L.A. Vendy Awards This Saturday

Vendy Awards

Vendys come to L.A. this Saturday

For the past five years in New York City, The Vendy Awards have celebrated the best street food that city has to offer. This Saturday, for the first time, they're coming to Los Angeles. This year's proceedings will take place at MacArthur Park, where a $50 ticket (or $60 at the door, if available) will get you food from all of the nominated vendors, as well as beer, wine and soda. Proceeds will go toward non-profit organizations working to support the rights of street vendors in Los Angeles. It is also highly recommended that you get your tickets in advance, because organizers are planning to keep attendance at a very manageable level. Once they're sold out, that's it.

Judges for the L.A. Vendys are Good Food host and Angeli Caffe owner Even Kleiman; Animal chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo; and local food bloggers Bill Esparza of Street Gourmet LA, and the Teenage Gluster Javier Cabral. Emceeing the day's festivities will be Jeff Miller of Thrillist, who is more than happy with the diversity displayed in the nominees. "It's not just the new gourmet trucks, but also the old school taco vendors. I think it really gives a broad swath of what's available street food-wise in L.A."

This year's nominees are India Jones Chow Truck, Hot Dog Kings, Big Mista's BBQ, Nina's Food, Grilled Cheese Truck, and Tacos el Galuzo. To see more about the nominees, watch the video below.

L.A. Vendy Awards: Saturday, May 15th, 2010 from 4 to 7pm at MacArthur Park (S. Park View Street between W. 7th and Wilshire Blvd.). Click here to purchase tickets.