Wholly Crepe

Location: SE 47th and Hawthorne
Hours: Mon-Thurs, 11am-8pm; Fri/Sat, 11am-2am

The Story:

In the area of upper Hawthorne which is more about food and drink than shopping, there is a new lot taking shape with a few food carts. Wholly Crepe joined the lot earlier this year to serve sweet and savory crepes among other items.

In Stumbletown, as it is known by many, there seems to be a bar or tavern every other business. I’ve spent many a youthful night wandering from the Space Room to Bar of the Gods to Sewickly’s Addition and beyond. After a few beers though, you get hungry and other than bar food, there weren’t many places to get cheep eats. Just a block away though, at 47th, there is a new pod growing and Wholly Crepe is there till 2am to sate the late nigh noshes of Portland’s drinkers. You can get something sweet like a sugar and lime crepe or banana and Nutella or go savory with tomato, basil, pesto, avocado and Mozzarella. Either way, at 1am on a Saturday night, Wholly Crepe is there for you.

Strawberry and Nutella Crepe

On one of those rare sunny spring days, I stopped by to pay them a visit and ordered a strawberry and Nutella crepe made with fresh cut strawberries. I knew it was early in the season, but the owner insisted they were Oregon fresh and I could taste it. A lot of care went into making this crepe with the hand cutting of the strawberries to the artistry of actually making the crepe. If you’ve never watched how they do it, you should, it is cool how they can perfectly pour the batter to fill the large round griddle and deftly fold and flip it with ease. Since I wasn’t in a hurry, I ate there and the crepe was served up on a nice plate with an extra bit of cream and some more strawberries and a dash of chocolate powder. The mixture of the Nutella with its Hazelnut flavor and the strawberries was decadent. This is a fork and knife dish as the Nutella is a gooey tasty mess inside the crepe.

Wholly Crepe isn’t a brand new cart. They’ve been around now for over a year, originally located over on SE 50th and Division. Head on over either for lunch, dinner or a snack in between. They have something for everyone all wrapped up in a fresh made crepe. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Sugar and Lime – $3
• Nutella – $3.50
• Cinnamon, Butter and Sugar – $3
• Strawberries and Cream – $4
• Banana and Chocolate – $4
• Banana and Nutella – $4

Savory Crepes come with house salad and sour cream:

• Lentil: spiced lentils, pesto and Mozarella – $5
• Zaalook: zucchini, eggplant cooked in sauce of garlic, tomato and onions, topped with Mozzarella – $5
• Fromage: fresh tomatoes, basil, pesto, avocado and Mozzarella – $5
• Ham and Turkey: with tomato, avocado, capers, Mozzarella – $5

Hours: Mon-Thurs, 11am-8pm; Fri/Sat, 11am-2am
Phone: 503-473-6606
Twitter: @WhollyCrepeCart          Facebook: Wholly Crepe

Snow White House Crepes

Location: SW 10th and Alder
Hours: Daily, 12-11pm

The Story:

A venerable old cart, Snow White House has been serving Portland crepes and sandwiches for over 13 years. Even before the current owners took it over back in the 90′s, it was acting as a food cart downtown. Talk about the stories that cart may hold.

Snow White House Crepes is the work of Abby Tian who bought the cart oh so many years ago with the idea that people love crepes and she needs to cook for them. The cart was originally across from the Guild Theater where Directors Park now sits, but moved to SW 10th and Alder about 8 years ago to a spot where there were only two other carts. That area now is overflowing with some of Portland’s best street food. A wise choice Abby.

Tuna Crepe from Snow White House

Snow White House’s menu is huge. Three pages filled with crepes, sandwiches and other on the spot prepared foods. In addition to that, you can get chips, pop, candy and maybe even trinkets. They have it all. Sandwiches choices run the gamet with turkey, chicken breast, ham – you name it, she’s got it with all the fixin’s. Though, I don’t think sandwiches are the focus here being the cart’s name has crepes in it. Just choosing from the list of thirteen crepe offerings makes one dizzy with delight. They can make the crepe either traditional or with buckwheat flour and choices range from Swedish meatball to spinach and cheese to chocolate and fresh fruit or lemon curd. The tuna crepe I enjoyed was humongous – tuna, Tillamook cheddar, pepper jack, cream cheese, spinach, tomato, eggs, celery, onions, parsley, mayo, salt and pepper. A giant of a crepe. As I watched her layer on the ingredients, I began to wonder if she would get it closed. There was a lot of cheese in that crepe, but the other ingredients balanced it out for an enjoyable, albeit filling meal.

Snow White House Crepes is an example of tenacity and drive. Recently in an interview with OPB, Abby stated she works every day for 12 hours in addition to running a restaurant. She believes her customers come to see her and her crepes. Well done lady. You can find Snow White House at SW 10th and Alder. When you visit, let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Ham or turkey and cheese: ham or turkey, Mozzarella, romaine lettuce, tomato, parsley, salt, pepper, mayo and mustard – $4.99
• Swedish Meatball: sliced meatball, Mozzarella, Parmesan, spinach, onion, olive, parsley, salt and pepper – $6.50
• Tuna: see description above – $6.50
• Spinach and Cheese: spinach, tomato, Mozzarella, feta, parsley, pesto, salt, pepper – $4.99
• Fresh fruit and homemade custard: fresh strawberries and banana with custard and banana – $5
• Chocolate and fresh fruit: Nutella, strawberries, bananas with roasted sliced almonds – $5

Hours: Daily, including weekends, 12-11pm
Contact: unknown

Location: SE 12th and Hawthorne

Description:

11:47pm on a Saturday night and you have the munchies.  You’ve had too many tacos and pizza in your life and you’re looking for something new.  I suggest you head down to SE 12th and Hawthorne and grab a Crepe.

Perierra Creperie makes both sweet and savory crepes with all kinds of ingredients.  Want something with smoked salmon?  They got it.  What about asparagus?  Yup.  How about lemon or nutella or pear or strawberry?  If you can think of it, they probably have it and can make it into a yummy crepe.  I was indeed there around 12:15am one Friday evening and the carts were as my friend puts it “popping off.”  Potato Champion next door was pretty crowded, but I wanted something more substantial, so I opted for the mozarella, soprasetta, basil and red pepper.  mmmmm, soprasetta.  Look at that yummy goodness:

It seemed like it only took a couple of seconds for the crepe pancake to brown enough for her to flip it and then add the ingredients and then a few seconds more and it was in my hands then in my belly.   Such a great replacement for the late night nosh.  The New York Times even took in some crepes on a recent visit.

Sample Menu:

• Lemon and sugar – $3.50
• Nutella and banana – $5
• Chocolate and prosciutto -  $5
• Walnut + honey + cardamom + corriander – $5
• add frangelico or grand marnier to any of the sweet for $1
• Gogonzola, pear, walnut, honey – $7
• Ham and Gruyere – $6
• Mozarella, soprasetta, basil, red pepper – $8
• Smoke salmon, cream cheese, arugula, lemon – $8
• Shakes and smoothies available also

Hours: Tues – Sat: 8am-3am; Sunday: 9am – 3pm
Email: perierra@gmail.com
Website: Perierra on Facebook