Decadence returns to Times Square next month in the form of four new gourmet food stands.
Rosemary empanadas, pork dumplings, artisanal milkshakes and crunchy panini will be among the offerings within pedestrian plazas, the Times Square Alliance announced today.
To weed out the tastiest of 72 culinary proposals for the new crossroads of the waistline, a team of judges comprised of local businesses had the enviable task of sampling the city’s best eats, said Tim Tompkins, president of the alliance.
The jury of 12 hungry men and women settled on:
– Nuchas, an Argentinian empanada stand, which will be located on the Broadway Plaza between 44th and 45th.
– Snack Box, an espresso bar/purveyor of high-end pretzels, cookies, and milkshakes by restaurateur Jonathan Morr, will open between 46th and 47th streets
– Rickshaw Dumplings House — of popular food truck fame — will sell Asian dumplings between 42nd and 43rd Street.
– Salume will serve panini between 45th and 46th streets.
“The winners today represent the creativity and diversity of New York’s food scene,” said Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance. ” We wanted to provide simple, focused, light food options.”
The pedestrian plaza tables will not be designated strictly for diners, but “we will experiment with how we place the tables in the area next to the concession stands so that there is an association and closeness that will allow for some regular turnover.”
It will not, however, “be roped off, exclusive or anything like that,” he said.
The vendors are expected to generate nearly $400,000 in annual revenue for the Alliance, which will be used for the upkeep and security for the plazas, Tompkins said.
Although many of the food offerings in the area are from large chain restaurants, Bruce Goldner, a lawyer with Skadden Arps who served as one of the judges, said “what we were looking for was a distinctive consumer experience in Times Square.”
Ariel Barbouth, owner of Nuchas, said offerings such as braised short rib or rosemary empanadas will sell for between $2 to $3.
“Everything will be freshly baked on our premises,” he said.
Michele Colombo, owner of Salume, says his menu will feature real Italian panini like prosciutto de Parma with mozzarella, tomatoes and olive oil.
“To us, real panini is fresh and had a good ratio of bread to filling,” he said.
Snackbox will sell gourmet versions of iconic New York street food such as hot dogs with toppings including pickled relish and spicy ketchup – and milkshakes with flavors of strawberry black pepper or burnt butter.
Rickshaw Dumpling owner David Weber promises his menu won’t be gutbusting, noting six dumplings are under 300 calories.
jeremy.olshan@nypost.com