Vendy winners: Falafel, cheese curds, ice pops

One of the city's old-timers joined a yearling and a previous winner on stage Saturday at Philadelphia's third annual Vendy Awards.

Held beneath blue skies at Penn Treaty Park, the invitational featuring 18 top food trucks and vendors drew several hundred attendees. It's a benefit for The Food Trust.

Nabil and Hined Akkeh, Syrian immigrants who opened the King of Falafel truck at 16th Street and JFK Boulevard in 1989, won the Vendy Cup.

Repeating as the winner of the sweet category was Lil' Pop Shop, which sells its good-for-you ice pops at a West Philadelphia storefront as well as on a truck that stops at farmers' markets. Owner Jeanne Chang, a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef, expects to open a location at 534 S. Fourth St. (just off South) around June 11.

A yearling made off with two prizes. Rob Mitchell, who launched his truck, The Cow & the Curd, only three months ago, won the savory prize as well as sponsor Tide Stain Eraser's "Messy Yet Tasty" award. His chipotle sauce was awesome.