Bread and Broth

February 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Location: SW 9th and Washington
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm

The Story: Soups and sandwiches are the mainstay of an American lunch. Think grilled cheese with tomato soup. We have some soup vendors and others with sandwiches and now Bread and Broth bring them together.

Kenny worked in a cafe in San Diego for a few years and then at a cart here in town until venturing out on his own. Those experiences taught him the keys to simple, yet tasty dishes. Take the roast beef sandwich with horseradish mayo, greens and tomato. The roll from Vietnamese baker An Xuyen along with a salty and sweet-hot horseradish sauce take a simple sandwich and create a memorable experience. He also does it with chimichurri aioli. Soups include a roasted tomato basil scratch made along with seasonal options like pozole verde with chicken or curry lentil with coconut. If’ you can’t choose, Kenny will ply you with samples. He’s even working on his own Tonkotsu style Ramen featuring the 12 hour creamy broth. Ramen weekends he says.

Roast Beef with Horseradish

Roast Beef with Horseradish

Very impressed with everything I tasted and ate at Bread and Broth. While new vendors arrive on the scene weekly, there are some that stand out because they have focused on the basics. Kenny has his basics down and you should check it out. Let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Sandwiches – $6; Soups – $3 or $5; 1/2 Sandwich with soup – $6

  • Turkey w/swiss, avocado, red onion, greens, mayo
  • Roast Beef
  • Turkey w/pesto, jack cheese, tomato, onions, greens, mayo
  • Roasted Veggie w/eggplant, zucchini, red pepper, hummus, spinach
  • Tofu w/veganaise, avocado, tomato, red onion, greens
  • Pozole Verde with Chicken soup
  • Cream of Roasted Tomato soup
  • Curry Lentil with Coconut soup

Phone: 619 208 4968
Facebook: Bread and Broth

Filed Under: Dinner, Downtown, Lunch, Sandwiches, Soups, SW 9th and Washington, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options

Southern Belles

January 3, 2013 by 1 Comment
Southern Belles

Southern Belles

Location: 8218 North Lombard Street at The Fixin’ To
Hours: Wed-Fri, 12-9pm; Sat, 3pm-1am

The Story:

St. Johns has had a tumultuous relationship with food carts over the last few years. An attempt at a pod failed a couple of years ago and many of those vendors moved on. A strident few stuck around and two have even become a restaurants. Now, a new model – pair the carts with a bar. The Fixin’ To at the entrance of downtown St. Johns now hosts two vendors – Southern Belles and Pizza Contadino.

Southern Belles is the newest cart in North Portland, having opened in late 2012. With a focus on comfort food, they are quickly becoming famous for their Brunswick stew and Cheeseburg Chowda. Known for Soups, Salads ‘n Such, the southern-style inspired cart is the work Nancy Petersen and Darlotte Justice, a couple of North Carolinians. But they have traveled and lived elsewhere, so their menu may not be completely southern every day.

The day I visited, I picked up a half an egg salad sandwich and beef barley soup – a hearty lunch for a cold day. It reminded me of a plate I would have a grandma’s house in Minnesota. I just needed a cup of hot cocoa to round out the memory. The egg salad on white fit well with the hot beef soup full of vegetables and barley. A great pairing for a hungry boy.

Southern Belles is now open Tuesday-Saturday and you can bring your food into The Fixin’ To and enjoy a beer or cocktail while you eat. Head on up to St. Johns for a visit, enjoy some of what Darlotte and Nancy have to offer and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Soups-  Beef Barley, Chicken Noodle, While Chili – 8oz, $3; 16oz, $5
  • Sandwiches – Egg Salad, Turkey Cranberry – 1/2 sand with soup – $5; full sandwich – $5
  • Hot Baked Potato with fixin’s – $4

Phone: 971 253 0939
Facebook: Southern Belles

Filed Under: Baked Potatoes, Dinner, Late Night, Lunch, N Lombard and Richmond, North-Portland, Salads, Sandwiches, Soups, St Johns, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

The Soup Cart

January 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Location: PSU Park Blocks
Hours: Weekdays, lunchtime

Soups. More details coming soon.

Filed Under: Lunch, PSU Park Blocks, Soups, Vegetarian Options

Garcelon’s

October 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Garcelon's

Garcelon’s

Location: NE 52nd and Sandy, Rose City Food Park
Hours: Mon-Fri, 10am-7:30pm

The Story:

A new food cart lot has launched up on NE Sandy – Rose City Food Park. A few favorites have already moved there, but some newcomers are here to stake a claim. Garcelon’s Soup and Grilled Cheese opened just a couple of weeks ago.

Garcelon’s was opened by James Garcelon who has launched his next adventure after spending more than a few years inventing stuff we use everyday. When we asked him what he invented, he was a bit cagy with the “I can’t divulge that” line. A bit mysterious, but after enjoying some soup samples, I realize the food is what’s important here.

bct combo and 10 bean soup from Garcelon's

bct combo and 10 bean soup from Garcelon’s

The combination of a grilled sandwich and hot soup reminds me of winter sweaters, sitting at the adult table and short days. While also enjoyed in summer, for me, it’s a winter treat just like all things pumpkin. At Garcelon’s, James makes at least 3-4 different soups daily along with his vast list of grilled cheese sandwiches. The day we visited, we tried 10 bean, split pea and cream of tomato basil. All excellent and piping hot. For sandwiches, I wanted something both traditional, but unique and landed on the bct combo, a bacon, cheese and tomato sandwich grilled. I love his tagline next to it – “because cooked lettuce is gross.” I paired it with the 10 bean soup, sat down at the picnic tables and started dipping. The sandwich had a generous amount of crispy bacon, always a crowd favorite. The Swiss melted throughout to bind the tomato, bacon and bread together. The soup? BOOM! A hearty mix of ham chunks, beans and broth. Great for dipping.

Garcelon’s is open weekdays from 10am-7:30pm so you can easily grab lunch or dinner. They use only compostable service ware and will take orders over the phone. Drop on by, check out the new lot and Garcelon’s and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • a lil love combo – sharp cheddar and sour dough with a bowl of cream of tomato basil soup – $6
  • hippie chick combo – smoked turkey, provolone and pesto on multigrain with bowl of soup – $6.50
  • fire in the hole combo – pepper jack cheese, grilled jalapenos on choice of bread with bowl of soup – $6.50
  • ernie combo – ham and Swiss on marble rye with a bowl of soup – $7
  • bct combo – bacon, cheese, tomato with bowl of soup – $7.50
  • green party combo – cheese, avocado and pesto on multigrain bread with bowl of soup – $7.50
  • soup of the day – bowl, $3.50; pint, $5, quart, $10

Hours: Mon-Fri, 10am-7:30pm
Phone: 5038934272
Facebook: Garcelon’s
Twitter: @Garcelons

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Filed Under: Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Dinner, Lunch, NE 52nd and Sandy, Sandwiches, Soups, Vegetarian Options

Jaffles and Wraps

August 29, 2012 by 2 Comments
Jaffles and Wraps

Jaffles and Wraps

Location: SW Gibbs and Kelly, west end of Gibbs Pedestrian Bridge
Hours: Mon-Fri, 6am-6pm; Sat/Sun, 9am-3pm

The Story:

Every so often, while roaming from cart to cart to check out the newest offerings in the city, I come across something new and surprising. Just seeing the name, Jaffles and Wraps, I knew I was in for a new discovery.

Matt and his Jaffle Iron

Matt and his Jaffle Iron

Matt Fendall opened his cart a month or so ago at the corner of SW Gibbs and Kelly in the Lair Hill neighborhood. The spot is at the west end of the brand spankin’ new Gibbs Street Pedestrian bridge, an ideal location for all of those heading to and from South Waterfront. Matt’s story starts with a childhood memory of eating a Space Burger at the Egyptian Theater in Coos Bay. The Space Burger was unique, not just a burger and a bun, but more like chili inside a toasted pocket. Matt had discovered the Jaffle. Well known in southern hemisphere nations Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, South Africa and more, we may know it as a hobo pie, or Toas-Tites. In England they call them Brevies named after the Brevel company who makes the electric Jaffle irons. When I looked at the Jaffle Iron, it reminded me of camping with cast iron instruments as a kid. Jaffles are are like hot pockets, but so much better.

The Riverwest Jaffle

The Riverwest Jaffle

To make a Jaffle, you butter two slices of bread then layer in your goodies. The Jaffle Iron is round, so when you put everything together and close it down, it cuts off the crusts and creates a perfectly round sandwich inside. Place it over the gas burner and cook. Slowly, the innards cook, cheese melts and the bread toasts. After a few minutes, you have a Jaffle. I enjoyed one which included artichoke heart puree, chicken, tomato and pepper jack cheese. Everything cooked to meld the flavors inside the Jaffle Iron. The bread had a wonderfully toasted crust, but be careful, they are served hot and that first bite could burn your tongue. So good. So unique.

Jaffles and Wraps is a great new addition to the ever evolving street food scene here in Portland. Matt has a passion about what he and his team are creating and have some great combinations on the menu. Each Jaffle is made to order so you know you’re getting their full attention. Open super early to serve the commuting crowd, you can head down for breakfast, lunch or even dinner. Drop on by, try a Jaffle and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Jaffles:

  • The Tug: egg, cheese, choice of ham, bacon or veggie – $3
  • The Riverwest: artichoke heart puree, chicken, tomato, pepper jack cheese – $3.50
  • OHSU: grilled steak & onions/pepper/mushrooms with pepper jack cheese and pineapple habanero sauce – $4
  • The Gibbs Bridge: BBQ Chicken, grilled onions and BBQ sauce – $3

Wraps:

  • The Barge: egg, cheddar cheese, bacon, tomato, sauteed mushrooms, red peppers and onions – $6
  • The Tram Wrap: chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese, tomato, romaine lettuce, caesar dressing – $6
  • Hood Avenue: chicken, grilled onions w/ BBQ sauce – $5

Hours: Mon-Fri, 6am-6pm; Sat/Sun, 9am-3pm
Phone: 503 944 0900
Website: JafflesandWraps.com
Facebook: Jaffles and Wraps

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Dinner, Lunch, Sandwiches, Soups, SW Gibbs and Kelly, Vegetarian Options, Weekends
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