Sea Verdes

Lizzy C
October 15, 2013 Written by Lizzy C 1 Comment

Seaverdes1

Location: N Vancouver and Fremont
Hours: Tue, Thu-Fri 11:30 am – 9:00 pm, Wed 11:30 am – 7 pm, Sat 1 pm – 9 pm, Sun 1 pm – 7 pm

The Story: For seafood lovers, there’s a saying, “If it’s from the sea, then it’s for me!”  Mussels, Tilapia, Catfish, Shrimp and Oysters make up the foundation for Sea Verdes’ menu, with a healthy dose of entree type salads, smoothies, and specials such as grilled cheese sandwiches, pastas and other delights.

Sea Verdes reminds me of those little beach side food shacks found in coastal communities such as New England, Florida, or Hawaii. They serve locals as much as visitors, and are usually a come-as-you-are affair for those picking up a nutritious dinner for their families, or hungry beachcombers who need some substance between hitting the waves (or the beach blanket).

Crispy seafood (choice of  comes dredged in cornmeal and unbleached flour and is flash fried – crispy, not at all greasy and the fresh seafood shines through. We tried the Oysters on our first visit: Plump and fresh, they were magically crispy on the outside and tender within – it’s all the richness and mineral brininess oyster fans crave.  For those looking for something not fried, there’s mussels and shrimp in a white wine broth,  an Italianate inspired shrimp pasta, and a Tilapia with vegetables and rice.  They’ve also recently added gumbo (in this case crab, shrimp, beef sausage, chicken and mussels to the menu specials mix, something  that might not be a traditional gumbo recipe, but has what my New Orleans friends call, “Da Flavor!”. Yeah, you rite, Sea Verdes.

Salads can make for a whole meal in generous portions – a textbook classic Caesar, or a Thai Beef blow anything from the local salad bar out of the water (pun intended). Yet for those in a salad bar kind of mood, there’s a mix and match choice of toppers such as Shrimp, salmon.

Seaverdes2

Sea Verdes in N. Portland. Photo from www.seaverdes.blogspot.com

Smoothies round out the offerings. Located on the popular N Williams/Vancouver bike corridor – a smoothie would be a perfect pick-me-up on the way home from when you’ve just spent 1000 calories battling traffic and hills from work. I felt downright healthy AND decadent at the same time after finishing Sea Verdes’ Mixed Berry Smoothie – made with almond milk, dark cherries, bananas and mixed berries.

Owned and operated by lifetime Portlander Elsya Watkins, this talented chef, Portland State Alumni (Go Vikings!), and mother’s positive energy and commitment to nutrition is infectious. In Ms. Watkin’s own words:

I opened Sea Verdes because of North and North-East Portland’s food dessert. The lack of healthy and affordable places to go eat-out is a prevailing inconvenience for Portlanders. I serve fresh seafood, crisp salad greens an I make healthy and tasty protein green smoothies. My food serves vegans, vegetarians, pescetarians and offers selections for the paleo diet.

Oh, yes.  A little bit of soul, a bunch of health, and a whole lotta love: Sea Verdes. Another great addition to Portland’s mighty food cart sea.

Seaverdes3

Sample Menu:

  • Fried seafood (served with rice). Choice of Oysters, Tilapia, Catfish in small or large platters  - $5.50 – $13.00
  • Talapia (broiled -2 pieces), served with rice and made with basil, tomatoes, garlic and lemon- $9.50
  • Thai Beef Salad with lettuce and kale, tomato, red onion, yellow onion, cucumber, basil  -  $8.50
  • Salad Plain or with Salad  toppers (shrimp, salmon, Tilapia) or  choice of dressing  - $2.50 – $6.50
  • Tropical Sunrise Smoothie – Almond milk, pineapple, banana, oranges, grapefruit juice – $4.75
  • Kya’s House Cherry Lemonade – $2.50

Website: Seaverdes.blogspot.com
Facebook: Sea Verdes
Twitter: @SeaVerdesPDX

Phone: 503-933-5251

Email: seaverdesllc@yahoo.com

Filed Under: Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Dinner, Fish, Fried food, Lunch, N Vancouver and Fremont, Salads, Smoothies & Fresh Juices, Snacks, Uncategorized, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Stix

dieselboi
September 5, 2013 Written by dieselboi Leave a Comment
Stix

Stix

Location: N Vancouver and Fremont
Hours: Tues-Sat, 11:30am-8pm

The Story: I had the pleasure of attending the World Street Food Congress this past June in Singapore. While there, I enjoyed so many different types of street food, it was difficult to keep track of what was what. One specific item I kept returning for was satay. Beautifully marinated meat on sticks straight from the grill. Stix, a new cart in North Portland has both satay and roots in Singapore. And they are down the street from where I live.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Stix owner Issa who was born and raised in Oregon, yet has a grandmother in Singapore and has visited regularly. Growing up with such rich food traditions, she doesn’t necessarily peg her satay as just Singaporean. She sees her menu as Asian fusion. An example of that is the creamy avocado chimichurri which has Malaysian roots. She recently added an pulled pork dish and plans to add curries and weekly specials. I asked about the famous Singaporean chili crab and she smiled, stating she would be featuring it sometime soon.

If you see photos of Asian street food vendors, there is usually a long wood fired or coal fired grill with hundreds of short skewers of meat roasting away. At Stix, Issa grills them to order, no open coals here. You can get chicken marinated in coriander and spices, beef cooked with coconut milk, garlic, shallots and sweet soy sauce or tofu glazed with sesame teriyaki and kecap manis, a sweet soy sauce. A Bento Box, the cart’s signature, comes with four skewers over basmati rice or a spring mix salad and served with cucumber salad or wasabi slaw. I opted for a mini bento with two beef skewers atop the spring mix. The garlic and shallots accented the seared beef well with a bite of cool cucumber salad mixed in to break up  the salty and savory flavors. The salad bed soaked up the meat juices from the satay to provide an indirect dressing. Issa provided a vinaigrette, yet it wasn’t needed. A small size, but enough to satisfy an eater like me.

Beef Satay bento box from Stix

Beef Satay bento box from Stix

I’m excited to see new vendors come to my neighborhood and see the lot at Fremont and Vancouver continue to evolve and diversify. Having expereinced the rich flavors of Singapore, I’m even more excited to have Stix close to home. Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Drop on by and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Bento Box comes with 4 skewers over basmati rice or spring mix salad with sauces and cucumber salad or wasabi slaw. A mini Bento comes with 2 skewers.

  • Chicken – $8
  • Beef – $9
  • Tofu  - $7

Phone: (541) 292-3911
Facebook: Stix Food Cart

Filed Under: Asian Fusion, Indonesian, Malaysian, N Vancouver and Fremont, Vegetarian Options Tagged With:

Lisa’s Lip Smackin’ Kitchen

Lizzy C
July 31, 2013 Written by Lizzy C Leave a Comment

Lisas 1

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

The Story: They call it Soul Food for a reason. Sometimes you just have a craving for foods that nurture, foods that scream home cookin’, foods that might take you back to your Grandmother’s house. For me, being from a Southern family, Sundays often meant going out for BBQ, or 15 of us kinfolk tightly knit around my Nana’s large kitchen table where piled high were the likes of brisket, greens, mac n’ cheese, red beans and rice and a whole lotta love.

Lisas2

Lisa’s Lip Smackin on N. Vancouver hits all the right Southern food classics: creamy mac n’ cheese, melt in your mouth greens, and smokey, fall off the bone BBQ. In the South BBQ is a noun, y’all! (little insider Southern joke, by the way). At Lisa’s the BBQ shines: tender smoked brisket in a tangy vinegar-tomato sauce, pulled pork, and smoked ribs are the stars. Yet, wait, Lisa’s has a dual menu!  Burgers! Purists can get a tasty classic Hamburger or Cheeseburger, or zest it up a bit with a beef and avocado burger, a Hawaiian Burger (yes, with pineapple), a turkey burger for the red meat avoiders, and even a veggie burger, cause even Southern cuisine respects the veggies. Crispy hot out of the fryer French Fries and and an all beef hot dog (make it a chili or cheese dog if you like) round out the offerings.

One of the hardest working food carts in N Portland, Lisa’s also serves a late breakfast and weekend breakfast sandwiches on homemade biscuits, and a pretty hearty and tasty Biscuits and Gravy.

Food at Lisa’s is really made with care and love, and the quality shows. It’s honest Southern inspired home style food, right where NE meets North Portland. Keep on keeping on, Lisa’s. Your food is certainly lip smackin’ indeed.

Sample Menu:

  • Smoked Pork Ribs (weekends only) with 2 sides – full slab $24, 1/2 slab $12, 1 rib for $1
  • Smoked Brisket Platter with 2 sides – $9
  • Pulled Pork Sandwich – $6
  • 3 Cheese Mac – Small $3, Large $4
  • Collard Greens – Small $3, Large $3.75
  • Red Beans – Small $2.75, Large $3.50
  • Burgers (Beef, Turkey or Vegetarian) in various combos – $4 – $5.50
  • All Beef Hot Dogs – $1.75, Chili Dog add $0.75

Phone: (503) 926-1208

 

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

Chez Dodo

dieselboi
March 27, 2013 Written by dieselboi 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

Que Sabrosa

dieselboi
October 12, 2010 Written by dieselboi 5 Comments

Que Sabrosa

Que Sabrosa

Location: N Fremont and Vancouver
Hours: M-Th, 10:30am-9pm; F/S, 10:30am-10pm; Sun, 11-7

The Story:

On a cool rainy fall Saturday night, heading to a show on the east side, I needed something to sustain me. Having skipped dinner and not wanting to sit down anywhere, I saw the bright lights of Que Sabrosa and thought – let’s get some tacos.

Que Sabrosa opened this past summer on the corner of N Vancouver and Fremont, an lot that has seen numerous businesses come and go throughout the decade. The broader area, targeted for condos and grocery stores just 3 years ago, is now a couple of large fenced off vacant lots with weeds the size of redwood forests. The cart, along with Mum’s Kitchen, are situated to create a small enclosed seating area replete with picnic tables and strung with lights so you can enjoy your food in the evening. The bright lights were what pulled me in as I was cruising down Fremont. It’s welcoming. Carts can start the revitalization.

Asada Tacos

Asada Tacos

Que Sabrosa’s menu seems huge. When I arrived, I looked at the menu and ordered a few tacos. After ordering, I saw another menu and then another and a fourth. There was so much to choose from, I am kinda glad I didn’t dilly dally and chose the tacos. Handmade tortillas are the platform for these gems. All you have to do is top it with some asada, chopped onions, cilantro and hot sauce and you have yourself a simple, yet satisfying meal. The tortilla though was the ace in the hole here, being as fresh as it was. I had planned on sharing them at the party, but alas, they were gone before I left the parking lot.

Que Sabrosa is open daily from morning to night. They offer up breakfast items along with lunch and dinner plates. The owners are welcoming, turning away from their cooking and prep to smile and welcome you with an “hola!” I’m glad the carts have landed in this lot, it is a sign that the area supports small businesses and may spur further development of the empty lots. Go visit Que Sabrosa, enjoy some great Mexican food and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Quesadillas – corn or flour tortilla with choice of steak, chicken, pork, beef tongue, carnitas, veggie or cheese – $3.99
  • Combo plates – choice of meat or veggie, rice, beans, tortillas – $6.50-7.75
  • Tacos – choice of meat with onions, cilantro on homemade tortilla – $1.50
  • Burritos – choice of meat with beans, rice – $4.99
  • Tamales – pork or chicken – $1.50
  • Sopes – steak, carnitas or chicken – $3
  • Horchata – med, $1.50; lg, $2

Hours: Mon-Thurs, 10:30am-9pm; Friday/Saturday, 10:30am-10pm; Sunday, 11am-7pm
Contact: unknown
Other: Credit/Debit cart accepted

INSERT_MAP

Filed Under: Breakfast, Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Dinner, Late Night, Lunch, Mexican, N Vancouver and Fremont, North-Portland, Tacos, Vegetarian Options, Weekends
css.php