Comments on: D.C.’s Street Food Scene Is Ready to Explode http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2010/05/26/d-c-s-street-food-scene-is-ready-to-explode/ D.C. Restaurants and Food Sat, 25 May 2013 16:01:27 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Tim Carman http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2010/05/26/d-c-s-street-food-scene-is-ready-to-explode/comment-page-1/#comment-39474 Tim Carman Wed, 26 May 2010 20:55:22 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/?p=21026#comment-39474 Emily, I'm not trying to be contrarian here, which I find really tiring on blogs. But I do want to point out that for a lot of people from other countries, it's not difficult to switch to their native cuisine. America has a much more deeply ingrained restaurant culture; other cultures are more deeply invested in home cooking, which is where a lot of so-called "ethnic" food comes from -- home cooks transplanted to our country. Emily,

I'm not trying to be contrarian here, which I find really tiring on blogs. But I do want to point out that for a lot of people from other countries, it's not difficult to switch to their native cuisine. America has a much more deeply ingrained restaurant culture; other cultures are more deeply invested in home cooking, which is where a lot of so-called "ethnic" food comes from -- home cooks transplanted to our country.

]]> By: Grumpy http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2010/05/26/d-c-s-street-food-scene-is-ready-to-explode/comment-page-1/#comment-39463 Grumpy Wed, 26 May 2010 19:58:30 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/?p=21026#comment-39463 If the lines outside L'Enfant Plaza Maryland Ave. SW Metro stop are any indication, the trucks will make a killing down here. Fujol Bros. has a line a half a block long, same with Mike's Popcorn and the Cupcake truck (even with their 3 buck cupcakes) does a nice business as well. Send 'em on down and send an ice cream truck while you're at it. If the lines outside L'Enfant Plaza Maryland Ave. SW Metro stop are any indication, the trucks will make a killing down here. Fujol Bros. has a line a half a block long, same with Mike's Popcorn and the Cupcake truck (even with their 3 buck cupcakes) does a nice business as well. Send 'em on down and send an ice cream truck while you're at it.

]]> By: Emily http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2010/05/26/d-c-s-street-food-scene-is-ready-to-explode/comment-page-1/#comment-39461 Emily Wed, 26 May 2010 19:48:05 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/?p=21026#comment-39461 Tim, Thanks for clarifying. I wish you'd made that point in the article, though -- without the explanation, the "mostly immigrants" bit seemed odd and out of context. One would hope that they would be able to sell some native cuisine if more carts caused competition -- but this assumes that the people in these carts also happen to be good cooks (or could afford to hire a staff to handle cooking duties) and involves far more cost in terms of insurance, buying ingredients, staffing, etc, than just selling Cheetos bought at wholesale. I realize that most of the food I eat in restaurants has been handled by immigrants (from the migrant workers who picked the tomato to the worker slicing it up for my salad), and I appreciate their hard work! Tim,
Thanks for clarifying. I wish you'd made that point in the article, though -- without the explanation, the "mostly immigrants" bit seemed odd and out of context. One would hope that they would be able to sell some native cuisine if more carts caused competition -- but this assumes that the people in these carts also happen to be good cooks (or could afford to hire a staff to handle cooking duties) and involves far more cost in terms of insurance, buying ingredients, staffing, etc, than just selling Cheetos bought at wholesale.

I realize that most of the food I eat in restaurants has been handled by immigrants (from the migrant workers who picked the tomato to the worker slicing it up for my salad), and I appreciate their hard work!

]]> By: Coite Manuel http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2010/05/26/d-c-s-street-food-scene-is-ready-to-explode/comment-page-1/#comment-39453 Coite Manuel Wed, 26 May 2010 18:28:04 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/?p=21026#comment-39453 Hey Tim we finally got our kitchen open so we're smoking the jerk chicken every day now. Keep an eye out this summer: we're going to pop up in a few more spots with some new menus. Thanks! Coite Manuel Food Chain Hey Tim we finally got our kitchen open so we're smoking the jerk chicken every day now. Keep an eye out this summer: we're going to pop up in a few more spots with some new menus.

Thanks!
Coite Manuel
Food Chain

]]> By: Tim Carman http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2010/05/26/d-c-s-street-food-scene-is-ready-to-explode/comment-page-1/#comment-39449 Tim Carman Wed, 26 May 2010 18:14:16 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/?p=21026#comment-39449 Emily, I know using the term "immigrant" is loaded these days, but the fact is that the food business has often been the way that first-generation immigrants have made a living in America. Immigrants probably cook most of the food you eat in restaurants, even in high-end restaurants. It's particularly important in this context, because street carts lend themselves to international foods. If the streets start teeming with new carts and trucks, these veteran vendors may be able to fall back on their native cuisines and make an even better living than selling so-called "American" snack foods. Emily,

I know using the term "immigrant" is loaded these days, but the fact is that the food business has often been the way that first-generation immigrants have made a living in America. Immigrants probably cook most of the food you eat in restaurants, even in high-end restaurants. It's particularly important in this context, because street carts lend themselves to international foods. If the streets start teeming with new carts and trucks, these veteran vendors may be able to fall back on their native cuisines and make an even better living than selling so-called "American" snack foods.

]]> By: Emily http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2010/05/26/d-c-s-street-food-scene-is-ready-to-explode/comment-page-1/#comment-39447 Emily Wed, 26 May 2010 17:59:50 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/?p=21026#comment-39447 What's with pointing out that they are "mostly immigrants"? In what was is that relevant to the story? What's with pointing out that they are "mostly immigrants"?

In what was is that relevant to the story?

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