It's the cart that counts: Sri Lankan takes top honors at Vendy Awards

Nation's Restaurant News,  Oct 15, 2007  by Elissa Elan

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NEW YORK -- Forget about the Emmys or Oscars. Really, the Vendys are the thing. Just ask Thiru Kumar.

Kumar, a New York City vendor from Sri Lanka who operates NY Dosa, a vegan food cart here, recently scored top honors at the third annual Vendy Awards, which are bestowed upon the city's best streetchef vendors. Kumar, who according to the Associated Press had been nominated two times before, this year won for his specialty, Pondicherry dosas, a filled crepe concoction the vendor created.

The operator, whose cart is stationed at Washington Square Park South and Sullivan Street, beat out four other finalists for the award: Veronica Julien of Veronica's Kitchen at Front and Pine Streets in Manhattan, Muhammed Rahman from Kwik Meal, the 10-member crew of Super Taco at 96th Street and Broadway in Manhattan and Farez "Freddy" Zeideia of the King of Falafel and Schwarma at 30th Street and Broadway in Queens. Kwik Meal's Rahmen also received a People's Choice Award.

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