Red Hook Vendors, Redux
While every other food blog met up at Red Hook on Sunday, I had to work — so I went on Saturday. I went with my friend Jeff, who had never been before. In addition to enjoying the delicious food, I was curious to see what the experience would be like after all of the drama with the City.
For those who might not know, the ball field out in Red Hook is host to futbol games every weekend, and years ago some people decided to start selling food to the crowd. These vendors all are from Central and South America, and they sell traditional food from their home countries. There are vendors from El Salvador, Colombia, Chile, and more, all selling regional specialties to the soccer fans. Once the NYC foodie community found out about it, the scene really exploded. Last year the City decided to get involved and to enforce Health Code standards on the vendors, who had been selling their food from portable kitchens under plastic tarps.
Because of all of the City standards, this year’s opening was delayed several times. Last week was the first weekend of the year, but I wasn’t able to get out there until this past Saturday. We got there relatively early (about 12:30pm) and it was pretty busy. As we ate the crowds grew larger and larger, presumably, as Jeff said, because hipsters don’t get out of bed until after noon on Saturday. Indeed, the crowd was almost exclusively hipsters (and, I’m sure, plenty of food bloggers), and no one was really watching the soccer game.
Part of this may be because of the new Health Code rules. The vendors now work out of those silver food service trucks you see all over the city, so instead of being located inside the grounds of the ball field they are on the street outside the field. Of course most of the people took seats inside the park, but at benches, picnic tables, and grassy patches farther away from the sporting action.
So enough about the scene, how was the food? It was even more delicious than I remembered. I got two pupusas (for $5) — one with jalapeno and cheese, one a zucchini and cheese. The pupusas are served with a traditional cabbage condiment called curtido, and I also topped them with some of the tomato sauce provided (having remembered the pupusas being a little dry from last year). The zucchini one was amazing, filled with tons of fresh shredded zucchini and fried to a crispy brown. The jalapeno one was nice and spicy, but not as good as the zucchini.
Jeff and I also shared an order of fried plantains, topped with sour cream. They were very good, not at all greasy, though I’m not sure they matched particularly well with the crema.
So, yes, things have changed at the Red Hook Ball Field. Thankfully, the spirit remains; it’s still a fun way to experience new foods and to go out to meet with friends.
Read about my first visit to the Red Hook Ball Field here
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Good write-up! The papusas were yummy. All of the food has an authentic, homemade quality to it (and i mean that in the best way). The fresh watermelon juice is also worth commending, in addition to the items you mentioned.