Pulehu Pizza

April 25, 2013 by 2 Comments
Puhelu Pizza

Pulehu Pizza

Location: SW 3rd and Stark
Hours: Weekdays, lunch; Fri/Sat late night

The Story: A few years ago, a friend told me about a new pizza he was making at home on his gas grill. I just couldn’t picture putting a pizza on a grill. Wouldn’t it stick and burn? Fast forward to this week and I was able to see how it is done at the newest pizza cart in Portland – Pulehu Pizza.

On The Grill

On The Grill

Pulehu is the work of Pierre and Annebelle who originally hail from Maui. Pierre was a chef at the Four Seasons for eight years and both wanted to escape their jobs, so while camping among waterfalls, the idea of grilling pizzas was hatched. After trying their concept at a block party, the idea grew into a full service catering and concession operation. In Hawaii, they didn’t have a cart or food truck and were forced to carry everything to their events. They earned the right to be inside a box here in Portland. Pulehu – slang for grill.

The grill used is a large outdoor style gas grill you would see permanently installed for your outdoor kitchen. Pierre makes fresh pizza dough which is rolled out for either an 8″ or 12″ personal pie. He quickly grills one side and then waits for your order. I chose the Truffle Mushroom which comes with mushrooms, grana padano, garlic, truffle oil, cracked black pepper and other seasonings. Pierre tops the grilled side then slides it onto the grill to finish the crust. After a bit, once the crust is just right, he removes it onto a pie pan and closes the lid to cook the toppings and melt the cheese. After some final seasoning and slicing, they hand it over. I love truffle oil on pizza, it adds a fruity flavor that is amazing and subtle. This pie was right up my alley. The crust, thin and crisp enough you could pick up a slice without it getting all floppy. Simple toppings and simple prep made for a wonderful meal.

Truffle Mushroom Pizza from Pulehu Pizza

Truffle Mushroom Pizza from Pulehu Pizza

Pierre and Annebelle now call Portland their home and have opened their doors to be one of only a few pizza vendors in food carts. They have a diverse menu of pizzas along with salads for the non-pizza eater. They are  open late night on the weekends for your fourth meal cravings. Drop on by, welcome them to the Rose City and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Classic Cheese- 8″, $5; 12″, $11
  • Margherita: tomato, cart made ricotta and pesto – 8″, $6; 12″, $13
  • Pepperoni – 8″, $6; 12″, $13
  • Meat Lovers: pepperoni, artisanal sausage, grana padano and garlic – 8″, 7; 12″, $13
  • Veggie Lovers: tomato, mushroom, feta, kalamata olives, cart made pesto – 8″, $7; 12″, $13

Phone: 503 915 6869
Website: PulehuPizza.com
Twitter: @PulehuPizza
Facebook: Pulehu Pizza

Filed Under: Dinner, Downtown, Hawaiian, Late Night, Lunch, Pizza, SW 3rd and Stark, Weekends

Chez Dodo

March 27, 2013 by 2 Comments

Chez Dodo

Location: N Vancouver and Fremont
Hours: M-F, 11am-11pm; Sat, 11-9pm

The Story: A taste of Mauritian Paradise. That is all I needed to know before visiting Chez Dodo, a new vendor in the ever changing lot at the corner of N Fremont and Vancouver.

Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 1,200 miles off the south east coast of Africa. When the Portuguese arrived in the 1500′s, the island was uninhabited except for the famed Dodo bird. After a few centuries of different colonial rule, the culture of the island in the 21st century is a mix of several ethnicities – mostly of Indian, African, Chinese and European descent. At Chez Dodo, the cuisine reflects the inspiration of French, African, Indian, Creole and Chinese cuisine.

Upon arrival, Chef Shayamal leaned out the window to greet me and immediately listed off the day’s specials and instructed me to the vast menu and how to order. You start with a base of either flat bread, noodles or rice, add a curry sauce and then top with accompaniments like bean curry and potatoes, chicken or lamb. I chose pan fried curry noodles with the Island Fever spicy curry sauce and lamb. During the prep of the meal, Shayamal leaned out with a huge skillet of noodles and a fork to ask if the spice was sufficient. What brilliant service. A huge plate of noodles with vegetables and lamb was handed over. More than I could eat in a sitting, but so flavorful, spicy and complex, I couldn’t put the fork down. If you’re going, go with a friend as Shayamal is a giver of food and will load you up.

Curry Noodles from Chez Dodo

You may recognize the name Chez Dodo as his vegan pre-made products have been in local stores now for over a year. Chef Shayamal offers numerous options for vegan, gluten free, and vegetarian diets. He stated, “If it weren’t for the vegans buying my product, I wouldn’t be open.” Thanks vegans! Chez Dodo is open from lunch through late night and on Saturday, so there is no reason you can’t visit. The lot now has five different mobile vendors and the are continues to change for the better with a New Seasons store opening this year. Drop on by for a taste of Mauritius and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Bases:

  • Dholl Puri Flat Bread; Pan Fried Curried Noodles; Brown Rice Pulao or Rice Noodles

Curry Sauces:

  • Healthy Vegan: mild curry sauce cooked with a blend of exotic spices and herbs
  • Tropical Happiness: creamy tomato based curry sauce cooked with spices, coconut and cashews
  • Island Fever: spicy curry sauce with 3 different peppers, onions, ginger, garlic, tamarind, lemon and vinegar

Accompaniments:

  • Assorted bean curry and potatoes – $4.99
  • Wild combo of mushrooms with lentil fritter – $5.99
  • Chicken cooked in red wine sauce – $5.99
  • Lamb Curry pressure cooked and sauteed – $7.99

Phone: (503) 284-4575
Facebook: Chez Dodo
Twitter: @ChezDodoPDX

Filed Under: African, Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Dinner, Gluten Free Options, Indian, Late Night, Lunch, N Vancouver and Fremont, Noodles, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Okinoshima

March 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Okinoshima

Okinoshima

Location: SW 3rd and Stark
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, 6pm-10pm. Sat 12pm-2am. Sun 4pm-8pm

The Story: A quaint little Japanese food cart in downtown Portland. Some carts shout, other carts whisper. Some carts have big glossy signs and fancy decor to stand out from the pack. Others have elaborate websites and Facebook pages and are all in your face with their logos and menus, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Yet, some carts are so demur, so humble, so focused on making the best food possible and nothing else that they appear to be hiding in plain sight. These carts are often very worth the hunt.

Okinoshima is one such cart plunked in the middle of the bustling cart row on SW 3rd near Stark. There’s no sign to let you know where you are. Look closely though and you’ll see this is no typical Thai, Burrito or “rice bowl” cart. Okinoshima serves traditional Japanese street food fare. No, not sushi. No, not Americanized, “teriyaki chicken Bentos”.  Sure, this cart serves the typical menu item, Yakisoba, but just better – fresher, more balanced flavors, and ingredients that may include Octopus (in the seafood mix Yakisoba) as well as bonito (dried shaved bonito fish) toppings.  Other dishes include homemade Japanese style curry, udon soups, and that cult craved dish known as the “Japanese Pizza-Pancake” – Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き, o-konomi-yaki). You’ve never had Okonomiyaki? Well, get over there and try some, pronto. Imagine a thick, moist, savory pancake stuffed with cabbage and other veggies, your choice of meats or seafood, egg or tofu if you wish, and topped with a lip-smacking sauce of mayonnaise, seasoned thin nori strips, a sweet thick soy sauce, and bonito flakes. This dish alone is worth hunting to find this little cart for.

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き, o-konomi-yaki) – Japanese savory “pizza pancake”

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き, o-konomi-yaki) – Japanese savory “pizza pancake”

Be warned, it’s a one man shop at Okinoshima though. Expect a bit of a wait during lunch rush hours which can lead to grumbling bellies and anxious feet. But, food this good is worth waiting for. After all, aren’t all the best things in life?

Sample Menu:

  • Okonomiyaki - Japanese Pizza Pancake – Hashimaki (snack size): $3.00, Regular size $5-$7. Choices of fried egg, tofu, chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, seafood, or all (mix).
  • Yakisoba – stir fried noodles: $5-$7. Choice of tofu, egg, chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, seafood, or all (mix).
  • Japanese Curry – served with rice and pickles: $6-$7: tofu, chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, seafood, or all (mix).
  • Udon- thick wheat noodles in a soy-fish broth: served with kamaboko (fish loaf), inari (fried tofu skin), shrimp tempura, scallion, & wakame seaweed – $7.00

Phone: 617-504-7081
Email: okinoshima@hotmail.com

 

Filed Under: Dinner, Japanese, Late Night, Lunch, Snacks, SW 3rd and Stark, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Lisa’s Lip Smackin’ Kitchen

March 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Location: N Vancouver and Fremont
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-9pm; Sat/Sun, 7:30am-11pm

The Story:

BBQ and other amazing dishes. Open late night. More details coming soon.

Filed Under: BBQ, Dinner, Late Night, Lunch, N Vancouver and Fremont, Sandwiches, Weekends

I Heart This Cart

January 4, 2013 by 3 Comments
I Heart This Cart

I Heart This Cart

Location: SW 3rd and Washington
Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11-4; Fri, 11-4 and 9pm-2am; Sat, 11am-9pm

The Story:

Multicultural Comfort Food is the theme for I Heart This Cart, one of the newest to join the vendors at SW 3rd and Washington. Looking at the diverse items on the menu, I see what they mean.

On a cool windy January day, I read the entire menu trying to decide which amazing item I wanted. Cory, the chef, has an eclectic blend of sandwiches, soups and event homemade mac and cheese. Cory’s been cooking since his teens and was the head chef at the Lake Hotel at Yellowstone National Park for two years. Nice resume. Also, when neighboring food cart owners urge you to visit, you gotta know it’s going to be good.

At I Heart this Cart you can pick up small bites like Arancinis or full size sandwiches like a seasonal po’boy with pork belly or a classic Philly cheese steak. I chose the hearty Southwest Mac and Cheese with chipotle cream sauce, cavatappi pasta and tossed with black beans, sweet corn, scallions, roasted red pepper and sided with a few tortilla chips. At Cory’s recommendation, I added in pork belly. A hearty meal served in a GO Box, I loved that it wasn’t a traditional cheesy cheesy Mac and Cheese. The sauce had a spicy bite, but mild and smoky from the chipotle. Al dente pasta is the perfect choice. More like an al fredo sauce. Did I mention the pork belly added in a wonderful creamy fattiness also. More than I could finish in one sitting.

Southwest Mac and Cheese

Southwest Mac and Cheese

I Heart This Cart had a steady stream of patrons while I stood around chatting with other vendors. Cory has built a following in the three short months he’s been open and is here for the long term. Drop on by next time you’re looking for something new and let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Arancini – 2 breaded risotto balls stuffed with Parmesan and fresh Mozzarella, deep fried and served with marinara – $4
  • Chicken and Dumplings – braised chicken thighs, brussell sprouts, root vegetables and potato dumplings – $7
  • Southwest Mac and Cheese – $8; add protein for $2
  • Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese with Vegan Tomato Soup – $7
  • Seasonal Po’Boy – braised and seared pork belly, apple fennel and radicchio slaw, served with a curried remoulade sauce on po’boy roll – $8
  • Classic Philly Cheesesteak – $4/half; $7/full

Phone: 707-299-7711
Facebook: I Heart This Cart

Filed Under: Comfort Food, Downtown, Go Box, Late Night, Lunch, Pasta, Sandwiches, SW 3rd and Washington, Vegetarian Options, Weekends Tagged With:
«Older Posts