Tony’s Cucina

March 26, 2013 by 3 Comments

Tony’s Cucina

Location: SW 9th and Alder
Hours: weekdays, lunch

The Story: What’s that phrase – for every door that closes, another opens? It seems the story of the ever evolving street food scene in Portland. Just as you fall in love with one vendor, they close and you’re faith in food is dashed. Lucky for us, when the previous owner vacated, Tony’s Cucina opened offering something special.

Tony Velasquez open his cucina early this year with a menu of Mexican/Italian fusion cuisine. After spending a quarter century in the medical field, he jumped ship and went to culinary school. When a friend asked if he wanted to try out a cart, Tony took the leap. The menu is inspired by childhood favorites  – the best foods his mom use to make. Everything is made from scratch with care.

Sonoran Hot Dog from Tony’s Cucina

Tony lived in Arizona for twenty years where his love for the Sonoran dog came about. While there are different approaches on how to create this dish, Tony’s approach was to work with fellow fans to craft a signature dog in the style. Starting out with a bacon-wrapped dog on the grill, the bun from An-Xuyen, is sliced open just enough to hold the dog, beans, cheese, lettuce and tomato and then topped with a grilled jalapeno. It was so beautifully presented, I didn’t want to eat it. I will warn you, if you take that first bite, watch out for the pepper to roll off onto your hand, then your shirt, then the table. Lucky for me, I caught it before it hit the ground. The spice of the pepper mixed with the creamy beans, veggies and that dog create a wonderful mix of flavors. The bun is superb, one of the better buns out there with just enough chew, but not doughy.

Tony’s Cucina is a great new addition to the 10th and Alder lot. While there are other Mexican vendors, no one is doing the Sonoran dog nor are they offering dishes like an enchilada casserole. He will even make you a Cuban coffee. Drop on by next time you’re looking for something new and let Tony know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Squishy Taco – corn tortilla dipped in hot oil with chicken, steak or chorizo – $2
  • Fish Taco – $2.50
  • Enchilada Casserole w/ rice and beans – $7
  • Quesadilla – $2.50
  • Tortilla Dog – grilled hot dog wrapped in flour tortilla with cheese – $1
  • Sonoran Hot Dog – $6

Hours: Weekdays, lunchtime
Facebook: Tony’s Cucina

Filed Under: Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Go Box, Hot Dogs & Sausages, Italian, Lunch, Mexican, SW 9th and Alder, Tacos, Vegetarian Options

Tandem Treats

January 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Location: PSU Park Blocks
Hours: Weekdays, lunchtime

Hot dogs, sandwiches, chili, salads. More details coming soon.

Facebook: Tandem Treats

Filed Under: Chili, Hot Dogs & Sausages, Lunch, PSU Park Blocks, Sandwiches, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options

Little Piggy BBQ

September 15, 2012 by 2 Comments
Little Piggy BBQ

Little Piggy BBQ

Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: Wed-Mon, 11am-9pm

The Story:

I was asked one day to show some visitors around to the BBQ carts. For the life of me, I couldn’t think of where they were. My vision of BBQ is the huge pull behind smoker one sees outside and a guy with a long spatula turning ribs and sausages. I stepped back and realized there is excellent BBQ in this city in each lot, just done on a smaller scale and inside each cart. At Cartlandia, there are now three vendors doing it and Little Piggy BBQ is the latest to join.

Little Piggy is the work of Marianne,Walter,Alex and Caralina, two couples who decided it was “about time” to try out the ideas that have been simmering in their heads for 15 years. Walter and Alex have worked together in restaurants for years and the food cart became a way for everyone to work together and for themselves. With a smoker inside the cart, they can do ribs, brisket, smoked chicken and smoked pork loin. They also make some amazing side salads.

Brisket plate from Little Piggy BBQ

Brisket plate from Little Piggy BBQ

It has only been in the last year that I’ve fallen in love with brisket. I don’t know where it has been all my life, but a good friend from New York took me on a brisket journey and I fell down the rabbit hole. When done right, it melts in your mouth. The combination plate at Little Piggy BBQ came with a good portion of smoked brisket, potato salad and a watermelon mint fruit salad. The brisket was done well with a light smokiness to go with the sweet BBQ sauce they serve it with. Fall apart in my mouth, it blended well with the potato salad. Let me talk about that salad. Instead of chopped up potatoes, they took whole slices of baked potatoes and mixed it up with chives, green onions and oil. An interesting presentation yet so tasty. Finish the entire meal off with the simplest of fruit salads, the mint mixed so well with the cubed watermelon, I devoured it even though I was fuller than full.

Little Piggy BBQ is tucked back away from the larger group of food carts on the lot at Cartlandia, so venture to the back to find it. It’s worth the trip. I missed the BBQ cook-off at the lot a few weeks ago and hope they do it again. Drop on by and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Combination plate, $7 with 1 protein and 2 sides. Sandwiches – $5

  • Proteins: smoked ribs, smoked 1/4 chicken, chicken wings, smoked pork loin, hot link sausage, blackened catfish, grilled salmon, beef brisket
  • Sides: cole slaw, potato salad, fruit salad, Texas toast, chili beans, home fries

Hours: Wed-Mon, 11am-9pm
Phone: 503 737 5450
Facebook: Little Piggy BBQ

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Filed Under: BBQ, Dinner, Hot Dogs & Sausages, Lunch, Salads, Sandwiches, SE 82nd and Harney, Weekends

Go Dog

April 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Go Dog

Go Dog

Location: N Greeley and Killingsworth
Hours: Tues-Sat, 11-6

The Story:

Hot dogs and sausages are the original street food and still the mainstay in many cities. At Go Dog, you can get a Naked Dog or you can amp it up and have you brat with chili and cheese.

Katie and Jason Taylor have always wanted a hot dog cart, so after many years in the corporate doldrums, the opportunity to purchase Fief’s at North Station arose and they snapped it up. It was one of those twists of fate. They had been searching for a good cart and a great location and both became available at North Station. With locally sourced Zenner’s fine dogs, Katie and Jason held their grand opening at the end of March and have been introducing themselves to the neighborhood ever since.

The Hound Dog from Go Dog

The Hound Dog from Go Dog

Hot dogs need to be done right to make them memorable. At Go Dog, you can get a jalapeno cheddar dog with chili or a BLT dog with a smoked cheddar and bacon sausage with more bacon added along with lettuce and tomato. I picked out the Hound Dog with an all beef dog topped with pepperoncini, fire roasted peppers, caramelized onions and BBQ sauce. Zenner’s dogs don’t disappoint and the addition of the fire roasted peppers added a different taste I hadn’t thought to mix on a dog. A great choice.

Go Dog is now open at the Overlook pod North Station. The lot offers covered and heated seating and Pizza Depokos serves beer for lot patrons. Next time you’re craving a dog, check them out and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Naked dog – $3
  • Blazer Dog – jalapeno cheddar sausage with chili, diced onions and cheese – $5.50
  • Chicago Dog – mustard, diced onion, pickle spear, sport pepper, relish, celery salt and tomato wedges – $5.50
  • BLT Dog – $5.50
  • Hound Dog – $5.25
  • The Go Dog – 2 all beef dogs, grilled and filleted open with your choice of toppings – $6.25
  • Homemade fries – $1.50

Hours: Tues-Sat, 11-6
Phone: 503 504 3358
Website: GoDogPDX.com

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Filed Under: Dinner, Fries, Hot Dogs & Sausages, Lunch, N Greeley and Killingsworth - North Station, Weekends

The Steak Shack

February 20, 2012 by 1 Comment
The Steak Shack

The Steak Shack

Location: 10966 SE McLoughlin, Milwaukie
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11-5

The Story:

Milwaukie is excited for their first cart and so are the boaters and fisherman who make Milwaukie their starting point. The Steak Shack has opened right in downtown.

Dave and Chip opened the cart after working with the city to figure out what was needed. Being Milwaukie’s first, it took some partnership between the parties to understand the rules and get the cart open and Dave is elated. Dave hails from Toronto where he lived and worked for many years until he was brought to Portland with his wife’s work. While standing in line at Costco, he met Chip who is a trained chef and the relationship blossomed from there. Buy a cart, design a menu, open and feed the masses.

Ribeye Steak Sandwich from The Steak Shack

Ribeye Steak Sandwich from The Steak Shack

The cart is outfitted with a charbroiler with which they grill the ribeye steaks for the sandwiches. Dave couldn’t find a good steak sandwich in the area, so that is what inspired his menu. The ribeye is the perfect cut for this type of sandwich and they grilled it to perfection. We ordered it with every topping they had, so it was a bit messy, but sometimes you have to get dirty to enjoy a meal. They also serves burgers, grilled chicken and hot dogs.

The cart is located in the 76 station on the east side of McLoughlin directly across from the boat launch and park. A great location once the weather warm up and everyone comes down to enjoy the river. I’m looking forward to hearing about Dave’s plans to serve the boaters. If you’re down that way, drop on by. Dave and Chip are great to chat with and cook up some great sandwiches. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Ribeye Steak on a Bun – $7
  • Homemade Burger – $5.50
  • Grilled Chicken on a Bun – $6
  • Jumbo Hot Dog – $4
  • Handcut Fries – $2
  • Onion Rings – $2.50

Hours: Mon-Fri, 11-5
Phone: 714 655 9129

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Filed Under: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs & Sausages, Lunch, Outskirts of PDX, Sandwiches Tagged With: , ,
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