Vendors of street food win at 8th annual Vendy awards in New York City

01/24

Caption

Employees of Sammy Kassem's Middle Eastern Halal Foods pose on the ferry back to Manhattan with the Most Heroic Vendor award. The awards are sponsored by the Street Vendor Project of the Urban Justice Center.

02/24

Caption

The Perez family of Piaztlan Authentic Mexican Food with the Vendy Cup, awarded to the best overall food vendor. Piaztlan is usually found near the ball fields in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn.

03/24

Caption

Adam Sobel, of the Cinnamon Snail, an organic vegan food truck, accepts the People's Choice award.

04/24

Caption

Lumpia Shack employees pose for photos after accepting the award for Best of the Market Vendors. On the right is Sean Basinski, director of the Street Vendor Project, which sponsors the event.

05/24

Caption

Phil's Steaks, purveyors of Philly cheesesteaks, accepting the award for Rookie of the Year. Philly or Philadelphia Cheesesteak is a sandwich composed of thinly sliced steak and melted cheese.

06/24

Caption

Julian Plyter, of Melt Bakery, second from left, accepting the award for Best Dessert. Melt Bakery makes ice cream sandwiches.

07/24

Caption

Sammy Kassem, third from left, and his crew from Halal Middle Eastern Food. Kassem won the award for Most Heroic Vendor for his successful struggles with brick-and-mortar merchants in the Bay Ridge community of Brooklyn.

08/24

Caption

A woman shows a New Orleans-style shaved ice ball from Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Balls, a finalist for best dessert.

09/24

Caption

The light-hearted side of the Fun Buns food cart. Fun Buns, whose specialty is pan-Asian buns, was a finalist for Rookie of the year.

10/24

Caption

A view of the venue for the Vendy Awards on Governors Island, a small island off the southern tip of Manhattan, and accessible only by ferry.

11/24

Caption

Two men from Okadaman, specialists in Japanese food, take a break in their truck at the end of the day. Okadaman was a finalist for Rookie of the Year.

12/24

Caption

A cook at Tortas Nezas prepares food in his truck. Tortas Nezas was a finalist for the Vendy Cup.

13/24

Caption

A woman serves ice cream confections from the window in the Coolhaus truck. Coolhaus was a finalist for Best Dessert.

14/24

Caption

A woman grills chicken kebabs over charcoal at Xian Jiang Prosperity Kebabs. They were finalists for the Vendy Cup.

15/24

Caption

A pile of cooked crustaceans at the stand of Pestle & Mortar, which sells ceviche at Smorgasburg in Brooklyn's Williamsburg, and which also offers catering. They were finalists for best market vendor.

16/24

Caption

Countermen from Middle Eastern Halal Food sample organic vegan fare from the Cinnamon Snail, which won the People's Taste award.

17/24

Caption

A man and a woman sample Monsieur Singh's lassi pops. The sign invites anyone to call a random Indian to ask why they love lassi.

18/24

Caption

Julian Plyter, of Melt Bakery, with two of their ice cream sandwiches. Melt won the award for Best Dessert.

19/24

Caption

(Left to right) Vik and Sienam Lulla, owners of Chinese Mirch, with Tibetan momos. Chinese Mirch prepares Indo Chinese food.

20/24

Caption

Vik Lulla, partner in Chinese Mirch, with one of their specalties, Tibetan momos. Chinese Mirch prepares Indo Chinese food.

21/24

Caption

Men from Baby Got Back Ribs show off their T-shirts. The business was a finalist for Best of Market Vendors, awarded to a vendor with a brick and mortar presence.

22/24

Caption

A man and a woman sample Monsieur Singh's lassi pops. The sign invites anyone to call a random Indian to ask why they love lassi.

23/24

Caption

A counterman at Phil's Steaks at the truck window at the end of the day. Phil's Steaks, in business for less than a year, won the prize for Rookie of the Year.

24/24

Caption

A woman with two of Phil's Philly cheesesteak sandwiches is about to take a photo.

Report current story

The Street Vendor Project of the Urban Justice Center held its 8th annual Vendy awards for street vendors on Governors Island, and presented awards in five categories as well as an award for Most Heroic Street Vendor.