Aug. 11, 2015 By Jackie Strawbridge
Astoria will be represented yet again in the Vendy Awards, an annual cook-off for food trucks and street food vendors.
The Street Vendor Project, which organizes the Vendy Awards, has announced the finalists for the 2015 competition in five categories: Vendy Cup, Rookie of the Year, Best of Market, Best of Dessert, and Best of Street Drinks.
Ditmars’ Souvlaki Lady – Elpida Vasiliadis, whose greek food cart has served the neighborhood for over two decades – will compete for the competition’s grand prize, the Vendy Cup.
She is up against gourmet grilled cheese, Cantonese steamed noodles, a burger truck and Bangladeshi street food.
Tea + Milk, a bubble tea shop and LIC Flea vendor that recently put down roots on 34th Street in Astoria, will compete in best street drink, a new category this year.
Their tea and tapioca drinks will be up against coconut smoothies, Dominican juices, flavored lemonade and Mexican drinks.
Other Astoria vendors who have been finalists in past Vendy Awards include Astoria’s El Rey Del Taco, King Souvlaki and King of Falafel, which took home the Vendy Cup in 2010.
The Vendy Awards will be held on Sept. 12, from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Governors Island. General admission costs $100. Tickets are available here.
