Native Bowl

November 6, 2009 by 17 Comments

***New Cart***

Native Bowl

Native Bowl

Location: N Mississippi at Skidmore in Mississippi Marketplace

Description:

When we were over at Mississippi Marketplace showing an out of town guest the carts, we decided to grab one of the dishes from Native Bowl, another vegan cart in the pod. The dish had what they called “crack gravy” a gravy so good, you’ll get addicted to it like crack. I only got a couple of bites, but it was enough for me to return the following day and meet the owners and try one of their bowls.

Native Bowl is another brand new cart in the pod. The owners Jay and Julie have been open for about 4 weeks and are fully vegan. Jay relayed a story that one day their 8yr old son came home and asked if they could try vegan and it went from there. The Native Bowl specializes in what we would traditionally call rice bowls. A layer of rice (in this case, jasmine rice), then some sauce, some protein like marinated tofu topped with veggies. Pretty simple concept, but if you prepare each item very well, you come out with an amazing dish.

Couch Bowl from Native Bowl

Couch Bowl from Native Bowl

I chose the Couch Bowl (pronounced cooch) per the owner’s recommendation. I’ll be the first to take someone’s advice, keeps me from hand wringing over all the choices. While they prepared it, I walked over to PROST!, the German pub in the lot, grabbed a table and ordered a beer. Before I knew it, Julie was actually bringing me my bowl. I don’t think this is standard, but what a great gesture. Upon opening the bowl, I was overwhelmed with the bright colors and savory aromas. The top of the bowl was a mixture of freshly chopped green onions topped with a savory sauce and sesame seeds. Just below the onions were bean sprouts, some mixed greens, chopped carrots and then marinated tofu and the rice. I’m the eater who prefers to mix everything together so you don’t end up with one single item at the end of the meal, yet this bowl was a mix of amazing flavors from top to bottom. The sauce had some spice to it also, something I didn’t expect but was glad was there.

The Native Bowl is another great addition to the Mississippi Marketplace pod. Jay and Julie are kind and welcoming to everyone who walks by. If you’re up in North Portland and need a great dish, check out Native Bowl and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Bowls are all vegan, $6 for regular, $7 for large
  • Mississippi Bowl – peppercorn ranch sauce, BBQ soy curls, house coleslaw, scallions, and jasmine rice
  • Couch Bowl – seasoned tofu, sesame bean sprouts, Kochujang sweet and sour sauce, jasmine rice, lettuce, carrots, scallions and sesame seeds
  • Alberta Bowl – seasoned tofu, house-made fire-breathing dragon sauce, jasmine rice, shredded cabbage, carrots and scallions
  • Cascade Grilled Cheese – Daiya cheese plus signature cashew based cheese sauce, pickled jalapenos, spices and panko on sourdough bread – $4

Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, open around 11am (they are still working out their hours.)
Twitter: NativeBowl

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Filed Under: Bowl, Dinner, Lunch, Mississippi Marketplace, N Mississippi, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options, Weekends Tagged With: ,

Wolf & Bear’s

September 10, 2009 by 8 Comments

Wolf & Bears

Location: N Mississippi south of Shaver by LAND. moved 10/2011 for winter

Description:

Field Trip. That’s what I call it. See, I work downtown, so it is pretty easy to visit most of the carts in a given lunch hour. When you expand to the east side though, then we call it a field trip. We line up, hold hands, count off and get on the bus; two by two by two…. Seriously though, I had my time concerns for lunch, yet Wolf & Bear’s made it worth the trip.

Wolf & Bear’s is a new cart run by a young couple with both ties to Israel and it comes out in their food. I hadn’t heard of it until a friend of mine tweeted that she took her daughter there and the owners were so excited that she pronounced the name of one of their sandwiches properly. The Sabich (pronounced s-ah-biqh) is a traditional Jewish/Middle Eastern breakfast sandwich which I would eat as an every day meal. With a fresh large pita, they put together hummus, grilled eggplant, hard boiled egg, onions, cucumber, pickles, parsley and salad greens topped with house tahini sauce and amba (mango pickle.)

Sabich from Wolf & Bears

Sabich from Wolf & Bear’s

When I saw the reference to breakfast and the inclusion of eggs, I wasn’t sure what they were concocting, but boy was that a great pita. The pita itself was chewy and fresh, the hummus garlicky, but not overwhelming. The grilled eggplant mixed with the fresh onions, cucumbers and greens gave the entire sandwich such a bright fresh flavor. I have been enjoying fresh veggies all summer from the garden and the veggies they used had that same freshly picked flavor. I devoured that sandwich at the provided picnic table while sitting under a large umbrella with my house made lemonade.  Not a bad way to escape from the office for an hour and relax.

When you read through Wolf & Bear’s menu, you see they have taken their time to put together some signature dishes. Each dish is vegetarian and can be made vegan at request. They pride themselves by making the hummus and labneh (creamy cheese made from uncultured yogurt) from scratch. All sauces and dressings are vegan For those concerned about gluten, they use sprouted garbanzos in the falafel so those are gluten free. What more could you ask for.

You need a break today from the downtown hustle. I suggest a field trip. Put on your backpack, grab your permission slip and head on over to Wolf & Bear’s – and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Roadside snack – homemade labneh or hummus on pita topped with salad greens and drizzles of olive oil – $5
  • Sabich – (Jewish traditional breakfast) – pita filled with hummus, grilled eggplant, hard boiled egg, diced onions and cucumbers, pickes, parsley and salad greens topped with tahini and amba – $7
  • Falafel – pita filled with hummus, caramelized onion, roasted red peppers, grilled eggplant, fresh falafel and salad greens topped with tahini – $6.50
  • Out to Lunch – pita layered with labneh, gorgonzola crumbles, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, falafel, salad greens and ground pepper – drizzled with olive oil – $7
  • Salads – $5.50
  • Housemade lemondade with mint – $2
  • Kombucha – $3
  • Cold brewed iced coffee – $2

Hours: Wednesday/Thursday 12pm – 8pm; Friday/Saturday 12pm-10pm
Phone/Contact: unknown
Website: Wolf & Bear’s on MySpace
Twitter: WolfandBears

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Filed Under: Falafel, Israeli, Lunch, Middle Eastern, N Mississippi, North-Portland, Weekends Tagged With: , , ,

Flavour Spot

October 23, 2007 by 4 Comments

FlavourSpot.JPG

Locations: North Lombard and N. Brandon & N. Mississippi and N. Fremont

Description: The cutest little waffle stands in North Portland. Heck, the only waffle stands in Portland. Yet these are no mere waffles. These are waffles elevated to a new art form. Imagine large round “old school” waffles made fresh to order (the thin kind with the small indents, not Belgian waffles), stuffed, spread and folded into a type of giant burrito-sandwich hybrid with all kinds of inspired fillings both sweet or savory. Or both.

The Sausage and Maple waffle is dangerous stuff: a slight crunch from the outside of the waffle, then the slight saltiness of the sausage patties, then the sweetness of maple syrup combined into some kind of new food of the gods. ($4.00). A more savory choice is the Ham and Cheese with either cheddar or smoked Gouda ($4.00). The heat of the waffle makes the cheese melt perfectly into the ham while the waffle holes soak it all up for one giant comforting breakfast or lunch sandwich that is sure to keep you satiated for hours.

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Sweet waffle choices include the basic Butter and Powder Sugar ($2.00) or the Peanut Butter & Jelly ($3.50). Or try one of the more complex and decadent things like the sugar coma inducing Black Forest with Nutella and Blackberry Jam ($3.50) or the S’More that comes with sweet as sin Mallow Fluff and more of that excellent Nutella ($3.50).

Beverages include all your usual espresso drinks or coffee (12 oz coffee is only 1.00!), Italian sodas, good old fashioned egg creams, and a limeade drink. They even serve my childhood favorite Ovaltine, either solo in milk or mixed in their signature Maltball Mocha ($3.00 for a 12 oz).

The location is a bit off the beaten track for some, the ambiance is very strip mall parking lot and there is only one uncovered picnic table for dining which makes Flavour Spot not the easiest choice. No matter, I’d happily brave traffic down Interstate Ave. to eat a Flavour Spot waffle sitting on the wet pavement in the pouring rain. Yes, they are that good.

Sample Menu: Please refer to the Flavour Spot Website for their whole menu.

Hours: Mon-Fri 6:30-3:00, Saturday 8-3, Sunday 8-3

Phone: 503-289-YUMM

Website: www.flavourspot.com

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Breakfast Foods, Lunch, N Mississippi, N Mississippi and Fremont, North-Portland, Sandwiches, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options, Waffles, Weekends Tagged With: