Street Vendors Try To Outdo Each Other At Competition
By Hadas Kuznits
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Street vendors competed this weekend at Penn Treaty Park in Fishtown to see who has the best food in Philly.
"The Vendys are a cook-off and celebration of all street food vendors," Sean Basinski, Director of The Street Vendor Project, said. "We've got 17 vendors -- the savory category, the sweets category, also Tide is here with a special categoy, the messiest vendor food."
Basinski says those who got to participate in the 3rd annual Vendy Awards were nominated by the public:
"We take the best of those, the top nomination recipients, invite them to come to the event for the final cook-off, people buy tickets to get the food and drinks, we've got judges who are judging for the winner as well as the public, there's a people's choice award."
Basinski adds the event shows off the best of what Philly has to offer:
"Philly's got a great street food scene! Second to none, really. There have been some people that started with restaurants that then went on to open up food trucks. It's a good mix of immigrant vendors and newer people who may have been born here who come from culinary school or different backgrounds with new ideas."
And the winner, Basinski says, gets...
"It's called The Vendy Cup, you can drink from the cup. There is a trophy, but it's really about bragging rights."
Proceeds from the Vendy's benefit the Food Trust.
Here Are The Winners:
Vendy Cup (top prize) - "King of Falafel"
People's Taste Award - "The Cow and the Curd"
Best Dessert - "Little Top Shop"
Tide Stain Eraser's... Messy, Yet Tasty Award - "The Cow and the Curd"
