Comments on: Street Food Freedom! http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/07/15/street-food-freedom/ Exploring urban life through word and photography Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:47:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christopher DeWolf http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/07/15/street-food-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-74500 Christopher DeWolf Wed, 25 Jul 2007 07:54:29 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/07/15/street-food-freedom/#comment-74500 The filth adds flavour to the hot dogs. The filth adds flavour to the hot dogs.

]]> By: Nicholas http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/07/15/street-food-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-74392 Nicholas Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:53:36 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/07/15/street-food-freedom/#comment-74392 I sincerely hope that "most Montrealers" don't eat at La Belle Province -- for the love of god, how much had you had to drink? I sincerely hope that “most Montrealers” don’t eat at La Belle Province — for the love of god, how much had you had to drink?

]]> By: Ken Gildner http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/07/15/street-food-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-72429 Ken Gildner Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:49:46 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/07/15/street-food-freedom/#comment-72429 Things might change in Toronto, but you can bet that Ottawa's thoroughfares will remain clogged by the same old chip wagons and their exotic Eastern Franco-Ontarian fare (also known as the Federal Civil Servant Diet). - Ken Things might change in Toronto, but you can bet that Ottawa’s thoroughfares will remain clogged by the same old chip wagons and their exotic Eastern Franco-Ontarian fare (also known as the Federal Civil Servant Diet).

- Ken

]]> By: Christopher DeWolf http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/07/15/street-food-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-71651 Christopher DeWolf Mon, 16 Jul 2007 07:16:04 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/07/15/street-food-freedom/#comment-71651 I'm not convinced that that would be the case. 50,000 immigrants come to Montreal each year and at least some of them have food vending experience. Besides, if you can make shawarma behind the counter of a fast food place you will be able to make it behind the counter of a street vending cart. Don't forget that there are already a number of businesses that are essentially street food vendors: the only difference is that, instead of working in a mobile cart, they work in a tiny retail space with a window opening onto the sidewalk. I'm thinking in particular of the dragon's beard candy guy in Chinatown, who makes Hong Kong-style street sweets like egg balls and waffles topped with condensed milk. His workspace is no larger than the average New York City food vending stall. I’m not convinced that that would be the case. 50,000 immigrants come to Montreal each year and at least some of them have food vending experience. Besides, if you can make shawarma behind the counter of a fast food place you will be able to make it behind the counter of a street vending cart.

Don’t forget that there are already a number of businesses that are essentially street food vendors: the only difference is that, instead of working in a mobile cart, they work in a tiny retail space with a window opening onto the sidewalk. I’m thinking in particular of the dragon’s beard candy guy in Chinatown, who makes Hong Kong-style street sweets like egg balls and waffles topped with condensed milk. His workspace is no larger than the average New York City food vending stall.

]]> By: Kate McDonnell http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/07/15/street-food-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-71631 Kate McDonnell Mon, 16 Jul 2007 05:16:41 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/07/15/street-food-freedom/#comment-71631 I have a doctor friend whose colleagues at a New York hospital ran some tests on the wares of a street vendor near the hospital. The results were bad enough that none of them would eat that food afterwards. Put bluntly, how do the workers go to the bathroom and how can they keep their hands and work surfaces clean without running water? Also, refrigeration? Yes, in many cities food is sold on the street and lots of people eat it and don't get sick or die. But they've been doing it all along and have worked out how to do it. In Montreal, we no longer know how to do it and, were it permitted at all, it would be so bogged down with rules and regulations that the only people who could afford to operate them would be major franchise chains anyway. I have a doctor friend whose colleagues at a New York hospital ran some tests on the wares of a street vendor near the hospital. The results were bad enough that none of them would eat that food afterwards. Put bluntly, how do the workers go to the bathroom and how can they keep their hands and work surfaces clean without running water? Also, refrigeration?

Yes, in many cities food is sold on the street and lots of people eat it and don’t get sick or die. But they’ve been doing it all along and have worked out how to do it. In Montreal, we no longer know how to do it and, were it permitted at all, it would be so bogged down with rules and regulations that the only people who could afford to operate them would be major franchise chains anyway.

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