Can't Beat Street Meat - 240
Hal Wastes His Wages
September 25, 2007

What's not to love about autumn? You've got football gearing up and baseball winding down. You've got that ingrained back-to-school mentality making it one of the most productive times of the year--no summer daydreams, no winter blahs, no spring fever, no excuses. But as our region turns the page to the fairy tale Goldilocks season--not too hot, not too cold, but just right--there is an unfortunate downside. With the withering trees and wilting grass comes a much darker reality, for autumn marks the end of Street Meat season.

Street Meat is strictly a summer phenomenon. Only in the carefree days of summer would one have the blind faith to walk up to some flimsy aluminum storefront and entrust their bowels to the gastronomical gypsies of the Street Meat circuit. That place wasn't there two days ago and won't be there tomorrow, but for whatever reason you see nothing wrong with waltzing up and shelling out $8 for an otherwise volatile meat product and immediately jamming it down your throat. Why? Because it tastes so damn good, that's why!

Nothing compares to the greasy, charred goodness of street fair "sauzeege" with peppers and onions. Hell, why not have two--be it hot or sweet, you can't beat Street Meat. Or if that doesn't do it for you, how 'bout a nice, ambiguously flavored gyro from the booth next door? It's always a challenge to wolf those things down before the overloaded sauce inevitably drips on your bloated stomach and permanently stains your favorite t-shirt. And don't forget your side orders like the cheesy, corny goodness of a "mozzarepa" or some pommes frites--extra greasy. Wash it down with an extra tart, fresh-squeezed lemonade and top it off with a deep-fried Oreo. Then call your doctor and set up a cholesterol screening for next Tuesday. Sure, you'll walk most of it off walking from tchotchke booth to tchotchke booth, but in the end a little bit of that meal might permanently seep its way into your system. No worries, autumn is around the corner and you can simply cover up with a nice, roomy fleece.

This weekend is the Hoboken Fall Arts and Music Festival, essentially signifying the end of summer and ushering in what one friend so accurately referred to as "fat guy weather." Hell, soon enough it'll be winter, and then you'll wish you had packed on more of that insulation. So get out there, fight the strollers and get your Street Meat on. After this weekend, all that's left is that dirty water dog on the way home from work. Next to the pomp and circumstance of a transient Street Meat wagon, the relative banality of the Sabrett cart just doesn't cut the mustard.

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