Salmon Fusion

Location: SW 3rd and Washington
Hours: weekdays, lunchtime

The Story:

Earlier in the month, a new sign appeared on a cart that has been a few different vendors in the past year. Salmon Fusion. I wasn’t sure what to expect until I read the posted menu – Smoked Salmon all day long. It felt like Christmas waiting for them to open.

Roger Mumm launched the cart this month bringing his salmon to the eaters of Portland. The salmon in all of his dishes were caught by him this past summer while he was working for Deep Sea Fisheries in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The sockeye is then smoked weekly for us to enjoy. I’m not sure if I would share my salmon with the world. Visit the cart and Roger has photos of his fishing boat and daily catch.

As stated, the cart focuses on smoked salmon dishes like chowder, pot pie, a few sandwiches and tacos. If you’re shy about salmon, Roger will give you a taste of his chowder which is served hot in a toasted cheese bread bowl. Every time I have walked by, customers are raving about the chowder sample they are enjoying. I decided on the smoked salmon sliders served on Alessio bread with a mild pineapple teriyaki sauce, baby spinach and a side of Hawaiian slaw and saffron rice. For $7.50, the sliders were a great value and came with so much tasty smoked salmon, some even fell out for later nibbling. I’m a fan of all smoked salmon and Roger’s is some of the best with a briny flavor that doesn’t come across as too salty nor too fishy. The sauce that comes atop the salmon is more of a slaw with the sweetness of apples coming through to juxtapose the saltiness of the fish. A great meal.

Smoked Salmon Sliders from Salmon Fusion

Salmon Fusion is now open on SW 3rd between Stark and Washington in the former GIN Thai cart. Roger mans the window daily and may even lean out to draw you in with a sample. Check this new cart out, enjoy some smoked salmon goodness and let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Smoked Salmon Chowder w/toasted cheese bread bowl: white whole cream chowder w/roasted corn and Yukon gold potatoes served with Hawaiian slaw and saffron rice – $7.50
• Smoked Salmon Pot Pie: pot pie served in a mild jambalaya with puff pastry cooked golden brown served with Hawaiian slaw and saffron rice – $7.50
• Smoked Salmon Pita Wrap: shredded lettuce, mango pieces, shaved red onion, shaved cucumber and topped with tzatziki or mango chutney and served with Hawaiian slaw and saffron rice – $7.50
• 2 Smoked Salmon Sliders: on Alessio bread with a mild pineapple teriyaki sauce and baby spinach served with Hawaiian slaw and saffron rice – $7.50
• Teriyaki Smoked Salmon Sandwich: teriyaki pineapple glazed salmon served with Hawaiian slaw and saffron rice – $7.50
• 2 Smoked Salmon Tacos: served with sweet and spicy salsa and Hawaiian slaw and saffron rice – $7.50

Hours: weekdays, lunchtime
Phone: 503 719 9018

Local Motive

Location: SW Moody and Gaines at South Waterfront
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11am-3:30pm

The Story:

A few years ago, the only street food showing up at South Waterfront was the traditional sandwich trucks that roam the construction sites. These days, with the area full of new housing and an up and coming retail scene, the food carts have arrived. Local Motive has joined a few others to create their own little pod.

Local Motive is the work of Brittany Kofford and opened earlier this fall with the goal of providing lunch to the ever growing neighborhood and the construction crews working on the new light-rail line just a few blocks away. So much is happening down there is it a wonder there aren’t more carts. Local Motive focuses on NW sustainable seafood with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. The cart is located under an eave with picnic tables so you can enjoy your lunch out of the rain.

Albacore Salad Sandwich from Local Motive

The menu at Local Motive focuses on sandwiches, soups, and salads with seafood being a big part. While on a cool autumn day, seafood chowder sounds simply amazing, when I saw the option for a tuna fish sandwich with albacore, I jumped at it. Starting with a great artisinal roll, the albacore salad comes with diced Honeycrisp apples, toasted hazelnuts and chopped green onions. The mix is well balanced with the sweetness of the apples and the crunch of the nuts. The albacore is a great choice also. It comes served with a side of coleslaw.

Local Motive is now open and ready to serve you. If you’re downtown, you can get there via the streetcar or there is plenty of parking available. Lately, with winter bearing down on us, they have been offering up different soups to keep you warm. Check out this cart down at South Waterfront and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Wild Oregon Mushroom Sandwich: sauteed with shallots and fresh herbs and eggless aioli – half, $4; full, $7
• Grilled Veggie Sandwich: half, $3.50; full, $6
• Oregon Albacore Salad Sandwich: with diced Honeycrisp apples, toasted hazelnuts and green onion – half, $5; full, $8
• Dungeness Crab Melt: half, $6; full, $9
• Seafood Chowder: chopped clams, dungeness crab, bay shrimp with garden potatoes and corn – small, $3.50; large, $6
• Seafood Cakes: dungeness crab, bay shrimp, housemade tartar sauce – $3
• Quinoa Salad: bay shrimp, roasted veg, scallions, fresh herbs and grape seed oil, small, $3; large, $5

Hours: Monday-Friday, 11am-3:30pm
Phone: 503.917.9292
Twitter: @LocalMotivePDX
Facebook: Local Motive

EuroTrash 2

Location: SW 10th and Washington
Hours: M-Sat, 10am-8pm; Sun, 10am-1pm

The Story:

EuroTrash has expanded, opening a second, even more trashier cart in downtown. Right on the corner of SW 10th and Washington, you can get the same awesome menu as served at their SE location. Prawn Baguette anyone? If you ask, Charles will even pose for photos between orders. Let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

You can read our profile of EuroTrash and the ever amazing Fishy Chips here.

Facebook: EuroTrash

Year of the Fish

Location: SE 50th and Ivon, A la Carts Food Pavilion
Hours: Tues-Thur, 11:30-9; Fri, 11:30-12am; Sat, 12:30-12am, Sun, 12:30-8pm

The Story:

Out off Hawthorne in what many refer to as Stumbletown due to the number of bars, there is a new cart that is open late to sate those munchies you get after a few drinks – Year of the Fish. [Update 11/2011: Year of the Fish moved to SE 50th and Ivon]

Edward MacGregor opened Year of the Fish in September after being out of the restaurant game for a few years. Having grown up working in restaurants and subsequently owning them as a family business, he had taken a break from the grind, hoping to do something else. Well, the call of the deep fryer was too strong, but Edward didn’t want to do another restaurant, so decided on the cart. Locating at 47th and Hawthorne was also a strategic decision – an attempt to attract some of the crowds that line up to the few restaurant options in the area late night.

Tiger Prawns from Year of the Fish

Year of the Fish is a fish and chips cart. With options including cod, red snapper and halibut, if you love fish, you’ll like love this cart. Edward offers traditional or gluten-free batter depending on your needs. What surprised me was the offer of tiger prawns. I love a good fish and chips, but to get batter fried tiger prawns raises the bar. Lightly breaded and crunchy, the prawns are delightful. You can get different sauces, but these are so flavorful, you don’t need it. Sided with a handful of steak fries, you have a great little snack.

Year of the Fish is now open for lunch and dinner weekdays and late night on the weekends. Drop on by for some well made fish and chips and other treats and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Cod and Chips – $7
• Red Snapper and Chips – $7
• Halibut and Chips – $market rate
• Tiger Prawns and Chips – $8
• Clam Chowder – New England style – cup, $3; bowl $5
• Just Slaw – $3
• Just Chips – $3

Hours: Tues-Thur, 11:30-9; Fri, 11:30-12am; Sat, 12:30-12am, Sun, 12:30-8pm
Phone: 971 258 6567
Twitter: @YearoftheFish1
Facebook: Year of the Fish

Hot Boxx

Location: Current location unknown, 11/2011
Hours: Tues-Sat, 11am-8:30pm

The Story:

A taste of Maine from a food cart. That is how I learned of Hot Boxx, a newer cart at Green Castle that serves up a dish you don’t find too often our here on the left coast – a lobster roll.

I had heard of Hot Boxx a few months ago, but only recently realized they were at the Green Castle Food Pod in NE. A little hunting trailer painted graffiti style but with a Native American feeling is where John Nash and Travis Price create some great dishes. The lobster roll is what drew me to the cart. I am one of those guys who, as an adult has only had lobster a couple of times and never right out of the shell. I know, how could I go through life without it? Well, I have eaten my weight in fresh salmon if that counts for anything.

Lobster Roll from Hot Boxx

With fresh live lobsters from Maine, Hot Boxx sets out to create what most anyone in New England can get on a daily basis. We’re so lucky to have this. Served up on a toasted bun are huge chunks of lobster meat mixed with butter and a bit of finely chopped chives. Taking that first bite is a tour de force of butter, creamy lobster meat and a crunchy bun. I had to slow down my chewing so I could take it all in. Lobster is so rich and flavorful and now I understand why people seek it out and are willing to pay a pretty penny for it.

While the lobster roll is at the top of the menu, Hot Boxx also serves up other items like a pork belly steam bun or risotto balls. While $12 for a sandwich is at the high end of what food carts sell, it is worth it for one of the best tasting crustaceans around. Head on over and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Lobster Roll – $12
• Pork Belly Steam Bun – $5
• Risotto Balls – $5
• Hoisin Beef Wontons – $4

Hours: Tues-Sat, 11am-8:30pm
Website: HotBoxxPDX.com
Twitter: @HotBoxxPDX
FaceBook: Hot Boxx PDX

Flying Fish Company

Locations: SE 50th and Hawthorne; SE 21st and Hawthorne
Hours: Wed-Fri, 12-7pm at 50th and Hawthorne; Mon-Sun, 10am-7pm, SE 21st and Hawthorne

The Story:

Portland loves fresh food. We love it so much, the Portland Farmers Market is planning on being open year around instead of just during the growing seasons. We have numerous grocery stores that have fresh fish and locally sourced meats. Now we have a truck offering that also – Flying Fish Company.

Lyf Gildersleeve has been handling fish all his life. A fishmonger by trade, he sold his mobile fish company in Utah and moved to Portland to open the Flying Fish Company truck. Outfitted with a freezer and a couple of refrigerators, Lyf’s goal is to bring sustainable and fresh fish, flash frozen fish, fresh shellfish and organic meats to the masses. You can find fresh caught Wild King Salmon, Copper River Sockeye, Dover Sole, Washington Steelhead and a ton of options for fresh oysters, mussels and clams. Everything listed as fresh has never been frozen. Lyf does offer flash-frozen items such as halibut cheeks, hamachi-yellowtail, Hawaii escolar, Hawaii ono and so much more. Being flash frozen isn’t bad. The fish is frozen on the boat just after being caught and never defrosted until it hits your counter. Beyond fish, you can also pick up hormone free, antibiotic free and locally raise beef, lamb, pork, buffalo, elk or venison. It’s like a roaming meat counter from your favorite grocery.

Fresh Salmon from Flying Fish Co.

Lyf’s goal is to bring sustainable and fresh items to your dinner table. Following the sustainable fishing guide which lists those species that are not being overfished, Lyf brings you some amazing choices while also supporting our oceans and local fisherman. He even wraps the fish in biodegradable plant-based packaging.

Lyf’s Flying Fish Co stepvan can be found at the Eagle’s Lodge on SE 50th and Hawthorne Wednesday-Friday and then at D-Street Noshery on SE 32nd and Division on the weekends. His prices are fair-market and you get an excellent product for what your pay for. Join his email list or follow him on Twitter for weekly specials and to learn when he gets in something new. This week it was smoked salmon and steelhead. How can you resist that? Check out Lyf’s truck, pick up something for the summer BBQ and let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Update 9/2011-  Flying Fish Co is now located at SE 50th and Hawthorne along with SE 21st and Hawthorne. No longer on Division.

Menu:

For a list of what the Flying Fish Company is selling each week, visit FlyingFishCompany.com

Hours: Wed-Fri, 12-7pm at 50th and Hawthorne; Sat/Sun, 12-7pm, 32nd and Division
Phone: 503 260 6552
Website: FlyingFishCompany.com
Twitter: @FlyingFishPDX Facebook: Flying Fish Oregon

Island Grill Hawaiian Barbeque

Location: SW 9th and Alder
Hours: Weekdays, lunchtime

The Story:

When one cart closes, someone is always there to re-open with something new. Shortly after Tofu House closed, Island Grill was open with a menu of Hawaiian treats.

We have a few Hawaiian carts in town now with 808 Grinds and Ninja Plate Lunch. With the addition of Island Grill, Portland cart lovers have yet another choice for Kalua Pork or a side of macaroni salad. Hawaii is also famous for loco moco and Island Grill has it if that is your desire – a plate of rice with a hamburger patty, brown gravy and fried egg atop.

Teriyaki Chicken Plate

The plate lunches are pretty a la carte – rice and macaroni salad with your choice of meat – and two different sizes if you’re looking to eat less. The meat options aren’t surprising – kalua pork, beef shortribs, chicken katsu, hamburger steak – just to name a few. I decided to try the Teriyaki chicken and got a full plate with two scoops or rice and the salad. The grilled chicken had a char to it that when paired with the sweetness you get from teriyaki sauce, created a great mix of flavors. The macaroni salad was a treat, one of my favorite types of salad. I even added a spam musubi – rice, spam and sauce wrapped in seaweed. I love spam musubi.

Island Grill is open right there on cart row on SW Alder between 9th and 10th. Check them out if you’re looking for a change – they usually have daily specials that are different from the menu. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Plate lunches are either mini for $5 or regular for $6.50
Mini: 1 scoop of rice and 1 scoop of macaroni salad with choice of meat
Regular: add a scoop or rice

Meat choices:  BBQ beef; Teriyaki beef; Hamburger steak; Beef short ribs; Kalua pork; BBQ spicy pork; Pork katsu; Fried shrimp; Fried mahi mahi; BBQ chicken; Teriyaki chicken; Shoyu chicken; Chicken katsu

• Add Musubi for $2
• Burgers – $5 with choice of meat
• Yakisoba noodles – $6
• Loco moco – $7
• Island Bibimbap – $6

Hours: Weekdays, lunchtime
Contact: unknown

Timmy's Fish Fry

Location: SW Montgomery at 9th in the Park Blocks
Hours: M-F, 11am-5pm

The Story:

Portland has food carts of all different styles-  former hunting trailers, re-purposed U Haul trucks and purpose built carts that started from a flatbed. What we have few of are traditional old school push carts that were the forefront of streetfood in this city and also define streetfood elsewhere. Timmy’s Fish Fry, a newer cart at Portland State University is one of these carts born from the hot dog cart of yore.

Tim Bass literally dreamed up Timmy’s one night last summer and spent three to four months working out the details, getting inspections and setting up his cart at Portland State University. Tim’s cart is different than what we’re use to, a pushcart that is both open to the elements and arrives in the morning and leaves at the end of the day. In Portland, these types of carts are few and far between. When placing a cart on parks and rec land like the park blocks, you have to follow an extra set of regulations and roll up the sidewalks every day. Not a trivial task. I checked out Tim’s cart, both compact and functional, allowing him to deliver a simple menu of excellent quality items well prepared.

Fried Catfish Sandwich

I first tried fried catfish in the south a few years ago and whenever I get a chance, I order it. Some people are drawn to salmon, I’m a catfish fan. Tim offers up a fried catfish sandwich with crispy fillet atop some cole slaw on a french roll. The batter for the fish is made up of Bob’s Red Mill flour and some good old Hamm’s beer. A crisp light coating creates an excellent flavor with the fish. The slaw has a malt vinegar touch to it, providing a balance and zing for the fish similar to when you get fish and chips at a British pub and douse it with the malt. Sometimes, fried fish fillets are overly greasy, but not at Timmy’s, not at all. An excellent sandwich.

Timmy’s sets up his cart in the park blocks of SW Montgomery at Portland State University. Since he is fully mobile, you may see him elsewhere in the city, keep your eyes open. I enjoyed chatting with Tim and hearing his story and enjoying the sandwich he made me. Drop on by for a visit and let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Bay Shrimp Roll: french roll with bay shrimp and sauce – $6
• Crispy Catfish Roll: battered catfish, cole slaw, aioli on French roll – $6
• Fried Calimari – $5
• Fish Fry: fried pieces of cod, house made potato chips and slaw – $7

Hours: Monday-Friday, 11am-5pm
Email: tdbass1@yahoo.com
Facebook: Timmy’s Fish Fry

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

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

Location: SE 12th and Hawthorne, Cartopia

The Story:

On Friday or Saturday night, I am a sucker for fries or a pizza or a pie – all the wonderful things available at Cartopia down on SE 12th and Hawthorne. Yet, sometimes, you have a craving for something a little different – maybe a po’boy or some BBQ or even some jambalaya. Well, Bubba Bernie’s is there to sate that craving.

Bubba Bernie’s serves up a great mix of southern comfort food. The evening we visited, a cold dark Saturday night, we were able to sit comfortably at their tables under their awning warmed by their gas space heater. It was one of those nights when the only thing that could warm you was direct heat, and Bernie’s had it. We ordered a BBQ beef brisket sandwich and the vegan jambalaya with kale and veggie sausage.

The BBQ beef brisket sandwich came on a nicely toasted french roll and the beef had been slow roasted well enough that when you took a bite, it melted in your mouth. A great sandwich for that cold night. The vegan jambalaya was really the showcase of the night. I had never thought of adding kale to jambalaya. For some, that kale, and the veggie sausage may be sacrilegious, but we enjoyed it. It was pretty spicy too, something I love in a southern dish.

Bubba Bernie’s has been in Cartopia for well over a year and has established itself as a solid cart. They are open as early as 6pm, so you could easily visit for dinner or come late night for a snack. As stated, they have covered seating with a nice heater for cool evenings, so you don’t have to order and go. Next time you visit, enjoy a po’boy and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Black bean + brisket chili w/cheese:  8oz – $4; 16oz bowl – $7.50
• Beef brisket on french roll – $8
• Pulled pork on french roll – $8
• Dinners – either sandwich with garlic roll and choice of sides for $9.50 or more.
• Philly Cheese Steak – $8
• Po’Boys served on french roll with lettuce, tomato, roumalad and green onion – your choice of catfish, shrimp, clam strips or oyster – $6.75
• Chicken or shrimp Jambalaya – $8.50
• Vegan Jambalaya with kale and vegan sausage – $7.50

Hours: Wed through Sat, 6pm-3am
Contact: unknown