Night Market hits Mount Airy

The roving street fair known as Night Market hits Mount Airy from 6-10 p.m. today (Thursday, Aug. 4), showcasing established eateries on the 7000-7200 blocks of Germantown Avenue (Earth Bread & Brewery; Geechee Girl Rice Cafe) and introducing trucks with gourmet grub.

Earth Bread + Brewery is debuting a sandwich of house-made mozzarella, roasted vegetables, heirloom tomatoes and basil pesto on house-made herbed focaccia. Their drink offerings include small-batch beers and house-brewed Kombucha, a non-alcoholic fermented tea in infused with blueberries, cranberries or ginger.

Latin Farmer, a new truck with a menu of Puerto Rican favorites made with fresh local ingredients, is making its street debut.

"It's healthy Latin with a local mentality," says owner Wilfredo Manzo of Marlton. "We're keeping classic flavors, but making our food from scratch."

Think Collard Wraps, with ingredients rolled in a collard leaf instead of a tortilla.

Chef Ryan Fulford, former sous chef at Friday, Saturday, Sunday, is cooking up a meat version with skirt steak and mofongo (mashed plantain). His vegan version features grilled peppers, onions, cucumbers, mushrooms, plantains and a homemade chimichurri sauce.

His Choripan, the classic Argentine sausage sandwich, features chorizo from the Reading Terminal market, grilled onion and pepper, pineapple-culantro grain mustard, banana ketchup, and Queso de Papa cheese.

Wash it all down with a non-alcoholic Cucumber Mojito from Latin Farmer, and leave room for a slice from Nomad Pizza; a twist on the classic ice cream sandwich from Zsa's; and something sweet or savory from Ahmed Azab's Crepe Walk truck (far from its home base at 36th and Spruce).

Funded with a grant from the William Penn Foundation, Night Market debuted on East Passyunk Avenue in October 2010 and made a big splash in University City in June - drawing thousands until the rains came.

The market is a project of the non-profit Food Trust, which also sponsors the lively Headhouse Farmers Market at 2nd and Lombard streets in Society Hill (that's open 10 a.m. til 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, now through December.)
 
The last Night Market for 2011 will be in the fall, but no word yet on where or when.

There's music at Night Market too: the UCC Royal Brass Band, Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble and Doc Gibbs and His Band, are performing.

"Ten years ago, a roaving street fair would be all about music," says April White of the Food Trust. "So this says a lot about how much this city had embraced food."

MountAiry Night Market is happening on 7000 to 7200 blocks of Germantown Avenue, from Sedgwick Street to Mt. Airy Avenue, from 6-10 p.m.

Biking is probably best, but the 'hood is easily accessible by SEPTA's Regional Rail Line (Chestnut Hill).
Park on the side streets or look for the free off-street parking at:

- Valley Green Bank, 7726 Germantown Avenue
- at the corner of Germantown and Sedgwick
- Germantown Home, on Carpenter Lane at Germantown Avenue