating illegally or renting permits at much higher rates. On Tuesday, hundreds of vendors gathered at city hall to protest the cap on permits, originally issued in the 80’s in an effort to clean up the city streets. According to the protestors, that cap is no longer necessary, and puts a huge hurdle in the way of those who just want to legally work.
Some argue that the cap is still necessary, as the health department already struggles to keep up with monitoring the number of vendors with permits. Others view the vendors as “unsanitary and unsightly,” and worry that more permits will create dangerous street congestion and sanitation issues. Arguably, the increased revenue from adding more permits could help offset the added costs of inspections and enforcement, but the problem is a sticky one.
To read more, click here.
The food truck scene originally was attractive to customers because they were able to taste new specialty food items at a reasonable price. Of course there are many different kinds of food trucks, not all selling artisanal homegrown products, but overall they were presenting the customer with unique food options.
This movement is not only a cheaper alternative to selling products, but it also gives the cooks a means of creating a fan base and establishing themselves in the competitive dining scene. Soon enough, however, large fast food chains and franchises began to launch their own food trucks. In the past couple months there has been a resurgence of larger corporations setting up their own trucks that clearly will not be selling handmade special products. This will certainly have implications for the smaller food trucks who will be competing with the giant corporate ones.
To read more about how this could impact the food truck movement, click here
A Request for Bids (RFB) has been released for Mobile Food Units at Central Park and Washington Square Park in Manhattan. These locations offer an opportunity for mobile food businesses to cater to a wide variety of customers at these popular NYC destinations. All bids in response to this RFB must be submitted no later than Friday, April 11, 2014 at 11 am.
Hard copies of the RFB can be obtained through Friday, April 11, on weekdays only, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m at this location:
Revenue Division of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
830 Fifth Avenue, Room 407, New York, NY 10065.
To download the RFB, visit http://www.nyc.gov/parks/businessopportunities and click on the “Concessions Opportunities at Parks” link. Once you have logged in, click on the “download” link that appears adjacent to the RFB’s description.
Dnainfo.com reports Neapolitan Express, New York’s first food truck fully powered by natural gas, was in City Hall Park yesterday to give Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Texas energy mogul T. Boone Pickens a taste of the freshly made pies.
“Every slice comes with a breath of fresh air,” Bloomberg said before biting into a margherita slice.
In light of several arrests made for vendors who have sold illegally on or near the pool’s grounds, the city is now seeking licensed vendors. Local vendors are happy about the proposal request as they describe the vending around the pool’s site as a “free for all”.
DNA Info reports more on the information surrounding this new RFP
Green Table, a Chelsea Market cafe, recently opened two food kiosks in Battery Park City serving Blue Marble ice cream and Crop to Cup coffee.
The kiosks are located inside of Battery Park (Battery Place and State Street) close to the Castle Clinton National Monument
In addition to food trucks and 20 food vendors, this year’s event will host a beer garden, champagne garden, DJs, face painters, stilt walkers, and magicians.
Get your VIP tickets now, you’ll thanks us later!
iAdventure.com presents a day of the city’s best food trucks representing different countries featuring various international bites and brews from their designated regions. Each food truck will infuse an international element into their regular menu items.
Get your tickets now
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