When it comes to food trends, New York isn't always on the forefront. While we've had food carts forever, the food truck phenomenon didn't really get raging here until after it had conquered the West Coast (see: the Kogi Truck). And the latest trend out there seems to be "Underground Farmer's Markets," which the Times has chosen to call craves (like a culinary rave—get it?). After taking off in San Francisco, similar events have apparently spread out to DC and Atlanta—can we be that far behind?
Not to be confused with the night market that isn't happening in Brooklyn or the annual night market that goes along with the Lucky Rice festival, SF's market is a "quasi-clandestine monthly event, a tribal gathering of young chefs, vendors and their iron-stomached followers are remaking the traditional farmers market as an indie food rave." The scene includes live music, bouncers, booze, and lines around the block. And the lines are what we're anxious about. If there is one thing New York really doesn't need its another hipper-than-thou experience that you need to wait in line for hours for. When our siblings at SFist went last month, one of their editors "received a dirty look from a line-mate after dissing kombucha tea" (then again, this is San Francisco we're talking about...).
We will admit though that the market does offer one interesting twist on the usual food fairs that we get here. In order to make it easier for for a budding food entrepreneur to participate the market's sidestep city health inspections by "operating as a private club, requiring that participants become “members” (free) and sign a disclaimer noting that food might not be prepared in a space that has been inspected." There is definitely something to be said for giving budding chefs a chance to try cooking for the masses on the cheap—as we know, opening a restaurant is neither easy nor inexpensive!
