For Street Vendors, Taking a Break Comes at a Price

File this under the “More than you ever wanted to know about the people who sell you hot dogs on the street” category.
Starting January 1 of this year, food carts in New York that are left unattended can be seized by officials from the Department of Health.
Street vendors protested yesterday in downtown Manhattan, claiming they are being unfairly singled out. They say they could lose their licenses if they even run into a store or restaurant, to, um, use the facilities. Vendors sometimes ask a friend to watch their carts while they’re away, but that’s not always possible. They say the law should be eliminated, or at least changed, to provide for necessary time away from the cart, like a bathroom break, health issue, or emergency.
One peanut vendor near City Hall had his license taken away last week after leaving his cart to use a bathroom. (The vendor, who has worked for the last 12 years, was gone for about half an hour--he said that long lines prevented him from returning earlier.) Many supporters say that actually seizing the license was a first.
Supporters of the law, however, say that leaving carts unsupervised, even briefly, is a public safety hazard. Department of Health of officials countered the vendors’ arguments by saying that short breaks are allowed (although the exact time vendors are allowed away from their carts has never been specified), but that the food must be secured before the vendors leave.

A Guide to New York City's Best Mobile Eats

There is more to New York City food carts than hot dogs and soft pretzels. In the latest issue of Time Out New York, the magazine lists the best food trucks and carts New York City has to offer. Here is a brief roundup:

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck
Doug Quint serves soft serve ice cream in cones with an interesting variety of toppings such as bacon, crushed pretzels, and Nilla Wafers. Various locations around NYC.

Calexico
Brothers Dave, Jesse and Brian Vendley sell gourmet Cal-Mex cuisine and have garnered a following for their flavorful meat and generous portions. Calexico carts are found at the corner of Prince and Wooster Streets as well as Broadway and Broome Street.

Cupcake Stop
Lev Ekster sells mini and regular-size cupcakes with flavors like Oreo crumb and chocolate peanut butter swirl. Catch Cupcake Stop daily at Fifth Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets and nightly at 23rd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.

NY Dosa
Thiru Kumar offers vegan dosas, a delicate lentil-and-rice-flour crepe filled with vegetables and potatoes, with coconut chutney and spicy vegetable soup, undoubtedly one of New York’s healthiest carts. Look for Kumar on West 4th Street at Sullivan.

Kwik Meal
Mohammed Rahman opened his first cart in 2000 and three more since, becoming a popular Midtown fixture at West 45th Street at Sixth Avenue with his succulent lamb over rice and vegetable-filled pitas.

Kim’s Aunt Kitchen
This cart draws crowds for its fried whiting and flounder sandwiches served on Wonder, whole wheat or pita breads. Also try the beef bulgogi, a step above the usual street meat, at West 46th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

Street Sweets
Inspired by a visit to Italy, Samira Mahboubian opened a food truck serving croissants with assorted fillings like Nutella and marshmallow crème. Check http://twitter.com/streetsweets for Midtown location updates.