World Street Food Congress Welcomes Portland Vendors

Screen Shot 2013-05-20 at 8.47.59 AMFood Carts Portland is proud and excited to announce that Brett Burmeister, co-owner and editor of this website, is heading to Singapore along with three of Portland’s food cart leaders to attend the World Street Food Congress from May 31- June 9, 2013.

Brett will represent Food Carts Portland and our other North American-wide project, Roam Mobile Food Conference. Brett will join Portland food cart owners Cliff Allen from The People’s Pig, Charles Thomas from Euro Trash, and Trey Corkern of The Swamp Shack to showcase Portland’s thriving street food scene, including providing meals to over 10,000 attendees. Portland will be in good company, alongside forty mobile food vendors from places as diverse as Europe, SE Asia, Mexico, and beyond.

If you’re a regular reader of this site, you know Brett has been writing about Portland’s street food scene since 2008. He will speak at the Congress as part of their World Street Food Dialogue June 3 and 4, alongside culinary luminaries such as Anthony Bourdain and James Oseland, the editor of Saveur magazine. Brett’s presentation on the Portland street food model highlights how the City of Portland and Multnomah County have supported mobile food vendors to create vibrant community spaces while at the same time supporting the growth of small, local food businesses.

The attending Portland food carts will be part of a 10-day street food jamboree with street food vendors from around the world. Food showcased from Portland includes a fried softshell crab sandwich from Euro Trash, pulled pork from The People’s Pig, and smothered chicken from The Swamp Shack. The three vendors are both excited and nervous about bringing their craft halfway around the world. The World Street Food Congress organizer, KF Seetoh and his team came to Portland earlier this year to check out  different vendors. They tried numerous dishes from many food carts and settled on three from our fair City of Roses: a fried softshell crab sandwich from Eurotrash, pulled pork from the People’s Pig, and smothered chicken from Swamp Shack.

About the World Street Food Congress:

The World Street Food Congress (WSFC)  is the first of its kind  to connect and open up fresh ideas and thought leadership in the massive, and growing street food culture and industry throughout the world. It also celebrates and showcases this well loved gastro-culture through a ten-day celebration of street food. According to founder K.F. Seetoh, the goals of the WSFC are to “preserve, professionalize and create new possibilities for the world’s greatest culinary phenomena – comfort and street food culture.”

The World Street Food Congress takes place May 31-June 9 in Singapore. More details about the event can be found at www.wsfcongress.com.

We wish Portland’s Food Carts a Bon Voyage, and expect on-the-ground updates from Brett and Food Carts Portland throughout the event.

Taste of the Nation May 7

Taste of the Nation is back and better than ever. This annual event brings together some of the best chefs, winemakers, brewers and distillers to end childhood hunger. Imagine an evening of wandering from table to table trying bites from Aviary or Departure or Lardo and mixing in sweets from Batch Chocolates or Fifty Licks while washing it all down with something from Cana’s Feast or maybe a House Spirits cocktail. For me, it is a night of fun, a bit of gluttony and a way to give back to the community. Share Our Strength is bringing Portland’s finest to the Crystal Ballroom on Tuesday evening, May 7. This year, 100% of ticket sales will go to local beneficiaries – Oregon Food Bank, Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon, St. Vincent DePaul and Klamath/Lake Counties Food Bank.

I’ve had the pleasure of attending this event for a couple of years now and everyone involved is passionate about their craft and about ending childhood hunger. Tickets are $85 for General Admission and VIP and LUXE tickets are also available. 60 purveyors of their craft – a bargain.

We have 2 VIP tickets to give away for this wonderful event. Just leave a comment stating which of the 60 purveyors you’re most excited to indulge. We’ll pick a winner on Friday morning. You can find more details about Taste of the Nation and the list of restaurants, wineries, breweries and distillers at Strength.org/Portland.

We have a winner-  Ann wants to try some Broder and Lardo. Congrats Ann.

Pulehu Pizza

Puhelu Pizza

Pulehu Pizza

Location: SW 3rd and Stark
Hours: Weekdays, lunch; Fri/Sat late night

The Story: A few years ago, a friend told me about a new pizza he was making at home on his gas grill. I just couldn’t picture putting a pizza on a grill. Wouldn’t it stick and burn? Fast forward to this week and I was able to see how it is done at the newest pizza cart in Portland – Pulehu Pizza.

On The Grill

On The Grill

Pulehu is the work of Pierre and Annebelle who originally hail from Maui. Pierre was a chef at the Four Seasons for eight years and both wanted to escape their jobs, so while camping among waterfalls, the idea of grilling pizzas was hatched. After trying their concept at a block party, the idea grew into a full service catering and concession operation. In Hawaii, they didn’t have a cart or food truck and were forced to carry everything to their events. They earned the right to be inside a box here in Portland. Pulehu – slang for grill.

The grill used is a large outdoor style gas grill you would see permanently installed for your outdoor kitchen. Pierre makes fresh pizza dough which is rolled out for either an 8″ or 12″ personal pie. He quickly grills one side and then waits for your order. I chose the Truffle Mushroom which comes with mushrooms, grana padano, garlic, truffle oil, cracked black pepper and other seasonings. Pierre tops the grilled side then slides it onto the grill to finish the crust. After a bit, once the crust is just right, he removes it onto a pie pan and closes the lid to cook the toppings and melt the cheese. After some final seasoning and slicing, they hand it over. I love truffle oil on pizza, it adds a fruity flavor that is amazing and subtle. This pie was right up my alley. The crust, thin and crisp enough you could pick up a slice without it getting all floppy. Simple toppings and simple prep made for a wonderful meal.

Truffle Mushroom Pizza from Pulehu Pizza

Truffle Mushroom Pizza from Pulehu Pizza

Pierre and Annebelle now call Portland their home and have opened their doors to be one of only a few pizza vendors in food carts. They have a diverse menu of pizzas along with salads for the non-pizza eater. They are  open late night on the weekends for your fourth meal cravings. Drop on by, welcome them to the Rose City and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Classic Cheese- 8″, $5; 12″, $11
  • Margherita: tomato, cart made ricotta and pesto – 8″, $6; 12″, $13
  • Pepperoni – 8″, $6; 12″, $13
  • Meat Lovers: pepperoni, artisanal sausage, grana padano and garlic – 8″, 7; 12″, $13
  • Veggie Lovers: tomato, mushroom, feta, kalamata olives, cart made pesto – 8″, $7; 12″, $13

Phone: 503 915 6869
Website
: PulehuPizza.com
Twitter: @PulehuPizza
Facebook: Pulehu Pizza

I Heart This Cart

I Heart This Cart

I Heart This Cart

Location: SW 3rd and Washington
Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11-4; Fri, 11-4 and 9pm-2am; Sat, 11am-9pm

The Story:

Multicultural Comfort Food is the theme for I Heart This Cart, one of the newest to join the vendors at SW 3rd and Washington. Looking at the diverse items on the menu, I see what they mean.

On a cool windy January day, I read the entire menu trying to decide which amazing item I wanted. Cory, the chef, has an eclectic blend of sandwiches, soups and event homemade mac and cheese. Cory’s been cooking since his teens and was the head chef at the Lake Hotel at Yellowstone National Park for two years. Nice resume. Also, when neighboring food cart owners urge you to visit, you gotta know it’s going to be good.

At I Heart this Cart you can pick up small bites like Arancinis or full size sandwiches like a seasonal po’boy with pork belly or a classic Philly cheese steak. I chose the hearty Southwest Mac and Cheese with chipotle cream sauce, cavatappi pasta and tossed with black beans, sweet corn, scallions, roasted red pepper and sided with a few tortilla chips. At Cory’s recommendation, I added in pork belly. A hearty meal served in a GO Box, I loved that it wasn’t a traditional cheesy cheesy Mac and Cheese. The sauce had a spicy bite, but mild and smoky from the chipotle. Al dente pasta is the perfect choice. More like an al fredo sauce. Did I mention the pork belly added in a wonderful creamy fattiness also. More than I could finish in one sitting.

Southwest Mac and Cheese

Southwest Mac and Cheese

I Heart This Cart had a steady stream of patrons while I stood around chatting with other vendors. Cory has built a following in the three short months he’s been open and is here for the long term. Drop on by next time you’re looking for something new and let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Arancini – 2 breaded risotto balls stuffed with Parmesan and fresh Mozzarella, deep fried and served with marinara – $4
  • Chicken and Dumplings – braised chicken thighs, brussell sprouts, root vegetables and potato dumplings – $7
  • Southwest Mac and Cheese – $8; add protein for $2
  • Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese with Vegan Tomato Soup – $7
  • Seasonal Po’Boy – braised and seared pork belly, apple fennel and radicchio slaw, served with a curried remoulade sauce on po’boy roll – $8
  • Classic Philly Cheesesteak – $4/half; $7/full

Phone: 707-299-7711
Facebook: I Heart This Cart

Food Cart Review – 2012 Edition

We made it another year friends and the Portland street food scene is stronger than ever. It seems like just last week I was navigating the crowds at the 10th and Alder pod on a sunny hot summer day.

Retrolicious

Retrolicious

Stats:

As with every type of stat, these numbers are my best estimates based on our tracking of the carts throughout the year. As of today, Multnomah County has 702 licensed mobile vendors on the books. That doesn’t necessarily mean there are 702 vendors in pods throughout the city. This number reflects catering company trucks, coffee carts on your daily commute and many of those vendors who only work summers or farmers markets. By my count, there are 350 vendors throughout the city available any given time. Add to that the mobile trucks who roam to corporate campuses beyond downtown and suburbs and you get that number up to 400.

At the end of 2011, we had 689 licensed vendors. Does that mean we only added 13 new vendors? No, 150 new vendors opened throughout the year, but around 60 closed. Some of those new vendors opened brand new carts, but this year we saw a large number of cart transfers where one cart throughout the year ended up being multiple vendors. This was mostly seen downtown where the turnover is greater.

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