The Sugar Shop

January 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Sugar Shop

The Sugar Shop

Location: NE 52nd and Sandy, Rose City Food Park
Hours: Mon-Sun, 11am-8pm

The Story: Instead of grabbing a gyro or a burger or a bowl of Pad Thai, why not go down the sweet train and get something from The Sugar Shop for lunch. I remember something as a kid about eating dessert first when I was an adult.

The Sugar Shop is one of the few mobile vendors out there serving up sweets and baked goods like cookies, cakes and cheesecakes. Autumn and Shannon attended OCI together where they both studied in the baking and pastry program. After school, in jobs they admit weren’t taking them anywhere, brainstorming over Margaritas on Cinco De Mayo, the cart plan was born. They had the chops to pull it off and the cart is darn cute. Red seems to be the color of sweets.

Peppermint Cheesecake Brownie

Peppermint Cheesecake Brownie

If I lived closer to The Sugar Shop, I would probably gain a few pounds. I’m not the one to order dessert after dinner nor grab a frozen yogurt as a snack, but cookies are my downfall. Put out a platter of well made cookies and I can’t turn away. Here you can get white chocolate stuffed snickerdoodle or oatmeal cranberry or dark chocolate and bacon, cookies mom never made. I asked Autumn and Shannon what their favorites were – cheesecake and anything with caramel. I picked up the peppermint cheesecake brownie, a thin slice of decadence. Chocolate and peppermint and swirl. Just what I needed after spicy Indian. Looking at the menu, they put together flavors that simply intrigue me – salted caramel or whiskey caramel with a pecan crust.

The Sugar Shop isn’t all sweets. They offer savory choices with chicken pot pie or spinach, mushroom and feta hand pies. Open every day from lunch past dinner, there is no reason not to stop by and pick something up to sate that craving you know you have. Drop on by and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Cookies – multiple options – $1.50
  • Cakes – $3.50 – bourbon cake w/milk chocolate buttercream; red velvet cake with cream cheese icing, lemon cake with tart lemon glaze and more
  • Cheesecake – $3.50 – classic; housemade Nutella swirl; cheesecake bar with pecan crust and whiskey caramel topping
  • Mousse – $3.50 – chocolate honey; triple chocolate; vanilla honey
  • Brownies and Bars – $3.50 – salted caramel stuffed gooey brownies, lemon bars

Hours: Mon-Sun, 11am-8pm
Website: TheSugarShopPDX.com
Facebook: The Sugar Shop
Twitter: @TheSugarShopPDX

Filed Under: Baked Goods, Coffee & Espresso, Dinner, Gluten Free Options, Lunch, NE 52nd and Sandy, Northeast - Portland, Sweets, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

The Honey Pot

April 13, 2012 by 10 Comments
The Honey Pot

The Honey Pot

Location: SE 43rd and Belmont; Good Food Here
Hours: Tues-Sat, 11am-Dark

The Story:

I had just finished a great cubano sandwich from another cart in the lot when I had a craving for something sweet. The Honey Pot was calling my name with their slices of pie and other delights.

Mary Sheridan opened The Honey Pot last month after moving up from Bend where she had her own baking business. She wanted to bring her favorite recipes to Portland and after you try some, you’ll be glad she did. Having grown up baking, Mary won her first competition at the county fair at age 13. After some forays into liberal arts studies, she eventually became a classically trained pastry chef with a degree from the Culinary Institute of America. The cart, crafted out of a vintage Airstream Silver Streak, is a thing of beauty and harkens back to a childhood kitchen where one learns from their mother.

Pendleton pie from The Honey Pot

Pendleton pie from The Honey Pot

At The Honey Pot, you can get sweet and savory pies along with tarts, galettes and puff pastries. My sweet-tooth was throbbing on that sunny day, so I picked up a slice of the Pendleton. Dark chocolate and pecans are mixed with Pendleton Whiskey custard and baked with a chocolate shortbread crust. Did I mention there was chocolate in there? With fresh whip cream on the side, the slice was a decadent treat. A caramel hint from the whiskey came through and with the pecans created a brilliant combination.

The Honey Pot is the real thing and you should check it out. While I purchased a slice, you can also get whole pies and even just some fresh pie dough to make your own. Head on down to Good Food Here and let Mary know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Pendleton: dark chocolate and pecans in Pendleton whiskey custard and a chocolate shortbread crust – $4.75/slice; $22/whole pie
  • The Ginger: walnuts, freshly grated ginger, butterscotch morsels in a rum custard – $4.25/slice; $20/whole pie
  • The Boyfriend: peach pie with coconut milk, brown sugar, nutmeg in a flaky double crust – $3.75/slice; 18/whole pie
  • Fun Guy: hand held galette of crimini and wild mushrooms, goat cheese and savory streusel – $5.50
  • The Aristocrat: all natural pork, spinach, sage, onions, garlic and Parmesan cheese rolled in puff pastry – $3 or 2 for $5
  • Pie dough for 9″ pie – $2.50

Hours: Tues-Sat, 11am-Dark
Phone: 541.317.2951
Website: TheHoneyPotBakery.com
Facebook: The Honey Pot

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Filed Under: Baked Goods, Lunch, Pie, SE 43rd and Belmont, Southeast-Portland, Sweets, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Cake on a Hot Tin Roof

January 6, 2012 by 3 Comments
Cake on a Hot Tin Roof

Cake on a Hot Tin Roof

Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: Tues-Sat, 11:30 to 6:00

The Story:

There is an old adage – “Life is short, eat dessert first.” As a kid, my siblings and I would quote that daily, but mom was smarter than us and defined granola as dessert. As an adult though, I can have dessert anytime and when we arrived at Cartlandia, going to Cake on a Hot Tin Roof first was an option.

Jennie Goodrich is the baker and dessert maker behind this great cart. I would point out that while we refer to it as a cart, it is indeed a camper van that has been retrofitted so Jennie can make her treats. Jennie, a former school teacher who raised six kids, spent a lifetime making different desserts. When her food cart owning son (Cheesesteak Nirvana) suggested she open her own cart, it was a natural progression and a way for Jennie to promote her dessert catering skills. Many eaters are glad she did.

Marionberry Strudel

Marionberry Strudel

There are many types of desserts from cookies to cake to pie to custard. Cake on a Hot Tin Roof has it all – scones, apple bars, croissants, meringue, cake, mousse – and some specialties like Almond Cream Bienenstich, a German specialty. When I saw Marionberry Strudel, I couldn’t think of any other sweet. I am a sucker for the Oregon berry and now that we’re in winter, getting it is a treat. The marionberry has a tart flavor, but when baked inside the layered strudel pastry, it mellows. Add whipped cream with a sprinkle of sugar and you have bliss. Jennie sated my sweet tooth that day.

Cake on a Hot Tin Roof is a great addition to the Cartlandia pod, offering up the dessert portion of the four food groups. Be sure to save room for something sweat and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Not all items are available every day.

  • Peanut butter Apple Bars – $2
  • Sweet Rolls w/cinnamon and brown sugar – $3
  • Marionberry Strudel – $4
  • Croissants – $2.50-3.50
  • Creme Brulee – $3
  • Italian Mocha Meringue – $3
  • Pavlova with cream and mixed berries – $3
  • Black Foest Cherry Cake – $4
  • Chocolate Mousse – $3
  • Almond Cream Bienenstich – $4

Hours: Tues-Sat, 11:30 to 6:00
Phone: 5036284250

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Filed Under: Baked Goods, Lunch, SE 82nd and Harney, Southeast-Portland, Sweets, Weekends

Donut-O-Rama

January 2, 2012 by 2 Comments
Donutorama

Donutorama

Location: SW 3rd and Ash
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-3pm

The Story:

Everyone loves a good donut. I remember as a child visiting Dunkin’ Donuts or Winchels and craving something, anything, with Boston creme filling. I couldn’t get enough of that. These days, the donut has transformed into something truly unique and so have the purveyors. Donut-O-Rama is Portland’s first full service donut cart.

Greg Slauson opened Donut-O-Rama a couple of months ago in the same cart that housed Cool Harry’s Frozen Yogurt the past summer. A great use of the cart during these winter months when not too many people are seeking out cold treats. Greg has eaten donuts from many different vendors and has a goal to exceed everyone’s expectations for his sweet treats.

Creme Brulee donut @ Donut-O-Rama

Creme Brulee donut @ Donut-O-Rama

The donuts at Donut-O-Rama range from raised donuts to cake donuts to donuts with bacon atop. You can’t have a donut in Portland without adding bacon can you? But it isn’t all about the crazy donuts, it is about the art of the donut and the craft. A simple glazed donut from Greg is truly a treat – especially in the morning with a hot cup of coffee. One of the stars at Donut-O-Rama is the crème brulee donut, a cream filled pouch covered with sugar which is then melted with a blow-torch to create a hard crust which melts in your mouth.

Donut-O-Rama is a great new option for a morning sweet along with your coffee. Greg continues to come out with new flavors and great creations – the most recent being an energy donut made with Viso energy drink which contains about 60mg of caffeine. That will get your day started! Let Greg know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

The entire menu can be found at Donutorama.com

  • Cake donuts like the Viso energy drink donut or the Dynamo or Vigor – $2.50
  • Raised round donuts like coconut, glazed, chocolate, banana, maple, berry – $1.25
  • Buttermilk Bars like glazed, chocolate, banana and maple – $1.75
  • Raised Bars – specials like hot banana, bacon banana, maple bacon, Nutella and Jelly – $2.50

Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-3pm
Phone: 503 960 6825
Website: Donutorama.com
Twitter: @Donutorama
Facebook: Donut-O-Rama

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Filed Under: Baked Goods, Breakfast, Downtown, Lunch, SW 3rd and Ash, Sweets

Sweet Pea’s Brulee

July 21, 2011 by 11 Comments
Sweet Pea's Brulee

Sweet Pea's Brulee

Location: SE 43rd and Belmont, Good Food Here
Hours: Mon-Thurs, 12-3 and 6-8:30; Fri/Sat, 12-9:30; Sun, 12-5

The Story:

Here in this fine food cart town, you can find ice cream, cupcakes, pie, Italian Ice and even cake, but until a few months ago, no cart was focusing only on crème brûlée. Sweet Pea’s does it and does it well.

Creme Brulee from Sweet Pea's

Creme Brulee from Sweet Pea's

Kate and Tim do everything from scratch making each crème brûlée fresh every morning. With three different flavors, Tahitian vanilla, orange cognac and hazelnut, they are pretty busy prepping enough for a long day at the cart. Prior to serving each, they caramelize the top with a butane torch which creates that amazing crust you brake through to the creamy custard below. While crème brûlée is their bread and butter per se, they also do a bit more magic in the kitchen. While chatting with Kate, she offered me one of their homemade marshmallows. Really? Homemade marshmallows? I think the only time I every even attempted that we ended up throwing out utensils and pans because they were so hardened with burn sugar. That is truly a skill and those little puffs of sugar were a treat. Kate and Tim also make their own salted caramels that they package individually. Mix a good salt with anything sweet and you create an amazing taste combination. Even before I devoured the crème brûlée, I sat back and simply enjoyed letting the caramel melt in my mouth and stick to my teeth. Some sweet treats from a great little cart.

Sweet Pea’s Brulee is open for the lunch hour and dinner in to evening most of the week and all day Friday-Sunday. The Good Food Here lot has plenty of meal options for you and your family and friends while also offering treats like crème brûlée. Next time your sweet tooth begins to ache, check out Sweet Pea’s Brulee for some wonderful treats and sample some of their marshmallows. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Crème Brûlée:  classic vanilla, orange cognac or hazelnut – $4
  • Marshmallow topped crème brûlée – $4.50
  • Marshmallows: vanilla, strawberry orange or coconut – $1 for 2pack
  • Vanilla Salted Caramel Chews – 50c

Full Menu available at Sweet Pea’s Brulee website

Hours: Mon-Thurs, 12-3 and 6-8:30; Fri/Sat, 12-9:30; Sun, 12-5
Phone: 503-893-4897
Website: Sweet Pea’s Brulee
Twitter: @SweetPeasBrulee        Facebook: Sweet Pea’s Brulee

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Filed Under: Dinner, Late Night, Lunch, SE 43rd and Belmont, Southeast-Portland, Sweets, Vegetarian Options, Weekends Tagged With:
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