Despite some discontent regarding the selection process, a panel representing the City of Madison has once again made its picks for which vendors get the right to sell on the coveted city property stretching from Library Mall to Capitol Square. This year, all vendors applying for a place to sell were approved.
Each year a food cart review panel, consisting of about twenty members, reviews every food cart in Madison. Panelists are allowed to visit each food cart and receive free food. They then grade the carts on their food, physical appearance of the cart and on originality.
\The food was a step above,"" Vending Oversight Committee chair Karen Foxgrover said. ""We had a really wonderful diversity of foods to taste. I thought it was really good quality food, really good quality people... The food cart process in Madison has worked really awesome.""
The ranking and evaluation system was adopted by the Vending Oversight Committee five years ago. The vending committee is in charge of the food carts in Madison and aims to retain an original and unique character through these food carts in the State Street area.
The Athenian Garden and the Fruit Stand were among the top five best carts this year according to Vending Oversight Committee member, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
According to Street Vending Coordinator Warren Hansen, these food carts are as highly regulated as any restaurant in Madison. However, Hansen said he has had problems in the past finding dedicated panelists who stop and taste the required 80 percent of city food carts.
""[The] reviewing process is collectively stupid,"" Don Helley, a worker at the Fruit Stand, said. ""Being reviewed off the whim of someone is really a challenge because not all of the reviewers are professional and a few take advantage of the process.""
To pass inspection and be assigned a site, carts need at least 70 points out of 100. Forty points are based on the flavor, menu and presentation.
Another 40 points are awarded for the design, visual impact, graphics, signage, cleanliness, and overall maintenance of the cart itself. The remaining 20 points are awarded for originality.
Last year, Athenian Garden received the highest score during the food cart rating process. It was followed by Johnson Brother's Coffee, Thai House, The Fruit Stand, and Buraka.
The only food cart not to receive the required seventy points was Mango Man: Latin Soul Food. On its day of evaluation, the owner had an empty cart, lacked a distinguishing sign and had no menu.
""Little regulation went on initial[ly] because we weren't cooking any food,"" Helley said of his first evaluation process. ""The review process has gotten harder recently because we have to be on our toes for a week and the reviewing is erratic.""
A food cart license, if granted, costs vendors $800 when the cart opens, along with an additional annual street vendor license fee of $120 per person working in the cart.
