Intern Blog

By Kimberly Thompson

The food vending stands that populate the streets of Manhattan are passed daily by most New Yorkers and visited quite frequently by some Fox News interns.

These stands are no longer selling just the hot dogs and pretzels they used to back in the '80s. They now sell soft drinks, grilled kabobs, candied nuts, falafel, ice cream, and more.

With the numerous locations near the News Corporation building, these on-the-go stops can be cost-effective and convenient for interns.

"I like how quickly they give you the food," said Alexander Ciccione, an intern in the Edit Department. Ciccione visits a food stand about once a week, usually choosing falafel or lamb over rice.

Allison Warren, an intern on "Your World with Neil Cavuto," said she sometimes stops on her way to work for a bagel or muffin and a coffee.

For the economical intern, a large brewed coffee and bagel with cream cheese is about a dollar cheaper if purchased from a food vendor stand compared to the same purchase from Starbucks.

Reasonably priced or not, one intern expresses skepticism about eating food bought on a street corner. Nugent Cantileno, an intern at the New York Bureau, "I'm generally very cautious about what I eat for fear of getting sick."

The Health Department does monitor food vending carts. There are yearly inspections and every vendor must take a series of classes on food safety and sanitation to obtain their vending certification.

Some interns who are new to the city have not found much time to try the food stands with all of the other options available. "I've only been twice ever," said Lauracindy Plague, an intern on "Justice with Judge Jeanine."

One vendor stand near Fox News consistently keeps a line in the mornings. Owner Jimmy Sanchez, 31, attempts to get to know the customers that stop by his stand Monday-Friday. Sanchez has occupied the corner of 45th and 6th his father passed the spot down to him nine years ago.

Street corners really cannot be kept within a family since they are publically owned, but Sanchez explained, "legally people could take this spot, but us vendors, we have a code and we wouldn't do that to each other."

His custom-made $35,000 vending wagon has a grill, toaster, air-conditioning, and heat. He said, "I know it was an expensive investment, but my added features are worth it."

So whether his customers like his ability to toast bagels or his corner location, he said that his most important business practice is "providing service with a smile, even on Mondays."

For the intern looking for some suggestions to experiment with mobile munchies nearby they can check out:

· Jimmy's Stand (45th and 6th)

· Biryani Cart (46th and 7th)

· Halal Guys (53rd and 6th)

· Jamaican Dutchy (51st and 7th)

· Trini-Paki Boys (43rd and 6th)