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| Cupcake Crew's "Cousin Vinny" Cupcake: vanilla chocolate chip cake, topped with cannoli frosting and rolled in bits of fried cannoli shell. Mama mia, she was good! |
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| Cleo Coyle, author of The Coffeehouse Mysteries |
Yes, this was also a research trip! The Vendy's and several of its food trucks inspired several elements in our recent bestselling culinary mystery A Brew to a Kill, in which our amateur sleuth investigates an attempted murder in the competitive world of the food truck business.
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| To learn more, click here. |
At the end of the day, we attendees loosen our belts a notch and then vote, along with the judges, and the Vendy Cups are awarded in several categories, including the Dessert Cup...
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting; 7-layer Rainbows; Maple Bacon; Fig and Whiskey; and Samoas, based on the caramel, dark chocolate, and coconut Girl Scout cookie.
...or enjoying their delicious
Chocolate and Bourbon Panna Cotta...
La Newyorkina was there with
her signature paletas.
her signature paletas.
These little Mexican ice cream pops were (in a word) magnificent. Each one was "handmade with love," and that promise was even beautifully inscribed at the bottom of her pink chalkboard menu!
Pictured above is Newyorkina paleta that she's made with Cajeta and Pecans. Cajeta is caramelized goats milk, which tastes like a dulce de leche. Very, very good! At the right, you see her handwritten menu.
Some of the most exciting foodie surprises of the day for us were also Vendy Cup winners, and I am happy to tell you about them, too. First up, the Rookie of the Year Cup went to Korilla BBQ!
The staff of this truck is comprised of enthusiastic, young Korean-American guys, who worked like a well-oiled (many-headed) mechanized beast! With menu offerings like "The Porkinator" and "Ribeye of the Tiger," Marc and I knew we'd be tasting something original, and we did. The Porkinator reminded me of a spicy-good moo shu--sweet, tangy, and crunchy (from the kimchi). The Ribeye of the Tiger was even better, and I'll let one of their crew tell you about it himself...
Time for the Korilla BBQ truck to make a snack
for you, a "Ribeye of the Tiger" burrito!
Click the arrow below and watch a
food truck master at work...
Come aboard their
Food Truck in this
fun video below...
for you, a "Ribeye of the Tiger" burrito!
Click the arrow below and watch a
food truck master at work...
Come aboard their
Food Truck in this
fun video below...
------------------------------
Ready for something sweet again? Good! Because the Vendy Dessert Cup ultimately went to Wooly's. I have to admit, hearing the words "shaved ice" did not thrill me, but when I sampled Wooly's soft, fluffy, chilly treat, I flipped. So did Marc.
Like a cross between ice cream and cotton candy, this is one unique, melt-in-your mouth dessert.
If you find yourself in New York's Chinatown or Little Italy, stop by their cart. Congrats to everyone at Wooly's for earning the Cup this year! (Visit Wooly's facebook page here or their twitter page here.)
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This baby is the Wooly's "original" flavored ice with chopped brownies, strawberries, and sea-salt caramel sauce. How sweet it was! |
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| Makers' Mark ice, shaved, sprinkled with freshly grated nutmeg and topped with bourbon maple syrup. |
What are pupusas? Traditional El Salvadoran grilled corn mesa patties, hand shaped and stuffed with fillings; and, dang, are they delicious! Here's my photo of Marc's second helping of the day, a crackling pork pupusa...
Crackling pork?! Did somebody say pernil? Because that's my own recipe for you today. Click here to download a recipe PDF of the famous Latin American pork shoulder known as pernil. This is the version that Marc and I make and enjoy. We hope you do, too!
As for the award-winning Solber Pupusas, this street food business is owned and operated by an adorable, close-knit El Salvadoran family, and if you watch their short "Vendy finalist" video below, you will see exactly how these traditional grilled corn cakes are made...
Watch the inspiring
video about this food-loving
family below...
video about this food-loving
family below...
Congrats to all the Vendy Cup winners...
Winners:
Best of N.J.: Taco Truck
People’s Taste: Souvlaki GR
People’s Taste: Souvlaki GR
Vendy Hero: Patty’s Taco
Maker’s Mark Street
Food Challenge: Cinnamon Snail
...and a big
THANK YOU
to all the street food chefs who works so hard,
all year long, to make our days delicious...
to all the street food chefs who works so hard,
all year long, to make our days delicious...
Time to go home?
No worries, we can still catch an East River ferry. Walk with me to the edge of Governors Island. Nice views here...
Thank you for coming!
 |
Me (Cleo Coyle aka Alice Alfonsi)
with my husband, Marc Cerasini, who collaborates with me to write The Coffeehouse Mysteries...  |
Eat with joy!
~ Cleo Coyle
~ Cleo Coyle
New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries
☕
Our NEW Coffeehouse Mystery!
Mystery Pick of the Month! --Library Journal*
Amazon * B&N
IndieBound * BAM
*
"A gripping and entertaining mystery"
--Library Journal (Starred Review)
--Library Journal (Starred Review)
*
"Penetrating insights" --Kirkus Reviews
*
* "Sure to delight" --Publishers Weekly
*
* "Sure to delight" --Publishers Weekly
🍴
This culinary mystery includes
25 delicious recipes! To get the
Free Recipe Guide, click here.
25 delicious recipes! To get the
Free Recipe Guide, click here.
 |
| Click for Free Recipe Guide to Shot in the Dark. |
☕
Our bestselling hardcover is
now a bestseller in paperback...
3 Best of Year Lists
Top 10 Mysteries for Book Clubs 2017
Mystery Guild "Most Wanted" Selection
Mystery Guild "Most Wanted" Selection
🍴
This culinary mystery includes
more than 25 delicious recipes!
To get the Free Recipe Guide:
Click Here.
more than 25 delicious recipes!
To get the Free Recipe Guide:
Click Here.
* * *
Clare goes to Washington!
Join amateur sleuth Clare Cosi
as she sets out to caffeinate
our nation's capital and solve
a capital crime.
Join amateur sleuth Clare Cosi
as she sets out to caffeinate
our nation's capital and solve
a capital crime.
as she sets out to caffeinate
our nation's capital and solve
a capital crime.
* * *
A fairy tale murder in Central Park...
"Wicked good" --Library Journal
*
*
"Fresh and fun...clever" --Booklist
*
* * *
When Clare saves the life of a young
billionaire, she may lose her own...*
*