It's been confirmed by Red Hook ball field vendor director Cesar Fuentes that the vendors will be out on Monday. He also added: due to last-minute renovations at Coney Island's "Festival by the Sea," the vendors have decided to wait until June to participate.
Posted by Erin Zimmer, May 4, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Pork and beef huarache.
The Red Hook ball field vendors returned this weekend, and Serious Eater IkeIkeIke had this to say about the spread:
These trucks were amazing yesterday. Carne asada tacos and goat tacos (from the Perez truck), great huarache, the freshest and most amazing tamale I've ever tasted, great pupusas, awesome papas rellenos, tasty tamarind drink, and much more that I can't remember. (Holy heck, what was that thing with the pool of black bean sauce ready to escape when we bit into it? That was great.) I only had enough room for a few bites of various things. Needed more stomachs.
The only disappointment was the ceviche from the easternmost truck. Not fresh-tasting. One very charming chef, who was also there tasting the amazing cuisine, said this was because they added the lime beforehand, rather than putting in it at the time of purchase, as I observed the second-from-easternmost vendors doing.
I wish I could find something nearly this good here in Newark. Why don't WE have our own version of this over here? I need to talk to Cory Booker STAT.
Anyone else swing by?
Related: Red Hook Vendors Will Have Coney Island-Themed Foods at Dreamland
Posted by Erin Zimmer, April 28, 2009 at 6:00 AM
The Red Hook vendors return in full-force this weekend, operating between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. They'll set up at the Red Hook Recreational Area, near the corner of Bay and Clinton streets, every weekend until the end of October, with extended hours on holidays like Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Related: Red Hook Vendors: A Quick Guide for the Uninitiated
Posted by Erin Zimmer, April 9, 2009 at 11:00 AM
The latest in Red Hook vendors world: the tentative start date for the ballfields grand re-opening we gave you last week is official: May 2. Representative Cesar Fuentes just sent out a press release setting that date in stone.
But he left out a little surprise, reserved especially for Serious Eaters, about the vendors' new Coney Island outpost at Dreamland Park: "We are celebrating this wonderful new opportunity for the Red Hook Food vendors by bringing two new dishes commemorating the iconic history of Coney Island: Quesadillas de Camaron and Pupusas Marineras—seafood filled versions of the Red Hook original quesadillas and pupusas. For now, we are planning on offering these new and delicious meals exclusively at our Festival by the Sea location."
Previously
Red Hook Vendors: A Quick Guide for the Uninitiated
Red Hook Vendors Are Back: Opening Day 2008 in Photos
New Design Models for Red Hook Ball Field Vendors
Posted by Erin Zimmer, April 8, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Last week, director Cesar Fuentes insinuated a third location for the Red Hook ballfield vendors (after the ballfield itself and the Brooklyn Flea), and that appears to be Dreamland amusement park, the new permutation of Astroland on Coney Island. According to Gothamist, the vendors will join many others from across the city and state as part of a summer-long (from May 15 through Labor Day) "Festival by the Sea" at Dreamland Park, named after the Coney Island boardwalk spot that burned down in 1911.
Posted by Erin Zimmer, April 3, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Cesar Fueuntes, executive director of the Red Hook food vendors committee, confirms that the whole vendor gang will return tentatively on May 2. That includes: pupusas from Soler Dominican, huaraches from Fernando Martinez, elotes preparados (or grilled corn) from Everardo Vaquero, and the ceviche. The Brooklyn Flea will also host satellite stands on Saturdays, once it returns to the outdoor Fort Greene space on April 18.
In regards to the Red Hook vendor redesign contest we mentioned last December, Fueuntes said they have selected four finalists and will hold a public viewing of these entries later this season, calling upon the community for input.
Lastly, Fuentes hipped us to a little secret. A very cryptic one:
We are close on signing up to be a part of an amazing festival in a very popular and historic Brooklyn location that will soon promise to be one of the most talked about events in NYC. Most of our vendors are planning to be a part of this festival and will be there weekends throughout the entire season. As soon as we secure our participation, we will make it official.
Update: The May 2 date had been confirmed!
Related
Vendy Award Finalist: Soler Dominican
Red Hook Vendors Are Back: Opening Day 2008 in Photos
Red Hook Vendors: A Quick Guide for the Uninitiated
Posted by Erin Zimmer, December 12, 2008 at 3:15 PM
"Food Coloring" design
As mentioned earlier this week, the Architecture for Humanity New York is trying to save the future of the Red Hook ball field vendors by hosting "an open call for ideas" competition.
The latest update: five design entries were selected, and the creators behind them will begin collaborating with AFHny, the Red Hook vendors, and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation at the start of 2009. Read more about the designs after the jump.
Continue reading »
Posted by Erin Zimmer, December 11, 2008 at 10:00 AM
The design professionals behind Architecture for Humanity New York must secretly love huaraches, ceviche, and other favorites from the Red Hook ball field vendors. The group is organizing a competition called, “Call for Ideas: A New Marketplace for the Red Hook Vendors,” where the goal is to create a vibrant (and hopefully permanent) public market space for the vendors that preserves the traditional cooking techniques and addresses civic concerns.
As Porkchop Express said it, it's about finding a plan "conducive to Good Taco Times."
The first round saw 31 entries, at which point a jury of architects, journalists, urban planners, a parks official, and Porkchop Express himself narrowed it down to eight last Friday. While still in the early stages, Porkchop Express is optimistic: "the designs were unique, spirited and often well-conceived. And they took seriously the idea that Red Hook is all about uniting park-goers and vendors in a community centered around delicious Latino food."
Posted by Erin Zimmer, November 3, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Rafael Soler of Soler Dominican pupusa fame; tacos; pupusas grilling.
It's natural to wonder what street vendors do at night. When they start breaking down the trucks, it's tempting to invite them over for a drink, or share very personal American moments with them.
Turns out you can spend election night with the Red Hook ball field vendors at the Bell House in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn. The free Red + Blue Election Night Party will feature a menu of pupusas from Vendy Awards finalist Rafael Soler, tacos from Fernando Martinez, and huaraches from Eleazar Perez. Reasons why this is awesome: it's not even ball season anymore, it's at night, and at a spot slightly more convenient than Red Hook.
Brooklyn Based is also promising red and blue cupcakes, and there will be a Weezer cover album playing songs from the "Blue Album." The party starts at 7 PM, and last until it ends. The Bell House: 49 7th Street, Brooklyn NY 11215 (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues; map).
Posted by Zach Brooks, October 24, 2008 at 10:00 PM
One of the first Weekend Excursions we ever recommended was the opening of the Red Hook ball fields, so it is only fitting that we bring it back for the final weekend of the season. It's been a long and trying summer for the vendors, who were forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars on new trucks in order to comply with the demands of the Department of Health. Couple that with a late a start to the season, and most of the vendors have found themselves saddled with good amount of debt. Help them out by hitting up the ball fields this weekend for one last huarache or pupusa before they hibernate for the winter. Your stomach will thank you for it.
Related:
Red Hook Ballfields: A Quick Guide for the Uninitiated
Posted by Adam Kuban, October 21, 2008 at 8:15 AM
Will Maintain Satellite Stands at Brooklyn Flea Through Late December
We just got an email from Red Hook vendor executive director Cesar Fuentes:
We would like to inform you that our operation for the 2008 season in Red Hook Park will wrap up this Sunday, October 26th. Our satellite stands at the Brooklyn Flea will continue to operate through December 21st.
On behalf of the Red Hook Food Vendors, I would like to thank you all for your continued support and patronage. This has certainly been our shortest season & our most challenging one yet. In spite of a high emotional & financial burden for our vendors, our strong spirit & good faith prevailed, thanks in part to your support.
The good news, of course, is that with a 6 year permit we can now look forward to seeing you again next season with certainty and without delays! When Spring comes again, so will the The Red Hook Food Vendors.
Best and warmest regards,
Cesar Fuentes
Posted by Gordon Mark, October 15, 2008 at 1:30 PM
I was lucky enough to attend the Throwdown taping between Bobby Flay and the Dessert Truck dudes (Jerome Chang and Chris Chen) yesterday. I got there around 1:30 PM, when there was a small line to register and sign release forms. After waiting a bit, we signed and crowded in front of tables and trucks. At first, there were two trucks: the Dessert Truck and the Soler Dominican one from the Red Hook ball fields. Weirdly, the Soler Dominican truck left after a bit.
The producer mostly had us cheer, clap, and perform other reaction shots before the battle. Then the Dessert Truck dudes revealed what we already knew: this was a Throwdown with Bobby Flay.
For lighting purposes, we had to wait for the sun to move. During that time, there was Q&A time with Jerome and Chris. After a while, Bobby Flay arrived in the Soler Dominican truck, re-purposed as his Throwdown truck. At this point, more and more people started gathering to see Bobby Flay. They set up tables for him; the Throwdown was on.
Continue reading »
Posted by Carey Jones, October 8, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Editor's note: On October 18th, street vendors from all around the city will converge on the Tobacco Warehouse in Dumbo, Brooklyn for this years Vendy Awards. Tickets are only $80 and every penny goes to benefit the Street Vendor Project, a non-profit organization that fights for the rights of sidewalk vendors in New York City. Every day this week we will profile one of the five finalists, and the food they will be serving up at the competition.
Photograph courtesty of Kathryn Yu
Rafael Soler’s pupusa truck is not the only vendor of note at the corner of Clinton and Bay Streets. It’s not even the only pupusa truck of note. As any serious streetside eater knows, weekends at the Red Hook ball fields are a celebration of all things Latin—with huaraches, chalupas, watermelon juice, grilled maiz on the cob, and so much more, all sold from trucks clustered around the park's northeast corner. But Soler Dominican snagged this year’s Vendy nomination—a choice that’s hard to contest.
Pupusas themselves are perfect street food: small, flat cornmeal cakes stuffed with meat, cheese, or veggies and slapped on the grill for a hot, steamy snack. While Rafael’s range from the simple frijoles to the traditional queso con loroco—cheese with a Central American flower bud—the best might be the revuelta. Its pork-and-mozzarella filling is a salty, meaty mouthful that oozes out of its cornmeal casing the moment it gets a chance.
Continue reading »
Posted by Adam Kuban, August 28, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Cesar Fuentes gave us the word in late July that the Red Hook ball field vendors were considering holiday action, and so the word has come to pass. From an email from Fuentes:
I wanted to share some last-minute good news with you in advance of our broad public announcement later on. The food vendors have decided to extend their operation through Labor Day, Monday, September 1.
Related: Red Hook Vendors: A Quick Guide for the Uninitiated
Posted by Robyn Lee, August 5, 2008 at 2:30 PM
It's hard to believe that my life was pupusa-less up until I tried one at the Red Hook ball fields last summer. During a recent visit to the ball fields, it was the first food vendor I hit (after getting a cup of horchata from another stand; I needed sweet, rice-flavored hydration right away). For $5 you get can two thick, flattened, corn dough patties—crisp on the outside, soft on the inside—filled with your choice of cheese, vegetable, or meat matter. They come with a side of crunchy pickled cabbage and you can grab as much sliced pickled jalapeño pepper as you want from a bucket on the truck's ledge. My favorite fillings were the pork and cheese—gooey and meaty at the same time—and the jalapeño and cheese—gooey with bits of spicy mixed in. Basically, anything filled with melted cheese is going to taste good. Bay Street and Clinton Street, Brooklyn NY 11231 (map)
Related:
Red Hook Vendors: A Quick Guide for the Uninitiated
Posted by Adam Kuban, July 22, 2008 at 1:00 PM
In confirming Red Hook ball field vendor hours with Cesar Fuentes, I came away with this bit of intel:
Vendors set up as early as 8 a.m. and are ready for business between 9 and 10 a.m. The affair goes on until 8 p.m. While this time is our official close time, some vendors will still accept customers if they have any extra food to sell. Most vendors leave the park at 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays are our official days of operation, but very soon we may add a weekday and likely open on extended holidays (i.e. long weekends, Fridays and/or Mondays).
Related
Serious Eats Meet-Up at Red Hook Ball Fields: Sunday, July 27
Posted by Zach Brooks, July 21, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Let's Get to Know Each Other Over Huaraches and Pupusas
As you may know, the Red Hook ball field vendors are back, and we thought this weekend would be a great time for a Serious Eats eating expedition and meet-up. This Sunday, July 27, at 12:30 p.m., join Ed Levine and the Serious Eats gang at the ball fields in Red Hook, Brooklyn, for some pupusas, huaraches, soccer tacos, ceviche, elote, and more. It's the perfect place for a gathering of serious eaters. And you'll be helping the vendors pay off the debts they racked up bringing their operation up to code.
Let's meet at 12:30 p.m. just inside the soccer grounds at the southeast corner of Bay and Clinton streets (see map, above). You can sign up to receive the most up-to-date information on our Meetup.com page. Need more information about the ball fields? Check out the Serious Eats Red Hook Vendors Guide.
Posted by Adam Kuban, July 19, 2008 at 8:00 PM
The Red Hook vendors—some of them—were indeed back today. Six of the dozen or so merchants who make up the full contingent were on hand earlier this afternoon when Serious Eats: New York visited to scope the scene.
Who was back:
- Martinez huaraches
- Vaquero fruits
- Lainez Salvadoran pupusas
- Ceron Columbian
- One of the Guatemalan vendors
- Rojas Ecuadorian ceviche
As we mentioned yesterday, the city forced the vendors to buy trucks or carts to serve from. Photos of those trucks, and a tasty video, after the jump. Or, for quick-and-dirty visitors info, see our Red Hook Vendors Guide.
Continue reading »
Posted by Adam Kuban, July 18, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Photographs by Peter Cunningham
The Red Hook vendors are slated to open this weekend—almost three months behind their typical schedule, all due to more stringent oversight from the city health department.
What to Expect
New and/or Refurbished Carts or Trucks: The casual tabletop setups for cooking tortillas and pupusas and what not will be replaced by food carts or trucks, as mandated by the city. That stipulation has some vendors in debt up to $50,000 on new equipment expenses. [Brooklyn Paper]
Higher Prices? Roy Edroso makes the not-too-distant leap of logic that food prices may go up to pay for those new carts—and make up for the weeks vendors spent forcibly idle. [Village Voice]
Huge Crowds: Every last blog is blogging about the opening. Every last person who fancies himself a foodie will be on hand. Agoraphobics, this is not your scene.
Hot Weather: Forecasts say 94-degree high on Saturday, 89 on Sunday. And NY1 this morning said humidity will make it feel like it's in the 100s. Bring sunscreen and stay hydrated, eaters! [weather.com]
Perhaps Some Tension: Longtime patrons may be harboring some resentment against gentrifying interlopers. [Eater comments]
How to Get There
View Larger Map
Vendors set up at the Red Hook Recreational Area, near the corner of Bay and Clinton streets.
By Subway: Closest station is the F/G at Smith & 9th Street Station. It's roughly a nine-block walk (map).
By Bus: The B61 bus in Brooklyn will take you to "Ikea Station," just a few blocks away. Head away from the water down Halleck Street; follow Halleck, taking a left as it turns into Columbia Street; bang a right on Bay, and walk until you get to Clinton (map).
By Hacking Ikea: We came up with an Ikea ferry and shuttle bus "hack." Ride the furniture store's shuttle bus or ferry out to Red Hook. But be warned; actual paying Ikea customers get preferential treatment.
What You Might Eat
The word is that not all the vendors may show up this weekend—and the Brooklyn Paper has it that at least three have called it quits. But here's generally what's on offer.
Tacos: Not the crunchy U-shape kind you get at Taco Bell. Think fresh, floppy corn tortillas, warm from the grill, topped with carne asada or barbacoa and chopped onion, cilantro, lettuce, and salsa.
Huaraches: "A tasty treat hailing from South-Central Mexico, this flat, oblong cake of masa (moist cornmeal dough) is rolled, pressed, stuffed with a thin layer of black bean, pressed again, and thrown on a griddle until nice and crisp. You can top them with a bit of salsa picante and grated queso anejo, or go the whole hog and pile on meats, chilies, onions, sour cream, and whatever else lies within reach." [Porkchop Express]
Continue reading »
Contrary to rumors, the Ikea Water Taxi hack we discovered a few months back is still free, even if you are not shopping at Ikea. However, if you are planning on taking it to the ballfields this weekend, be prepared to let Ikea shoppers board the boat ahead of you. [Gothamist]
Posted by Erin Zimmer, July 11, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Red Hook ball field vendors got the thumbs-up yesterday to start normal operations again on Saturday, July 19. Talk about relief! Despite the major delay and temporary "satellite" home at the Brooklyn Flea, New Yorkers will soon be rewarded for their patience.
Who else is jumping on the Ikea water taxi for huaraches and cheese-dusted corn next weekend? [Via Porkchop Express]
Pork Chop Express gets the exclusive Barbara Walters-esque sit down with Executive Director of the Red Hook Ballfield Vendors, Cesar Fuentes, who not only gives us the latest huarache and pupusa update, but also dishes on where to find the vendors during the week, and his favorite tacos in the city (outside of the Ballfields of course).
Posted by Zach Brooks, May 27, 2008 at 11:45 AM
I guess we weren't the only ones with this Memorial Day weekend idea
As promised, pupusas, tacos, and huaraches made their first appearance of the season on Sunday alongside the grilled corn and fruit at the Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene. The pupusa line was out of control (a 30-minute-plus wait at peak times), but for those who were paying attention, huaraches and tacos were being sold on a different side of the table and had little to no line for much of the day.
Continue reading »
Posted by Adam Kuban, May 16, 2008 at 3:00 PM
The food-related buzz about the Red Hook Ikea in Brooklyn so far has been that the cafe there will serve "unspecified New York specialties" in addition to the usual meatball fare.
But the real story is this, ladies and gents: The Red Hook vendors will now be easily accessible from Manhattan via the Ikea Ferry.
Take the New York Water Taxi–Ikea Ferry to Red Hook; the soccer taco vendors are an easy couple blocks away.
Continue reading »
Posted by Zach Brooks, May 12, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Coming this Sunday to the Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene.
The much-loved Red Hook ballfield vendors are expected to start selling their delicious papusas, ceviche, and huaraches the first weekend in June, but according to Grub Street, they will be at the Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene starting this coming weekend. For the next two Sundays there will only be one stand serving grilled corn and fruit, but if all goes well, the organizers of the Brooklyn Flea hope it may become a "satellite location" for the Red Hook vendors. Seeing as how we're unsure exactly how the new contract with the Parks Department will affect the ballfields this season, huarache diversification sounds like a great idea to us.
Chuck Schumer can rest easy. His Saturday afternoon stop for goat tacos, the collection of Red Hook soccer field food vendors, will continue to be a haven for food lovers for the next six years. The forces of real, honest food won this time.
I hope the good senator tries the huaraches next time he's there. For more info and a great photo taken by my friend Peter Cunningham, click here.
Posted by Ed Levine, February 17, 2008 at 8:24 AM
According to the Brooklyn Paper, two other entities have submitted bids/proposals to be the sole food supplier at the Red Hook Soccer Fields. [via Grub Street]. Come in, Chuck Schumer. Your goat taco purveyor needs you.
Posted by Ed Levine, January 25, 2008 at 12:16 PM
The future of the Red Hook Ballfields vendors is looking grim, according to the Daily News.
City officials have begun seeking bids for the popular food spot around the area's soccer fields - but the longtime vendors are worried that even if they win, they won't be able to stay. According to the bid proposal, all vendors must now use approved food-preparation carts or trucks, which vendors estimate will cost $15,000 to $30,000 per stand.
Apparently many of the existing stands won't be able to afford the additional cost even if they win the bid to stay on the fields.
Our goat taco-loving senator, Chuck Schumer, is, according to the story, on the case. C'mon, Chuck. It's crunch time. We need you. The permits for the vendors will be awarded in February. That's soon, Mr. Schumer.
Posted by Ed Levine, September 6, 2007 at 6:10 PM
Chuck Schumer, our goat taco-loving senator, announced today that the Red Hook food vendors are safe for at least this season. Good news for the vendors and good news for our stomachs and our souls.
Posted by Ed Levine, June 24, 2007 at 10:55 AM
The vendors at the Red Hook ball fields in Brooklyn have been granted at least a temporary reprieve in their battle to keep the concession license at the soccer fields that have brought them at least some measure of justified fame.
This means that the great Latino food we have talked about will now be served until October 28, the end of the soccer league season.
Previously the New York City Parks Department had threatened to yank the delicious food vendors' permit on September 7.
Our well-placed source, who spoke to us on condition of anonymity, says that this decision can only be seen as a show of good faith on the part of the Parks Department as the two sides work amicably toward a long-term solution.
Related
New York Senator Chuck Schumer Makes Goat Tacos Good Politics
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