Hungry Heart Cupcakes

Location: Roaming, check Twitter
Hours: depends on location

The Story:

In 2010, we received an email about a new truck named Chomp, a stepvan that was serving up tasty cupcakes. When we investigated and discovered a great new sweet option – Hungry Heart Cupcakes.

Cupcakes have been a favorite of many in the last few years with storefronts opening here and there throughout the city. In the food cart world, The Sugar Cube introduced Portlanders to some amazing treats and dessert options and is still going strong. Now, with Hungry Heart Cupcakes, you have a new option for sating that sweettooth. The cupcake queen Jax has been thinking about cupcakes most of her life after having been treated as a child to some amazing home cooking from her grandmother. When the cupcake revolution began, Jax started dreaming about what flavors she would put together along with how they would be served. Having memories of the childhood ice-cream truck, she decided she wanted to be the neighborhood cupcake truck and Chomps was born.

Bourbon Bacon Cupcake

I remember cupcakes as a child being dry and uninspired. The best you could hope for was a unique topping or sprinkles. Ahh, the 70′s. Hungry Heart has embraced artisan cupcakes with flavors like red velvet with vanilla cream cheese frosting or dark chocolate and cacao nibs with dulce deluche frosting and sea salt. These are some creative combinations you just don’t find anywhere. The day we visited, I and my friends were able to enjoy the Bourbon Breakfast Cupcake, a pancake cupcake with bourbon apple filling, maple frosting and applewood smoked bacon presented atop. Just showing the cupcake to others created drools, oohs and ahs. I just had to share. The bacon and maple were decadent and the unique apple filling with the moist cake made for a treat beyond what anyone expected. This is the cupcake that will re-define cupcakes for you, your family and your grandma. (Be sure to have flowers available so no one is put off.)

Hungry Heart Cupcakes roams around Portland to events and lunch spots. Most recently, they have been found with Koi Fusion at 300 NE Multnomah on Thursdays. You’ll need to follow them on Facebook or Twitter for their current locations. If you can and when you do, visit them and enjoy a treat and let Jax and Chomps know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

Cupcakes are “minis” for $1.25 or a 4 for $4.50.

• Red Velvet with vanilla cream cheese frosting
• Lemon Drop cupcake with raspberry buttercream frosting
• Dark chocolate & cacao nib with dulce deluche frosting & Maldon sea salt
• Chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting and applewood smoked bacon
• Chocolate cupcake with cocoa raspberry frosting
• Vanilla cupcake with spiced pears and Saigon cinnamon frosting
• Bourbon Breakfast Cupcake: pancake cupcake with bourbon apple filling, maple frosting and topped with bacon – $2.50

Hours: depends on location
Phone: 503 583 2654
Website: HungryHeartCupcakes.com
Twitter: @HHCupcakes Facebook: Hungry Heart Cupcakes

Burgerville Nomad

Location: mobile  – most recently seen at Pioneer Courthouse Square

Description:

If you are an Oregonian, when you think of Burgerville, you may think of Walla Walla sweet onion rings or Blackberry shakes or Tillamook Cheeseburgers. Burgerville is one of those local chain restaurants that bucks the fast food trend and embraces what this city loves – local. I have always been a fan of their burgers and known they were better than the other chains, but it was only in the past few years that Burgerville embraced a more local stance by partnering with Oregon Country Beef and sourcing their veggies from local farms. And they are succeeding. Now, they take their menu on the road.

The Burgerville Nomad is a burger truck by all accounts. Like many of the taco trucks we see around the city, it is designed to be truly mobile and doesn’t currently have a primary location. The Nomad has staff too. Not just a couple of individuals in the truck putting together your lunch, but they have greeters and hosts there to offer you a menu, take your order and hand you a napkin once your meal is done. I think I counted about seven or eight staff. Wow. They do a brisk business, constantly busy while I ate my lunch and observed, but no more busy than some of the other carts in the square.

The Nomad offers up an extensive menu. I haven’t been in a real Burgerville in awhile, so this may not be their entire menu. There are the signature burgers, the homemade veggie burgers, the turkey and chicken sandwiches. There are salads and fries and an assortment of drinks. They even offer up milkshakes and other desserts, including seasonal ones, leveraging local fruit harvests. The prices are reasonable – just like in the restaurant and the service is great. No complaints here.

I wanted to enjoy their signature Pepper Bacon Cheeseburger the other day, but upon arrival, I as informed that they had run out of bacon. Harrumph! It was only 12:15. I thought that was odd, but picked up the Tillamook Cheeseburger and enjoyed it just the same.

The Burgerville Nomad is a mobile truck, so if you are looking for it, you should follow them on Twitter or check out their website for current and future locations. If you want a great burger or blackberry shake, Burgerville is a good choice. When you find them, tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Pepper Bacon Cheeseburger – Country Natural beef, pepper bacon, Tillamook cheddar cheese, condiments – $5.70
• Tillamook Cheeseburger – Country Natural beef, Tillamook cheddar cheese, condiments – $4.50
• Half-pound Colossal Cheeseburger – 2 1/4 lb. Country Natural Beef patties, American cheese, condiments – $6.40
• Hamburger -$1.60
• Cheeseburger – $1.80
• Spicy Anasazi Bean Burger – spicy Anasazi bean patty, Tillamok pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato on a bun – $5.90
• Rogue River Smokey Blue Salad – spring mix greens, Rogue River smokey blue cheese, cranberries, apples and crape tomatoes – $6.95
• French Fries – $2.30
• Seasonal Milkshakes – $4.80
• Ice Cream Milkshake – $3.60

Hours: varies per event
Phone: 1-866-264-2313
Website: Burgerville.com
Twitter: BurgervilleUSA

Cobra Dog

Location: Government Camp, OR on Mt. Hood

Description:

I’ve been out on a roadtrip for the past few weeks seeing America. As we rolled through Oregon on the way home after 8500+ miles, I thought to myself – “hey, we should stop by Cobra Dog while we’re in the neighborhood.” I’m glad we did.

Cobra Dogs is a food cart up in Government Camp at the base of Mt. Hood. Cory Grove opened the cart up there during the summer months to cater to the snowboard and ski crowd. Did you know that Mt. Hood, specifically Palmer Glacier at Timberline, is the only place in the continental US that you can ski year around? That is why Government Camp is bustling with teens from every state in the union and beyond who just want some lunch after a long morning on the mountain. Captive audience.

Cobra Dogs sells hot dogs and brats, including veggie dogs. I opted for the Hot Snake Brat with Cobra sauce and jalapenos. Sounds good doesn’t it. A Hot Snake Brat is a bratwurst on the hot side, similar to a Louisiana Hot. The dog came served on a larger than normal french roll type bun with the aforementioned Cobra Sauce and a sprinkling of jalapenos. Holy smokes was it hot. My mouth was burning for awhile after I noshed it down. The Cobra sauce is Cory’s famous spicy sauce that he offers on any order and I highly recommend it. My wife enjoyed the “Very Veggie” dog. Served up hot, it was a great dog I was told.

Cobra Dogs is in its final days of the summer session. I’m glad I stopped by when I did since they close their doors for this summer on Friday, August 15. But don’t fret, Cory plans on travelling around with the cart to different events, so if you can’t get up there before Friday, you may be able to find him in the fall. I suggest a roadtrip. Oh, and when you do get your Cobra Dog, be sure to ask for it “Cobra Style” and tell them FoodCartsPortland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• All Beef Boa – 100% beef dog – $4.50
• Cheddaconda – Frankfurter infused with real Tillamook cheddar – $5
• Brattlesnake Brat – German brat with a hint of black pepper – $5
• Hot Snake Brat – German brat on the hot side – $5
• Very Veggie – tofu based veggie dog – $5
• assorted drinks and munchies – $1-$2
• toppings include jalapenos, onions, relish, cream cheese, sauerkraut, cobra sauce, etc.

Hours: June 15 to August 15, 1pm to 9pm
Contact: cobradogs.com
Twitter: CobraDogs

Location: [Dec 2009, Sol Pops can be found at N Williams at Shaver] Various farmers markets and other locations; also available in certain retail locations.

Description: Let’s face it, it’s hot outside. So the craving for frozen juice treats on sticks is a natural. Yet outside of the wonderful Mexican Paletas found at many Hispanic markets, most popsicles found around town are mainly fake flavored water with food coloring that’s been sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. Yuck.

Sol Pops: Sustainable. Organic. Local.

Describing themselves as, “handmade gourmet and wellness pops,” Sol Pops makes creative fruit, vegetable and herbal frozen treats sweetened with things like cane sugar, agave and fruit ciders. Using local and organic ingredients when possible, these are pops that are highly ethical and fortunately, highly flavorful as well.

In the Paletas tradition, Sol Pops combines things such as cucumber-lime jalapeno; a lemon basil, raspberry coconut milk; and strawberry lemonade to make quality, refreshing treats that are not too sugary, not too heavy, and super refreshing.

Found at several farmers markets around town in the spring and summer, Sol Pops can also be picked up at stores such as Hot Lips Pizza, the People’s Food Co-op, and New Seasons Markets.

Stay Cool!

Locations: (See Sol Pops Website for Updates). Locations include Eastbank, Portland, King, Hollywood, and Montavilla Farmers Markets.

Hours: Varies
Phone: 503-975-9362
Website: www.solpops.com
Twitter: @SolPops Facebook: www.facebook.com/solpops

Location: SW 4th and Burnside; SW 6th and College; PGE Park and all over the city

Description: Koi Fusion burst on the scene a month or so ago on Twitter. By the time they had their “soft opening,” there were lines 30 people deep. Now that is marketing. Koi Fusion’s ace in the hole is that they are food cart that is truly mobile. Koi Fusion does Korean tacos.

I was out last week on a foodcart binge and while we were taking in some Grilled Cheese Grill, I saw a tweet that Koi Fusion was open up by PGE Park for the Timbers game. No way was I going to miss out on the Korean tacos on this glutenous day. We headed out in the rain and braved predatory tow trucks to try them out. I had met Bo, the owner, about a month ago while wandering around the 10th and Alder carts. Bo is one of those individuals who exudes excitement about what they offer. I got a contact high just from talking to him. I actually feel bad that I hadn’t visited sooner. When we arrived, Bo shouted welcome from behind the counter to everyone walking by. With such a welcoming gesture. I knew it would be a good night.

We decided to try everything on the menu except for the burrito. On Thursday night, Koi Fusion was offering up Soul Sliders- traditional sliders made with their spicy pork. A plate of those and a mixed plate including beef bulgogi tacos, spicy chicken tacos and spicy pork tacos and we were set. When I think of tacos, my mind goes to the traditional tacos the Mexican carts offer – smaller in size, but full of carne or pastor and maybe some lettuce. Koi Fusion’s tacos are similar in that they aren’t full of extraneous stuff, but I would say they are a bit larger.  Bo’s mom is in there making the tortillas by hand. She has her own tip jar. Once you taste one of the tacos, you’ll know why. The sliders were great. The spicy pork isn’t spicy until the back end, kind of a creeper heat, but not overwhelming. There were bean spouts on the top which gave it a little crunch, mixing with the pork for an perfect taste. The tacos were the real treat. Hefty with either spicy pork or beef bulgogi on freshly made tortillas, you just can’t go wrong. They too are topped with a little slaw, some bean sprouts and fresh cilantro so you get numerous flavors while eating a single taco.

Koi Fusion moves around, so you you need to keep up with them on Twitter – @koifusionpdx. They announce any specials and location every day. Most recently they have been parked up by PSU and by PGE park for different events. I wouldn’t be surprised if they show up at some street fairs over the summer. Keep on the lookout.

Sample Menu:

• Beef Bulgogi taco – $1.50
• Spicy Chicken taco – $1.50
• Spicy Pork tco – $1.50
• Tofu taco – $1.50
• Burrito – $5

Hours: Lunchtime at SW 6th and College; evenings at PGE Park (follow Twitter stream for updates)

Contact: Twitter @Koifusionpdx or via their website KoiFusionpdx.com

Location: Here, There and Everywhere! This one was spotted on NW 4th and Davis, downtown.

Oli and his pedal powered ice cream cart. Go Oli, Go!

Description: Cute little tricycle powered ice cream carts found in a neighborhood near you.

Sample Menu:

All the usual ice cream cart suspects. Fruit Freezes, Creamcicles, Ice Cream Sandwiches, Rocket Pops, Push-ups, Choco-Tacos, Drumsticks, and more!

Personally, I love the idea of pedal powered ice cream carts. No annoying music either! I mean, could Portland’s ice cream vans and trucks at least branch out please? I’m a twee burned out on Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer.”

Phone: 971-998-8294

Website: Unkown

E-mail: Unkown

Hours: Unkown

Email: Unkown