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The Story:

A beautiful cart! That is really all that needs to be said about Inspire, a new food cart up at Area23 on NE Alberta that is fashioned out of a vintage Portland street car. A beautiful cart.

I had heard that the cart was coming yet couldn’t imagine what a vintage streetcar wold look like on the lot. When I was passing by over the weekend, I almost lost it gawking at what they created. Found on Craigslist in pieces and then fully restored, including new paint, new vintage stained glass windows and refinished wood interior, Inspire truly does inspire one to remake the old for new purposes. When you visit, look or the amazing metalwork in the window grills that spell out the name of the cart in intricate vintage type.

Inspire serves fresh juices and whole fruit smoothies along with raw desserts. (Raw food is defined as that which is not cooked.) The juices include ingredients like roots, spinach, apple, mint, ginger, mixed greens and other choices to provide you with all the vitamins and antioxidants you need.  The fruit smoothies include bannana, strawberry, mixed greens, blueberries, peaches and other assorted items. This is the cart to visit when you feel your body needs a jolt of health. I enjoyed the banana berry smoothie which had raspberries thrown in. It reminded me of coming spring when our own raspberry bush will provide us with some tasty little bits of yummy.

Inspire plans to expand their menu as they get situated to include more raw food items like hand made pies. With the size of the cart, they do offer a few tables inside for one to sit down out of the weather and enjoy the ambiance. The cart also acts as a small boutique for local artists and sellers of goods. I’m excited to see Inspire join the us in Foodcartland and am happy they were able to recover a part of Portland’s past in the streetcar. Check out Inspire at NE 23rd and Alberta and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Whole fruit smoothies – 16oz – $5.50
• Fresh Juices – $4.50
• Other raw food items to come

Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 12-6pm; Friday and Saturday, 12-10pm; Sunday, 12-6pm
Contact: unknown

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The Story: This cart’s mission is an attempt to accomplish several things at once. It’s partially solar powered, sources most of its food from within a 200 mile radius, serves all manner of sweet and savory waffles to hungry Portlanders, and  is also a non-profit training program for at risk youth in the community. Whew! From the Solar Waffle Works menu:

The SWW is a non-profit operation run in partnership by Portland Pubic Schools’ Community Transition Program and the SolTrekker non-profit. It is a vocational training program is socially responsible business and entrepreneurship, designed and operated by young adults in the community transition program. All proceeds go to support local education!

We are currently sourcing the majority of our food within a 200 mile radius. Our goal is to source it ALL within that radius within six months. We currently us 400-watts of solar modules to run about 50% of our electrical loads. We hope to add a total of 900-watts within 18 months.

Ambitious? Yes. Flavorful, substantial waffles? Most definitely. Vegan and Vegetarian friendly, and of course Solar Waffle Works is open for breakfast/brunch on the weekends.

Maple Bacon Waffle

Sample Menu: (Most waffles can be “veganized” for $1.00, and Buckwheat Waffles are an additional $1.00)

• The Wiffle Waffle – $2.50 Topped with butter and your choice of powdered sugar or cinnamon and sugar.
• The Old Fashioned Waffle – $3.00 Pure Maple Syrup Spread Caressing a Golden brown waffle. Deelish! One of our most popular waffles.
• The Luft-Waffle – $3.00 All natural peanut butter and your choice of jellies
• Becka’s Blueberry Pie Waffle – $4.00 Blueberry jam on top of cream cheese spread
• Make Your Own Waffle $2.50, plus $0.50 per topping. Nutella, Blueberry Jam, Raspberry Jam, Blueberry Syrup, Fig Spread, Chocolate Syrup, Toasted Hazelnuts, Whipped Cream, Mallow Fluff, Peanut Butter, Maple Syrup
• The Real Gouda $4.50 Garlic herb butter topped w/ veggie sausage and smoked Gouda cheese. Green onions optional. Add mushrooms $0.50
• The Good Gravy – $5.00 White gravy with your choice of veggie sausage, mushrooms, Gouda cheese, or any combination
• The Maple Bacon – $5.00 Five strips of apple wood smoked bacon on top of a maple spread.

Beverages – Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Juice Spritzers ($0.75 to $1.75)

Hours: Note, this cart is often closed during Portland Public School holidays. Call ahead for hours. Generally open M-F 11am to 2:30 pm, Thurs/Fri 4pm to 8pm, Saturday 9:30 am to 3:30 pm and then 6 pm to 11 pm, Sunday 9:30 am to 3:30 pm

Phone: 503-351-4657

Email: soltrekker.outreach@gmail.com

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The Story:

It was a dark and damp night in Portland and I was up on Alberta for a meeting when that craving for some food hit me. As I was leaving the meeting, I mentioned I would wander down the street to check out the carts at Area23 since they stayed open late and a few of my meeting partners decided to join. When we arrived at NE 23rd and Alberta, we found a lively lot with three carts open serving a steady stream of customers. It was the night to try Fuego de Lotus and the lot at Area23, which is the handiwork of Michael Kennet, who has taken an empty lot and made it into a welcoming area replete with lighting, covered seating and three food carts.

Fuego de Lotus specializes in dishes with Venezuelan and Mexican influences. Mike says it is the type of food he and his family have been enjoying for years and he wanted to pass it on to Portland. The cart is an older airstream trailer refitted with a kitchen and awning. The opening is flanked by flaming torches that are lit whenever he is open. I’m excited for spring when they debut a large fire pit for late evening relaxing at the pod.

That cool night, I enjoyed a wild boar arepa – the evening’s special. An arepa is a small Venezuelan sandwich type dish made with white corn masa and filling. My dish had a large helping of the wild boar which was delightful and had the texture of good pulled pork. The boar was topped with chopped red cabbage, some amazing sauces and cotija cheese. It was wonderful. I couldn’t help but share the love with my friends who also loved it. The best part of going to the carts with friends is that if you share your dish, they may share theirs, so I was also able to taste one of Fuego de Lotus’ hand pies which are equally delectable.

Fuego de Lotus offers up a range of dishes both for carnivores and vegetarians. The corn masa is a healthier alternative to bread and offers a wonderful texture to the sandwich dish. Area23 is developing fast. Last fall when Fuego de Lotus opened, I heard they were doing evening movie nights on the neighboring building. They plan to kick that off again soon once they get the 4th cart in place. Area23 is going to become a destination spot for NE Portland residents I predict. If you are up in the area, drop on by and say hello and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Arepas with meat – $5; Vegetarian or vegan – $4
-all arepas topped with cotija, a salty white cheese or Tillamook cheddar

• chorizo & plantains
• ham or smoked turkey w/ caramelized onions
• chicken green chili
• black beans & cabbage salad (vegan)
• traditional cheese
• butter & grape jam

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The Story:

North East Portland is the latest growth spot for new food carts here in the city. NE Alberta street has, for the last ten years, been a location where entrepreneurs can thrive. Even with the housing bubble and new fancy buildings being built, the street still attracts those who want to succeed. Food Carts are the new artist’s colony. Mono Malo, a cart that specializes in Spanish style tapas is one of the newest on the strip.

Tapas: traditionally defined as small dishes, appetizers or snacks. I remember the first time I had tapas here in Portland and was told the tradition was to just throw your napkin (in which the tapas was served) on the floor. I loved it. You could just wander around, try different items for less than a cup of coffee and freely litter. Outside of Mono Malo, I saw no napkins, so decided to not start that tradition.

Mono Malo

On a very wet and rainy Friday, I ventured up to visit Mono Malo and see what they had. After reviewing a menu of tapas and bocadillos (little sandwiches,) I decided upon a ración, a full meal, that would allow me to try a few different items and satisfy my craving for a burger. (Fridays are burger days.) The combo I enjoyed included a Hamburquesa, a croquette, patatas bravas (potatoes) and a salad. I dove into the croquette first because I am a sucker for aged Manchego cheese and Serrano ham that has been deep fried. A tasty little morsel. The hamburquesa was the crown of the meal. Made with cascade natural ground beef, the burger was what I was looking for that rainy day. I really enjoy that first bite when you taste the seasoned beef, whatever condiment they put on and make that discovery that you are going to enjoy that burger. Add in the salad and the potatoes and it was a well rounded meal and enjoyable on a cold day.

Mono Malo has been open now for about two weeks. The lot they are in is catering to the lunch to dinner and evening crowd. As of now, there are three carts there with a large awning covering some picnic tables so you can enjoy your food out of the rain. I understand a 4th cart is to join the lot that sounds intriguing. More on that when we hear it. Mono Malo does offer vegetarian options for their tapas. Next time you venture out to NE Alberta, check out Mono Malo and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Patatas Bravas – fried red bliss potatoes in spicy tomato sauce with aioli – $2.75
• Croquettes – 3 per order – Serrano ham and Manchego cheese or Seasonal Vegetable – $4
• Tortilla Española – Spanish omelet – seasonal vegetables or chorizo and onion – $2.25 or $2.50
• Arugula Salad – with roasted beets, carrots, sherry poached raisins and sherry vinaigrette – $2.50
• Chicken Villaroy little sandwich – Draper valley chicken breast, romesco and arugula on Grand Central campagnola bread – $4
• Hamburquesa – Cascade Natural beef, Spanish slaw and smoked paprika aioli on soft roll – $4.50
• Queso Barra & Manchego Cheese – with sun dried tomatoes on grilled sourdough – $4
• Full meals with a combination of the above range from $6.50-$8.50

Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, noon-8pm; Friday/Saturday, noon-10pm; Sunday, noon-6pm
Phone: 503-964-0126
Contact: @MonoMaloFood on Twitter; FaceBook Page
Website: MonoMaloTapas.com