By Tara Kyle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
CHELSEA — Storm clouds didn't deter West Side foodies from flooding the Zagat Food Truck Frenzy, held on two Chelsea blocks Monday afternoon.
The festival, originally slated for last Wednesday but pushed back due to torrential rain, brought 26 trucks from around the city to the pavement between West 21st and 22nd Streets and Tenth and Eleventh Avenues.
Tickets, which cost between $15 and $18 depending on the date they were purchased, bought attendees a four-course lunch culled from whichever mix of trucks they favored.
"I'm going for the steak — and the lobster too," said Jonathan Maleonado, 25, already holding a spicy chicken taco from Big D's Grub Truck. For him, sampling the food trucks' wares required a special trip into Manhattan from his home in Ozone Park, Queens.
Fundraiser Anne Girvin, 30, came in search of material for her food blog, I Fork New York. She sampled Korilla Korean Barbecue ("awesome"), the Souvlaki Truck (also "awesome"), and chicken from the Moroccan-flavored Bistro Truck.
"To me, there's nothing better than to be around a lot of people eating and having fun," Girvin said. "It forms this great community."
That sentiment applies to the vendors as well, according to Kelvin Natural Slush Co. owner Alex Rein. On breaks from his own work, he hoped to try out Mexicue and Coolhaus ice cream.
"Anything that can bring attention to food trucks is positive for us and everyone else," Rein said.
