Grilled Cheese Grill 2, D-Street Noshery

September 30, 2010 by 3 Comments
The Grilled Cheese Grill Alberta

The Grilled Cheese Grill Alberta

The Grilled Cheese Grill is expanding their empire next month with a new location on SE 28th, just south of Burnside. Owner Matt Breslow announced today via their Facebook page that the new location will serve up the venerable Grilled Cheese in all its glory and you’ll be able to enjoy your nosh in a double decker bus on-site. I have been wondering what that cool bus was doing behind their NE Alberta compound. Now we know. Watch for more details in the weeks to come.  Grilled Cheese Grill’s Facebook.

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D-Street Noshery, a new pod at SE 32nd and Division is set to open early October with carts including Captured By Porches, Fuego de Lotus, The Pie Spot, Namu and The Donut Trolley. I got a call yesterday from Kevin Bell announcing that he is moving his Italian Ice cart Oregon Ice Works to that pod also. SE Division will soon be renamed SE Street Food Way. We’ll let you know when they all start opening.

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A couple of events this weekend:

  • Deschutes Brewing is hosting an event with beer and a movie Friday night at Cartopia on SE 12th and Hawthorne.
  • Oktoberfest celebrations at both Mississippi Marketplace at N Mississippi/Skidmore and A la Carts at SE 50th and Division on Saturday.
  • Free ICE at Oregon Ice Works on SE 13th and Lexington on Sunday

Happy Cartin!

Filed Under: CART CULTURE, NEWS

Euro Trash

September 29, 2010 by 11 Comments
Euro Trash

Euro Trash

Location: SE 43rd and Belmont
Hours: M-F, 9am-8pm; Sat, 8-8; Sun, 8-6pm

The Story:

When I first saw the brightly painted cart with pastel green stripes and pink faux brick, I was intrigued by the name – Euro Trash, wondering what the heck they were going to offer. Since its opening, I have only heard rave reviews about everything on the menu, so had to visit.

I lived in Europe for awhile, yet my culinary experiences were mostly of Germanic and eastern European influences. Charles Thomas, the owner and chef, a longtime north-westerner who did his time working various gigs including restaurants, lived in Spain and Portugal for a period, soaking up the flavors of that region. As with many cart owners, he wanted to open a restaurant, but when he crunched the numbers, it just wasn’t in the cards. Now that he has the cart open, he loves it. The cart life captured his heart.

Fishy Chips from Euro Trash

Fishy Chips from Euro Trash

The menu at Euro Trash is mind boggling to say the least. From the first item – a prawn baguette with Portuguese curry prawns to the chorizo and chips, it was truly difficult to choose just one item. This is one of those carts you want to visit with kind friends so you can all try something different. When asked what I wanted, I spontaneously blurted out the first thing I saw – Fishy Chips. Normally, when you think of fish and chips, you would be offered halibut or whitefish along with some fries. Here at Euro Trash, it’s Spanish anchovies. Yes, anchovies lightly breaded then deep fried and finished with a little lemon and sea salt. I was excited to see anchovies offered since I’m a fan of their strong flavor. The deep frying along with the light outer crust provide a depth of flavor that is truly enjoyable. While it is served with an aioli for dipping, it wasn’t needed in my case as the “chips” stood by themselves. Charles even offered to leave the heads on if you let him know ahead of time – I guess that is how you would normally serve them.

Euro Trash is another great addition to Good Food Here, the pod quickly defining itself as a destination spot for the city’s cart goers in southeast. Just look at the menu offerings and you know they took the time to craft some tasty vittles. Head on down for breakfast, lunch or dinner and let Charles know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Prawn Baguette: Portuguese curry prawns, cilantro slaw, curry sauce – $7
  • Oregon Doner: falafel waffle, hummus, feta, cucumber, tomato, carrot, trashy sauce – $6; add lamb or beef $2
  • Chorizo and Chips: Portuguese style chorizo, giardiniera, chips, aioli – $6
  • The Alexandria: spinach salad with penne pasta, green beans, jalapeno, vinaigrette – $6
  • Fishy Chips: spanish anchovies breaded and fried with lemon seasalt, aioli – $5
  • Trashy Breakfast: the original bacon waffle with 2 eggs – $5

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-8pm; Saturday, 8am-8pm; Sunday, 8am-6pm
Twitter: @EuroTrashCart Facebook: EuroTrashCart

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Comfort Food, Dinner, European, Fish, Fried food, Lunch, SE 43rd and Belmont, Weekends

CARTopia – Portland’s Food Cart Book

September 28, 2010 by 5 Comments

Over the past year, I have been working with some fellow Portlanders to capture the stories behind our city’s food cart revolution. The work has now been compiled into a book by Kelley Roy and Kelly Rodgers named Cartopia, Portland’s Food Cart Revolution.

The book looks into the history or carts, the demographics, the owner’s stories and yes, the food. I contributed along with Paul Gerald from Breakfast in Bridgetown, Carol Mayer Reed and Michael Reed from Mayer/Reed, Kelly and Kelley, and Andrew Burdick, our awesome photographer. I enjoyed taking the extra time to interview cart owners and delve further into the background as to why they opened a cart and the trials and tribulations throughout the years. There are some wonderful stories out there in food cart land.

The book is coming out in October and you can pre-order it now from PortlandFoodCartsbook.com. I understand Powell’s will also be stocking it once it is in print.

Filed Under: CART CULTURE, NEWS

PieLab

September 28, 2010 by 3 Comments

Pie Lab PDX

Pie Lab PDX

{Update Dec 2010 – PieLab is closed until spring]

Location: NW 12th and Davis
Hours: Fridays, noon-3pm

The Story:

Everyone loves pie right? How about fresh handmade pie served up with a smile and a game. Pie Lab is there to sate your Friday afternoon craving in the Pearl.

Crystal Beasley, a southern girl with bright red lipstick and a cute yellow vintage apron, knows how to bake and had a great idea earlier this year to mix her love of pie with her love of social interaction and games. While working for Cheezburger Networks, the group that brings you I can has Cheezeburger and Failblog among other Internet treats, Crystal hatched the brilliant idea to use a food cart to study society and play games with her customers. Using the social fundraiser site KickStarter, Crystal raised $1650 from 56 backers to finish the build out of her cart and launch. One day, you may spin the wheel to determine how much you pay. Another day, the wheel may decide which pie you will enjoy. Either way, you get a great slice of pie with which you can add fresh whip cream or ice cream if you so wish. For those who aren’t into the game, you can purchase your pie out right also.

Forest Berry Pie from Pie Lab

Forest Berry Pie from Pie Lab

Crystal has been busy with the lab, dusting off some family recipes and even venturing beyond our national borders for influences. The day we visited, she was offering a mixed forest berry pie with a crushed almond and ginger crust, a buttermilk whiskey pie, a mango cobbler and finally, a cherry pie. When I heard there was a pie made with whiskey, I couldn’t help but ask – “what’s your poison?” Wild Turkey! I’ve cooked with wine and sherry, but never whiskey. While I didn’t get drunk of my single slice of scrumptious pie, I could taste the sweet bourbon influences. The mixed berry pie my colleague enjoyed with both ice cream and whip cream was so life-changing for him that he followed up the dish with emails to all his friends, a Facebook posting and some preaching to coworkers. What I liked about both was the depth of flavor and freshness. Oh, and we both spun the wheel for price and landed on $1. Such a deal.

Pie Lab PDX is one of the most ingenious ideas I have seen here in Portland. A fun and tasty experience with a wonderful host in Crystal. Pie is wonderful and she makes some of the best I have had, so go visit her before she hunkers down for winter break and enjoy. Play a game and have some fun. Let her know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Slice of pie: flavors vary – $4
  • Whip Cream – $1
  • Ice Cream – $1

Hours: Fridays, 12-3pm or till they run out of pie
Twitter: @PieLabPDX Facebook: PieLabPDX

Filed Under: Comfort Food, Lunch, NW Portland Tagged With:

Cartivore T-Shirts

September 27, 2010 by 1 Comment

Cartivore Black T-shirt

Food Carts Portland is offering a limited edition Cartivore T-shirt to you, street food fans of Portland and beyond. What is a Cartivore?

A Cartivore is you, the super hero, eating street food in your city with your handy spork and salt shaker on your hip.

Find the shirt in either brown or black in numerous sizes over at our T-Shirt page. They are 100% cotton unisex T’s for $14. Watch for events in the near future where we’ll be offering specials via our Twitter stream or Facebook page or even in person at one of the pods.

Keep on Cartin!

Filed Under: CART CULTURE, NEWS Tagged With:
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