Around this time of year 13th is clouded with the scents of barbecue and maple syrup, enticing students to spend their cash at one of the many street faire food vendors. It seems like every year there are more food options, with some carts disappearing and new ones popping up each time the faire rolls around.
Whether you’re unabashedly carnivorous, curious to try something new and ethnic or just want some delicious, greasy carnival food, there’s a vendor for you. No, actually, there are several vendors for you.
Two barbecue booths have their take on the classics and both stink the campus up with a smell that will make vegetarians reconsider life choices. Philyaw’s Cookout claims Carolina-style barbecue and is known for its smoked pork; Smoking Pig BBQ has its rights over Western-style barbecue with its dry rubs.
Viva Vegetarian Grill provides a great, vegetarian alternative to the meaty American classics such as hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches. The grill is appreciated by omnivores and vegetarians alike.
“I get so excited about Viva being on campus that I kind of forget about all the other food carts’ options,” said faire-goer Bianca Marino. Marino enjoyed her all-time Viva favorite, the Polish “Soy-sage” with sauerkraut and spicy mustard. I chose their Hickory BBQ sandwich, made with god-knows-what meat replacer but delicious to high heaven.
There seems to be an influx of Mediterranean restaurants, but don’t you dare think this is a bad thing. Even with three of them on the block, they all have falafel but provide lots of other phenomenal Mediterranean options. Captain Pat’s got gyros galore; Heady Medi Joint’s down with some veggie options such as spanakopita (spinach, feta and phyllo pie) and a simple Greek salad.
Lots of carts at the Street Faire don’t have much of a specific culture tied to their food, instead going the “fusion” route. Sporks a la Cart and Three Forks both have such dishes, dipping into Filipino, Indian, Thai, Japanese and American cuisines to produce some tasty results.
Of course, there’s about a dozen I haven’t mentioned, all with their own unique and tasty additions to one of the most cheerful weeks of the spring quarter. Even if nothing intrigues your lunch appetite, surely one of the dessert carts will –elephant ears, Red Wagon Creamery, sweet crepes and chocolate-covered bananas are just the beginning of it.