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Cities like New York, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles are lauded for their street food scenes, and rightly so. Here in Chicago we have the Maxwell Street Market, the tamale men, sno cones, elotes, a couple vendors at farmers markets and the stray hot dog cart. Otherwise what constitutes street food here is sorely lacking. As with most things, city ordinances restrict what food carts and trucks can and cannot do, limiting their presence to not much more than roach coaches serving warmed and pre-cooked product.
So long as these restrictions stay in place, local street food culture won't rise past Maxwell Street and Mexican food. We can only fantasize about what a local street food culture could include. Apparently so do our chefs. We put the question to them, "What food would you like to be able to buy from a street vendor, food truck, or open air market?" We received a lot of replies, the best of which we listed after the jump.
- Cary Taylor, Chaise Lounge: "I'd love to see great falafel and a great tartine stand like the ones that are all over Paris. Quick paninis would be perfect for downtown people needed a good fast bite. I went to Brasil a few years ago and juice stands featuring their tropical fruits were everywhere. That could be pretty cool." (Taylor also said that he's working on a mac and cheese truck).
- Troy Graves, Eve: "The things that I would like to see from a push cart are Pupusas, any kind of meat (including Foie Gras) on a stick with great dipping sauces. Internationally inspired starch spheres (jasmine rice balls, arrancini, mac-n- cheese, etc.), pork belly steamed buns, pierogi, mini fondue."
- Tony Priolo, Piccolo Sogno: "Porchetta."
- Paul Virant, Vie: "Fried rice, steamed buns, gyros, really kickass barbecue, strombolis."
- Sarah Stegner, Prairie Grass Café: "I love the idea that I could take a cart; pick a corner; and sell our crispy mint creek farm braised lamb rolls with Greek yogurt dipping sauce. They are so delicious hot and crispy I know people would stop by for lunch or for a snack after work. If I was hanging out next to Carrie (Nahabedian) serving her phyllo cheese triangles we would be a destination corner. I might even light up a grill and cook some homemade sausages sliced up hot and sizzling."
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Klau Kalash.
Sorry to break it to you, but there are also local laws restricting the selling of Crab Juice.
i want the late night gyros trucks they have in ny.. and the fancy gourmet ice cream trucks!
street meat gyros have saved my life a couple times in NY
BOA. Or humbow as it's called around Pike Place Market. That shit is GOOD.
BOA would actually be a cool restaurant name. "Bread On Arrival."
And whoops I mean BAO. hahaha
Thinking Sarah Stegner needs more of my business so we can make that dream a reality. How incredible does that sound?? Per the carts (in a addition to a Sarah/Carrie combo) I want good falafel, bao and crepes.
The Portland food cart trend seems pretty awesome, although they're more like 'foodie' ventures than regular street food. http://foodcartsportland.com/
A couple other things we have here in Chicago not mentioned, these are in my neighborhood at least:
A number of Puerto Rican ( assorted fried) food trailers in and around Humboldt Park
Fruit carts (mango,watermelon,cantelope,cucumber w/ chili powder and lime)
Ice Cream/Ice/Popsicle carts: helado de coco etc.
Wish there was more though.
I miss the guys from NY who sell nuts on the street.
Me too! T_T
Troy Graves hit the nail on the head with the pupusas. There's a park in Red Hook, Brooklyn that is pupusa heaven! There's no reason (that I know of, anyway) that Humboldt Park can't make this happen for me, specifically.
oh, vendor! could I get another internationally inspired starch sphere?
Pretzels!
Yes, pretzels. Real pretzels. Not the navy pier kind, the real deal. mmmmm