Schnitzel & Things & Serious Stuff

This week, Jessica Lappin, a city councilwoman from the Upper East Side, proved herself a tone-deaf moron by proposing to do away with any food truck that gets three parking violations in a 12 month period. With this law, Lappin seems to have found a solution in search of a problem, as apparently no one besides her has complained. Afterwards, Zach Brooks, of Midtown Lunch had a conniption (can't blame im).

Zach's letter to Lappin (linked above) gets to the heart of the matter-- why unfairly target food vendors for a supposed problem caused more by FedEx and UPS trucks and companies like FreshDirect? I do admit that it would be funny to see some of the shark-jumping corporate food trucks lose their licenses (although I seriously doubt they would allow that to happen), but this law is insane. It boils down to the fact that food trucks don't have as much clout as FedEx, while Lappin is too shortsighted to realize she's destroying a potent revenue source at a time when everyone is struggling. I'm a cynical guy, so I am not surprised.

With that said, I felt bad for slacking on my post about Schnitzel & Things, one of the kings of the new wave of food trucks. In light of Lappin's Folly, writing about Schnitzel & Things, and any other food truck, has added relevancy.

The Red Hooks are Coming! The Red Hooks are Coming!

It's that time of year again, so brave your seasonal allergies or be sure to take your Claritin because weather pending, the Red Hook food vendors are making their way back to Brooklyn starting this weekend (May 2nd) and will be serving up all of your favorite foods. In case you've been living under a rock for the past few years or have recently moved to the tri-state area and have no idea what I'm talking about read here. Believe it or not, there is another reason to visit Red Hook aside from buying stylish-yet-affordable furniture from Ikea! Each Spring, a group of Latin food vendors hawk their culinary goodies outside the soccer fields located at the corner of Clinton and Bay Street. From El Salvadorian pupusas to Mexican huaraches, the return of these food vendors is highly anticipated by many, so come all but come early to avoid hoards of hungry New Yorkers.

This post will hopefully serve not only as a reminder that the food vendors are returning this weekend, but also as a preview for those of you who are virgins to the Red Hook soccer fields. For a most comprehensive list of vendors and general information I suggest you visit their website here. As long as you remember to bring cash and don't mind the prospect of sharing a table with strangers, you'll be rewarded with some of the best and most authentic Latin foods in all of the city. Going with a group of friends is your best bet, allowing you to sample a greater variety of food and help navigate the long lines. I suggest that after perusing the tasty offerings from each food vendor you utilize the divide and conquer technique; where everyone goes to separate food vendors and orders for everyone.