Fiji Indian Curry

January 12, 2013 by 1 Comment
Fiji Indian Curry

Fiji Indian Curry

Location: NE 23rd and Alberta
Hours: Wed-Mon, lunchtime (closed Tuesdays)

The Story:

The Alberta Arts district has hosted numerous mobile vendors over the years with lots popping up here and there along the street. Fiji Indian Curry ads something new to the lot at 23rd and Alberta.

The Portland street food scene continues to evolve with dynamic options for unique cuisine. In the past year, we’ve seen a shift to a more regional and localized cuisine offered by different cultures. For Fiji Indian Curry, their cuisine comes from Indians living in Fiji where a unique blend of beliefs and customs have melded together over centuries.

Vegetarian Curry Stir Fry

Vegetarian Curry Stir Fry

Most Indo-Fijians enjoy home-made rotis, breads, fresh from the kitchen along with numerous vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan dishes that this vendor offers. Along with roti, Roshan, the owner, put together a vegetarian curry stir fry over rice for us. You can get the curry with meat or shrimp also. The roti, with the freshly made wrap and filled with curried potato and green beans exploded with flavor at first bite. The stir fry with carrots, broccoli, tomato, ginger, and yellow onion introduced me to a dish I probably wouldn’t have ordered, but now want to try the different styles. We asked for it spicy and it was indeed, but not overly so. Just enough to warm you up on a cool day.

Fiji Indian Curry is a great addition to the Portland food cart scene. Along with offering a unique cuisine, they educate their fans daily on Facebook and Twitter with unique facts about Fiji or their heritage. Makes me want to visit! The cart shares a lot on NE 23rd and Alberta with other vendors including Captured by Porches Brewing and offers covered seating. Drop on by and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

  • Samosa – $2.50
  • Roti – $1.50
  • Eggplant Curry served with Dal over Basmati rice – $6.50
  • Dal Bhat – savory split pea cooked with onions, garlic, ginger – $5.50
  • Curry Stir Fry in Coconut Milk – w/chicken, $6.75; w/pork, $7.50
  • Curry Fried Rice – meat or shrimp, $7-9
  • Daily specials

Phone: 503 839 1938
Website: Fiji Indian Curry
Twitter: @FijiIndianCurry
Facebook: Fiji Indian Curry

Filed Under: Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Dinner, Indian, Lunch, NE 23rd and Alberta, Northeast - Portland, Pacific Islands, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

The Cheese Plate PDX

July 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 12pm-3pm, Sunday: 11am-3pm, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 5pm-10pm, Friday, Saturday: 5pm-11pm, Sunday: 5pm-9pm
Location: NE 23rd and Alberta (2231 NE Alberta St)

The Story: “Cheese – milk’s leap toward immortality” – Clifton Paul Fadiman. Many of us love cheese more than any other food. It’s pure poetry in all its oozy, sometimes crumbly, often stinky glory. Indeed, some cheese lovers border on the fanatical.

For me, there’s nothing more civilized than a beautiful cheese plate made with care. Little tidbits spread out like jewels to be nibbled and savored, accompanied by friends and conversation. Even the most humble meal can become a memorable experience with the inclusion of some bread or crackers, a bit of fruit and/or pickles, perhaps some charcuterie, and a well-chosen quality cheese or two.

The Cheese Plate PDX’s Cheese Plate

The Cheese Plate PDX, a new addition to Portland’s cart scene, gives cheese the respect it deserves. No cold rubbery Brie or neon orange Cheddar here. This is not a cart for those seeking a quick, cheap, shove-it-in-your mouth sandwich. How uncivilized! No, the Cheese Cart is for the gourmandes and gourmands among us – either dining al fresco on the gravel lot The Cheese Plate is located on, or as a boxed to-go picnic or take-home treat.

The Cheese Plate is the brainchild of Nick and Carina, two well seasoned food professionals who met at San Francisco’s well lauded Lulu restaurant. Here’s the story of how the cheese plate came be as written on The Cheese Plate’s Website. (Spoiler, Nick and Carina fell in love on their first date sharing a very nice blue cheese, and the rest is history).

Cheese at the Cheese Plate does indeed come in the form of a cheese plate, with a selection based on the finest the chef can find, rounded out to include a trio of goat cheeses, and that well-loved  French peasant “cheese spread” known as Fromage Fort. The day I sampled the cheese plate at the CP, it was a nice focus on Oregon Artisan cheeses of all types soft, hard, aged and not, perfect for the cool summer day. Well done!

The Cheese Plate PDX’s Picnic Plate

To go along with my cheese I ordered the Picnic Plate. This pretty little board was a revelation – as fantastic as anything you’ll find in Portland’s high-end restaurants. It features a “make your own” plate from items such as Wild Mushroom and Kale Pâté, Blue and Green Stuffed Olives with Goat and Blue Cheeses, Melon with Ginger Sea Salt, and Soft Boiled Eggs with Truffle and Seaweed Caviar, and other sophisticated playful dishes. The Seaweed Caviar that showed up in a few dishes on the Picnic Plate was  something I’ve read about, but had not tried before. I’m happy I did. It’s the perfect addition to cheese and accompanying dishes, with the same pop and salty/briny bite as regular caviar, as well as its own unique vegetal taste. As a bonus it’s also a sustainable food source. I’m smitten!

Other offerings at The Cheese Plate include Garden Vegetable and Cheese Sandwich (the types of cheese/veggies depends on what’s fresh and in season), Fried Cheese Sticks (no, these aren’t the dive bar menu kind), and specials such as a Scotch Rarebit, and open-faced sandwich with egg, tomato, onion and melted Cheddar on toast.  Vegans have some wonderful choices here as well, including a Vegan Cheese Fromage Fort and side bites such as kale chips, pickles, and other Vegan treats. This is an equal opportunity cart. As they just opened this July, expect The Cheese Plate’s menu to evolve during the next few months. We look forward to returning to see what else they have in store.

Congratulations to The Cheese Plate, for bringing more cheese food of the gods to Portland!

Sample Menu:

  • Cheese Plate (rotating offerings) and crackers/bread – $8
  • Picnic Plate (make your own) – 4 choices for $8 or order a la carte.
    • -Wild Mushroom and Kale Pate with Seaweed Caviar – $3
    • Corn and Potato Salad with White Truffle Oil Aioli – $3
    • - Melon with Ginger Sea Salt  – $2
    • Today’s House Made Pickles – $2
    • Hazelnut and Popcorn Party Mix – $2
    • Garden Vegetable and Cheese Sandwich – $6
    • Pacific NW Kale Chips – $3
    • Green and Black Stuffed Olives with Goat and Blue Cheeses – $3

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 12pm-3pm, Sunday: 11am-3pm, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 5pm-10pm, Friday, Saturday: 5pm-11pm, Sunday: 5pm-9pm
Website: www.cheeseplatepdx.com
Phone: 503-422-8707
Facebook: TheCheesePlatePDX
Twitter: @PDXCheesePlate

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Filed Under: Cheese, Debit/Credit Carts Accepted, Dinner, Lunch, NE 23rd and Alberta, Salads, Sandwiches, Snacks, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Options, Weekends

Moctezuma Bros Southern Mexican Cuisine

August 1, 2011 by 2 Comments
Moctezuma Bros

Moctezuma Bros

Location: NE 23rd and Alberta
Hours: lunchtime, weekdays

Phone: 503 933 8243

Traditional Mexican fare. More information coming soon.

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Filed Under: Dinner, Lunch, Mexican, NE 23rd and Alberta, Tacos, Vegetarian Options