Pulehu Pizza

Location: SW 3rd and Stark
Hours: Weekdays, lunch; Fri/Sat late night

The Story: A few years ago, a friend told me about a new pizza he was making at home on his gas grill. I just couldn’t picture putting a pizza on a grill. Wouldn’t it stick and burn? Fast forward to this week and I was able to see how it is done at the newest pizza cart in Portland – Pulehu Pizza.

On The Grill

Pulehu is the work of Pierre and Annebelle who originally hail from Maui. Pierre was a chef at the Four Seasons for eight years and both wanted to escape their jobs, so while camping among waterfalls, the idea of grilling pizzas was hatched. After trying their concept at a block party, the idea grew into a full service catering and concession operation. In Hawaii, they didn’t have a cart or food truck and were forced to carry everything to their events. They earned the right to be inside a box here in Portland. Pulehu – slang for grill.

The grill used is a large outdoor style gas grill you would see permanently installed for your outdoor kitchen. Pierre makes fresh pizza dough which is rolled out for either an 8″ or 12″ personal pie. He quickly grills one side and then waits for your order. I chose the Truffle Mushroom which comes with mushrooms, grana padano, garlic, truffle oil, cracked black pepper and other seasonings. Pierre tops the grilled side then slides it onto the grill to finish the crust. After a bit, once the crust is just right, he removes it onto a pie pan and closes the lid to cook the toppings and melt the cheese. After some final seasoning and slicing, they hand it over. I love truffle oil on pizza, it adds a fruity flavor that is amazing and subtle. This pie was right up my alley. The crust, thin and crisp enough you could pick up a slice without it getting all floppy. Simple toppings and simple prep made for a wonderful meal.

Truffle Mushroom Pizza from Pulehu Pizza

Pierre and Annebelle now call Portland their home and have opened their doors to be one of only a few pizza vendors in food carts. They have a diverse menu of pizzas along with salads for the non-pizza eater. They are  open late night on the weekends for your fourth meal cravings. Drop on by, welcome them to the Rose City and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Classic Cheese- 8″, $5; 12″, $11
• Margherita: tomato, cart made ricotta and pesto – 8″, $6; 12″, $13
• Pepperoni – 8″, $6; 12″, $13
• Meat Lovers: pepperoni, artisanal sausage, grana padano and garlic – 8″, 7; 12″, $13
• Veggie Lovers: tomato, mushroom, feta, kalamata olives, cart made pesto – 8″, $7; 12″, $13

Phone: 503 915 6869
Website: PulehuPizza.com
Twitter: @PulehuPizza
Facebook: Pulehu Pizza

The post Pulehu Pizza appeared first on Food Carts Portland.

Samples from Eat Mobile

Did you get your tickets? VIP Tickets are sold out, but GA is still available. Get ‘em quick as they are selling fast. We have a pair you could win. All you have to do is comment here on which vendor you’re most excited to try on Saturday. We’ll randomly pick a winner Wednesday at 12 noon and notify the winner. Be sure to leave a valid email address so we can contact you.

Eat Mobile
Saturday, April 27 5:30-9pm
OMSI

We have a winner. Kristy! Thanks everyone for the comments:

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Rockin’ Robyn’s Sassy Burger

Location: NE 52nd and Sandy, Rose City Food Park
Hours: Wed-Sun, 11:30am-8pm, open later Friday/Saturday till 9pm

The Story: I’m a burger fiend. I admit it, I ate a burger this week and kept it secret. It even had bacon on it. For awhile, friends of mine and I would text photos of burger finds both in Portland and beyond. The burger for me is true American cuisine and there are some wonderful specimens right here in the Rose City. Rockin’ Robyn’s at Rose City Food Park may just be one of those you put on your go-to list.

My doctor told me I needed to lay off the burgers a couple of years ago, so I did, opting for sandwiches and ethnic cuisine, but every so often, due to the rigors of my work, I have to enjoy a tasty burger. I had heard good reports about Robyn’s burgers, so ventured out to NE Portland to check it out. Right as I stepped out of the car, the sky opened, dumping about nine gallons of rain on me. Luckily, a parka and Robyn’s awning protected me while I ordered. Robyn has history in the burger making business and jokingly has burgers in her blood. Her father owned The Igloo in Vancouver, so Robyn learned from family. She sources her beef down the street from where I grew up – The Original Steer Market on SE Division.

The Sassonator from Rockin’ Robyn’s

The menu at the cart is what you would expect – burgers of all types and sizes. You can get a traditional one or go crazy and get mushrooms or BBQ sauce or even a second patty. Robyn will hook you up. For me, I chose the Sassonator, a cajun spiced 1/2lb burger with Tillamook Pepper Jack cheese. I even added a fried egg to make it extra special. With one of the best in town pub buns from Portland French Bakery, fresh lettuce, tomato, thick sliced onion and the burger, I knew I was in for a treat. You know how when you first pick up a burger and stare at it longingly and maybe talk to it, telling it that soon, it will be in your belly? Yep, that was me. Once you pick it up, with the melted cheese running down your hand and juices on your chin, you don’t put it down until you’re finished. The cajun spices came through, but not overwhelming and the pepper jack with the egg were divine. An excellent burger for $7.50.

Rockin’ Robyn’s isn’t just burgers. She offers fries and sandwiches and vegetarian and gluten free options. Every lot needs a good burger and Rose City has theirs in this cart. Drop on by and let Robyn know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Cheap Sassy Basket – 1/4lb burger with American cheese and 1/2 order fries – $5
• Sassy Burger – 1/2 lb burger – $5.50
• Sassy Cheddar Burger – 1/2 lb burger with cheese – $6.25
• Sassonator – $7
• Psycho Sassy – 1/2lb burger with sauteed mushrooms and Swiss – $7.25
• Rockin’ Vegan Protabella Burger – Portabella mushroom on whole grain bun – $7

Phone: 503 449 7144
Website: RockinRobynsSassyBurger.com
Twitter: @RockinRobynsPDX
Facebook: Rockin’ Robyn’s

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The Italian Market

Location: SE 45th and Stark at Belmont Station
Hours: Mon-Sun, 12-9pm

The Story: Yo, cheesesteaks are for tourists! Those are the first words I remember hearing from the owners of The Italian Market almost a year ago. Hailing from the city of brotherly love, the owners Erin and Andrew bring south Philly street food to Portland.

I first met Erin and Andrew over a year ago and learned of their plans to relocate to Portland and jump into our ever evolving street food scene. Coming from Philadelphia, a food city in its own right, they wanted to bring those flavors without the schtick we all associate with the cheesesteak. I’ve been to Philly and yeah, you can find a cheesesteak on every corner, but there is so much more to eat and The Italian Market will show you. It has been a long year for the two from the move and building a food cart and securing a location. But now, in April, they are open and slingin’ sandwiches at Belmont Station, a venerable bottle shop known by many who took out their old kitchen in order to welcome a mobile vendor. A new welcoming patio was also constructed so you can enjoy your sandwich inside out of the rain with a beer.

Italian Beef Brisket Sandwich

Erin and Andrew have done their time in kitchens and know enough about their craft to know the bread for a sandwich is key. Last summer, they flew out here with a suitcase of different types of bread from Philadelphia and visited all the best bakers in town to see who they could partner with to re-create some of those signature loafs. Dean from Allesio bakery took the samples and made magic in the Rose City, creating the different types of buns The Italian Market required. Speaking of sandwiches, they offer four different ones including an Italian pork, an Italian beef, a meatball sub and a baked eggplant sammy for the vegetarians in the crowd. After tasting samples of both the pork and beef, I choose the Italian beef brisket with roasted tomatoes, sharp provolone and horseradish on a seeded roll. Andrew threw some pepperoncinis in there for good measure. The roll held the ingredients together well and even soaked up a bit of the juices without becoming too soggy and falling apart. The horseradish and brisket mixed perfectly with the acidity of the tomato. Top it all off with sharp provolone and you have one excellent sandwich.

The Italian Market also offers salad and pretzels and can do Gluten Free buns, just ask. They source all their ingredients locally including their “east coast kale” – broccoli rabe. I tried a sample of the greens which melted in my mouth. I’m loving this new model of pairing mobile vendors with bottle shops and bars. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in a bar and all they have to eat are warmed over hot dogs. An Italian pork sandwich sounds so much better with a local IPA. Find The Italian Market at Belmont Station daily from noon-9pm. Welcome them to our fine town and let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Federal Sandwich: Italian Pork w/ sharp provolone and broccoli rabe – $8
• Ellsworth: Italian beef – $8.50
• Uncle Mike’s Meatball Sub – ground beef and pork simmered in red gravy w/ sharp provolone – $8
• Passyunk: baked eggplant w/ roasted peppers and fennel, homemade mozzarella and pesto – $8
• Tasker Salad: panzanella salad w/ crusty bread, cucumber, tomato, homemade mozzarella, onion and fresh basil with olive oil and balsamic – $5.50

Phone: (908) 294-1854
Website: TheItalianMarketPDX.com
Facebook: The Italian Market
Twitter: @YoItalianMarket

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Kesone Asian Fusion

Location: SE 82nd and Harney, Cartlandia
Hours: Mon-Sun, 11:30-8pm

The Story: I first remember hearing the word fusion back in the 90′s and it usually implied a mix of two dichotomous cuisines that a chef decided to mix together. Sometimes it worked, many times it did not. A Kesone Asian Fusion, the mix is Thai and Laotian which compliment each other well.

You may recognize the name Kesone as they had a cafe and bistro in NE Portland for many years, but closed it to open their food cart at Cartlandia. Inside the bright red box, Kesone greats her guests with a bright grin as they come up and with most vendors, begins preparing the cuisine right then. I love that about Portland’s vendors – freshly made food. The menu is comprised of appetizers, salads, noodle and rice dishes, soups, curries and Lao specialties. Normally, upon arrival, I can choose a dish rather quickly, but this menu of 29 different items slowed me down. I skipped the appetizers and salad and focused mainly on the Lao specialties like Nam Kao Vientianene, a dish with crispy rice with coconut shavings and your choice of protein which is blended with mint, lime juice, roasted peanuts, cilantro and scallions. You scoop the mix on to a lettuce leaf and enjoy. Kesone gave me a sample and that is a tasty dish. There is also Sai Uah Lao which are seasoned pork sausages stuffed with sweet onions, lemon grass, dill, rice, scallions and chili. So many amazing options. I couldn’t order them all, so chose Gai Yai, a half of a slow roasted game hen marinated in lemongrass and pineapple house seasoning. I have enjoyed game hen prepared in other ways, so wanted to try it Laotian style and enjoyed it immensely. That first bite with juices dripping down my chin was all it took to convince me that Kesone took care in her slow roasting. The lemongrass and sweetness of the pineapple added a complex flavor I hadn’t enjoyed with fowl up to this point. Needless to say, no leftovers.

Gai Yai from Kesone Asian Fusion

Kesone Asian Fusion is open daily for lunch and through the dinner hour. Cartlandia offers covered seating with free wi-fi and even has a beer garden open select hours. Drop on by for some tasty dishes and let Kesone know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Deep Fried Vegetarian Rolls – $4
• Jalapeno Cream Cheese Wonton – $4
• Thai Spicy Chicken Wings – $4
• Sum Thum Salad – shredded green papaya, cherry tomatoes, lime juice, roasted peanuts with dressing – $8
• Lao-style Yum Gai – chicken with crispy lettuce, boiled eggs, red onions, cucumber, tomatoes, roasted peanuts and cilantro – $8
• Pad Lao – pan-fried rice noodles, egg, scallions, roasted peanuts in house sauce with bean sprouts and lime – $6.50
• Nam Kao Vientianne – $8
• Gai Yai Half – $7
• Sai Uah Lao – $8
• Kang Massaman Curry – milder Thai style curry with potatoes, carrots, onions, basil and peanuts – $6.50-8
• Wonton Soup – ground chicken with garlic seasoning wrapped in wonton skins in homemade chicken broth with mushrooms, celery, onions and bean sprouts – $4-8

Facebook: Kesone Asian Fusion

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The vendors at The Row, the food cart pod down on SE 2nd and Oak are throwing their 2nd Family Dinner this weekend. A 6 course Italian dinner created by your favorite food carts including Potato Champion, KOI Fusion, Big Ass Sandwiches, Pyro Pizza, Burgatroyd and Nikki and Lefty’s for only $35. Each guest gets 2 drinks with their ticket. Eastside Distillery is providing vodka and whiskey for cocktails along with Hopworks beer. Proceeds from Family Dinner goes to PROWUS (Portland Rock On With Us), a local non profit that provides grants to after school music programs. Tickets can be had here or at the lot from the vendors.

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Nong’s Khao Man Gai will be the feature food cart at the Timbers match against Houston this Saturday at JELD-WEN. I highly suggest getting their early as Nong is one of the most popular vendors in town and I know there will be a line. April 6, match at 7:30pm.

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Back in 2009, the street food significantly changed here in Portland with the opening of Mississippi Marketplace. The first developed and designed food cart lot which partnered with an onsite pub for the mix of beer and street food. Since then, while alcohol has been available at the lots, the bar/food cart situation hasn’t been replicated on a large scale. There is Q19 in NW. Last year, Base Camp Brewing opened with two onsite vendors to support their taproom and now the venerable Belmont Station bottle shop has remodeled and closed their kitchen to invite a mobile vendor to be the site’s purveyor of fine food. Italian Market, a newcomer to Portland from Philadelphia will call Belmont Station home, serving up south Philly street food. Belmont Station/Italian Market is located at 45th and SE Stark.

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The Nargila Garden, a hookah bar and food purveyor has moved from NE Alberta to the Green Castle food cart pod on NE 20th and Everett. Grand opening is this weekend and they will feature hookahs, water pipes with flavorful tobacco blends alongside food from the other vendors on the lot. They’ll even have a fire pit to keep you warm during the cool spring nights.

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New Vendors:

Italian Market-  SE 45th and Stark

Good & Evil Wraps – Cartlandia, SE 82nd and Harney

Pulehu Pizza – SW 3rd and Stark

Moves:

Pork Chop City has re-opened at A la Carts Food Pavilion at SE 50th and Division

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The spring we all expected arrived yesterday with rain and wind. That doesn’t mean the vendors closed. Everyone is still open, fully stocked and ready to fee you. Grab an umbrella or throw on your parka. You’re a Portlander, you’re use to getting a bit damp in spring. Enjoy the carts.

The post Food Cart News Roundup appeared first on Food Carts Portland.

Volunteer for Eat Mobile 2013 at OMSI!

Do you love food carts? Can’t get enough of all the amazing gourmet-on-the-go (not to mention on the cheap!) options in this fair city? Then come be a part of *THE* celebration of Portland food cart culture by volunteering for Eat Mobile on Saturday, April 27th, 2013 at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry!

Part food festival, part cart competition, Eat Mobile showcases the mouth-watering cuisine from 50 of Willamette Week’s favorite food carts. The event highlights the food, music, and people that make Portland’s food scene so special, while vendors compete for the coveted Carty Award. In addition, Whole Foods Market and OMSI will stage demonstrations to provide attendees with an understanding of the science behind the food.

Volunteers are needed to help run all aspects of the event, from will call and wrist banding guests, to taking surveys, keeping the event clean and green, and even parking bikes! Volunteers have their choice of one of two shift times: 3:30pm to 7:30pm or 7:00pm to 10:00pm. All volunteers will receive an Eat Mobile staff wristband that allows you to sample all the delicious food being offered either before or after your shift. In addition, our Compost Genius volunteers (those volunteers who help guest make composting and recycling choices and those who keep the tables clear) will also receive a pass to come back and enjoy OMSI on a day of their choosing!

To sign up for a shift or request more information, please email Casey Szot at cszot@omsi.edu or call 503-797-4569

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The Filipino Cart

CLOSED

Location: N Vancouver and Fremont
Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-10pm

The Story: Mexican, American BBQ, Mauritian and now Filipino. The lot at N Fremont and Vancouver is quickly becoming a melting pot of international cuisine. The Filipino Cart, one of the few Filipino vendors in the city, serves up lumpia daily.

Portland has had a few Filipino vendors come and go over the years. As a result, I’ve been introduced to the diverse cuisine the culture offers. With influences from both Asia and Europe and beyond, you’ll see items on the menu that may surprise you. At The Filipino Cart, the menu is extensive and may be daunting for some, so I recommend either asking for guidance or just picking something and taking a tastebud adventure. I always start with lumpia which seem like the national dish – a fried egg roll with shredded onion, carrots and pork. I almost ordered item number two, Salt and Pepper Calamari, but wanted to try something new, so read through the menu then asked for advice. Bopis! A quick answer from the chef. A spicy dish with pork and liver sauteed in tomato, chili and onion and served with rice. I haven’t been a fan of liver since I was a kid, but the way it was prepared here changed my mind. A great mix of meat and veggies.

Bopis

The Filipino Cart also offers Halo-halo, a popular Filipino dessert that is a mixture of shave ice and evaporated milk with various boiled sweet beans and fruits added. If that doesn’t entice a visit, I’m not sure what would. The vendors at this lot are staying open late into the night, so if you’re looking for dinner or late night nosh, drop on by. Let them know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Sample Menu:

• Laeng: dried taro leaves cooked in coconut milk – $6.90
• Tocino: cured pork marinated in sweet red sauce and served with rice and eggs – $6.90
• Beef Stew: braised ribs slowly simmered in dark sauce with hot and sweetness – $6.90
• Bistek Tagalog: onions and strips of sirloin beef slow cooked in soy sauce and lemon juice – $6.90
• Letchon Kawali: pork belly deep fried in kawali, a deep frying pan, served with soy sauce and vinegar – $7.90
• Chicken Adobo: chunks of chicken or pork both cooked in soy sauce, bay leaf and garlic – $6.90

Phone: (503) 396-3452
Facebook: The Filipino Cart

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Food Carts Portland is pleased to announce our partnership in Roam – the first ever North American food conference serving the mobile food industry. Roam will be held in Portland, Oregon September 13-15, 2013 and features speakers, educational sessions, events and more.

Education tracts are grouped for those just starting out in the industry, seasoned mobile vendors who want to grow, non-profits and community organizations who want to incorporate mobile vending, government urban planners and policy makers, and those who serve the mobile food industry. Roam showcases business education, technology and other innovations, menu and concept planning, marketing for mobile, and more. Expect fun events  such as food cart lunches, a special happy hour, and citywide tours featuring some of Portland’s 600+ food carts and some of the best street food from all over North America. For those interested in starting their own mobile business, Roam has put together a special one-day “Start-up Boot Camp” for mobile vending. Think of it as a crash course in all things mobile.  And Roam isn’t just about mobile food. Expect to see trends in mobile retail and mobile promotions, too.

We’ll be providing updates and more information as the conference develops including speaker  announcements, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, and event details. For more information and to sign up for Roam news, please go to www.roamconference.com or email info@roamconference.com

Learn. Network. Engage. Explore. All roads lead to Roam!

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