Vendys - Final post today

I could go on and on posting the happy minutiae from yesterday, but I think I'll just end on a high point. When Jacques Torres appeared for the second time he stormed into the truck. He roared out the window, and our line burst into cheers for him. Happily, Sam Oppenheim caught this fun snap right at the moment everyone realized what was happening.

Vendys - The Line

Check this out... our line extends from the truck, on the extreme left, all the way to the other side of this photo. We tried to not think about it too hard, we just worked as fast as we could. At least the alien ships from "Men In Black" didn't start zapping us!

Here's the scene inside the truck. You can get a taste of just how much stuff we had in there, and this doesn't give you a glimpse of our table behind the truck.

Vendys - Written

Our full-time preparation mode began a few days before The Vendy Awards. Bryan took two days off from work to shop, prepare toppings and caramelize bacon. Friday night we brewed hot chocolate, and finally tucked ourselves in at about 3am.

We were up at 5:30am to pack our rental car full of food and equipment. Bryan set off to pick up our team, and I left for the depot. I had to wait a while for the depot to open. I was given a different (bigger) truck for the day, which was both good (it was big enough for me to stand up in) and bad (it was filthy.) After stripping some unnecessary equipment from the truck and loading up all of the ice cream I would need for the day I took off for Flushing Meadows and met up with the rest of the team.

The next two hours were spent de-gooing and organizing the truck to make it presentable. Our team set about getting our prep area running. We worked right up until the gates opened at 2.

From 2 until 6:15 we served non-stop. Our line was shockingly long, and we worked as fast as we could without spinning out of control. Ice cream trucks really aren’t set up for two people to work, but we did our best to have proper "production" and “finishing areas.” An ice cream truck’s working space is designed to make a cone, throw some sprinkles on it, and get it out the window. We had well over 20 different components lined up, stacked up, and fridged up. The folks in line were wonderfully good-natured, and we are appreciative of their patience. We ran trays of “samples” out to the back of the line. It was our way of letting those folks know that we were aware of just how far back they were… I hope it made a difference. You can’t make ice cream ahead of time- it does this weird thing if it’s left sitting around- it melts! Therefore each order had to be done completely at-the-moment.

Bryan was on the truck the entire time, except for the 30 seconds he came out to get his picture with Jacques Torres. I stepped off to do a number of interviews, each one cut as short as possible so that I could get back to work.

At 6:15 the organizers asked us to turn off our generator so that the awards presentation could begin. We still had at least sixty people waiting. I’m sorry that some of you were left treatless… that’s not the way we want to work, but the situation demanded it.

The awards were presented, though not to us. Bryan and I were so thrilled that we were there at all, and so amazed at the food our “competitors” presented, that I can’t say we were disappointed to not get a prize. Would it have been nice? Sure, of course it would have… but boy, we’ve been winning all summer long. What an amazing experience.

More photos to come.

Vendys - We Got The Beets

The only thing that bummed me out yesterday is that we were too busy to eat around. A plate of food was sent over from Schnitzel and Things. When I finally had time to munch it, four hours later the chicken, potato salad, and beets were still fantastic. Schnitzel "beet" us for the rookie award, and we're both flattered that we'd be considered in the same echelon as them.

Bryan snapped this picture of their beets before service started.

Vendys - Stolen Kisses

The only time we stopped serving yesterday captured! Jacques Torres appeared at the back of the truck. I leaned out and told the folks in line that he was with us, and that I wanted a picture, and everyone yelled "go!!" Thank you for your indulgence, people. Jose snapped this.

Little did we know that he'd be back... photos of his return will be posted later.

Vendys - Menu

We also had two specials, which proved extremely popular.

SPECIALS for The Vendy Awards

To celebrate the arrival of Autumn

Affogayto Mexicano - Mexican hot chocolate brewed with cinnamon sticks, honey, and a spice blend, served over your choice of ice cream

The Gobbler- Our Thanksgiving Sundae. Vanilla ice cream, pumpkin butter, crushed graham crackers, and whipped cream

Vendys - Big Gay Ice Cream Team

Our buddies Devin, Jose, and Karen were drafted into our Big Gay Team yesterday. They prepped food, ran sample trays and menus around, helped work out press needs, and were our liasons to the other trucks. We were grateful to have their help and friendship.

Jose knows his food trucks... maybe you've seen him around. It was good to have him as ambassador to the other vendors, as Bryan and I were trapped in our own truck for the day.

FYI on Devin is a cap - NOT a bad toupee.

This photo was taken by Dan Cohen - QMA Board of Trustees member and cool t-shirt wearer. After it was taken we realized we were reenacting the cover of The B-52's "Time Capsule." Thank you Dan, for being a part of our amazing Vendy experience!

Vendys - Choinkwiches

We served about 150 Choinkwiches yesterday. The organizers had to shut our line down for the awards ceremony, otherwise we would have served the remaining 25. It's amusing to note that all three of the "dessert" vendors had something featuring bacon!