Pics from Eat Mobile Festival 2012

This year, the location for the fifth annual Portland Food Cart Festival, Eat Mobile Festival 2012, moved a few blocks over to the OMSI parking lot. This gave this festival of one admission price ($18 for General Admission and $47 for Pre-Tasting VIP which gives an extra hour before GA) and then graze at each of the carts (1 sample a cart) the physical space to expand to three rows of 52 carts. In the middle and back row (towards the waterfront), there was also room for cocktail tables and sitdown tables, with butcher paper stamped Eat Mobile 2012, in order to eat, another great improvement. But, the row without tables, the one closest to the street, was the most comfortable to move around thanks to the lack of tables (though this left people sitting against the chain link fence they put up surrounding the parking lot) so it was easier for lines to each cart stand to logistically be queued in a straight line. They still seemed to be oddly pinching on the number of garbage cans, which seemed far and few between.

One of my first stops because I recall good things about their cart last year was PDX Six Seven One, serving Guam food.  They had a meat and veggie option: the veggie option of Linechen Gollai, Spinach served ina  spicy citrusy coconut milk, and a meat option of Estufao, Carlton Farms pork shoulder simmed in a marinade of soy sauce, vinegar, onions, garlic, and bay leaves served with white rice. PDX 671 would go on to win the Judge's Choice Award. Their cart location is at D Street Noshery.

The one I actually voted for though for People Choice award was Briskets, who offered two options of brisket- and sides of mac n cheese, maple bacon beans, slaw or potato salad. I wish they had a sign up which had advertised their awesome sample concoction… I was already on my 2nd glass of wine and the list of details eluded me when they told me verbally. But, it was awesome. They are only open M-F for lunch at their NW 19th and Quimby location though, so I'm not sure how I will get to them for more given I work in Beaverton.

I really liked Timber's Doghouse PDX (located @ SE Woodstock) too- they had an amazing setup with their sexy ladies in their red tank top black skirt uniform, and a table that included dog water bowls and unicorns. Their sampling of burger (meat or veggie, pictured is veggie sample) with fresh greens topped with what they dub "Momentary Indiscretion" (they have a clever menu- this burger topping equals grilled mushrooms and onions, chantarelle salt, asiago, roasted garlic, and truffle aioli) was one of my favorite samples too, but unfortunately ran out pretty quickly: when I came back with friends with the regular admission entrance, there was nothing left.

Another one I enjoyed was the Mini Monte Cristos (they also offered Empanadas of spinach and gruyere with black olives) from BLT- Breakfast Lunch Today (NE Alberta).

I liked the cute setup of the sign for Bagel & Box (located at N Lombard), which advertises their Brunch Bindle of  1/2 dozen bagels, 1/2 lb of cream cheese, 1/4 lb smoked salmon salad, sliced tomato/cucumber/red onion, 1/2 dozen donuts, a quart of home fries, a quart of fresh OJ, and a checked table cloth… how adorable is that? I want an excuse to get one now. They were one of the few carts that really shined in taking advantage of Eat Mobile to advertise… it obviously worked for me! Their offering of an apple cream cheese with rosemary, white pepper, and bacon bagel bite also convinced me that their bindle will be tasty enough to offer at brunch. Later I saw them offering tastes of their home fries, but I had already had my 1 sample.

Other Misc Photos:

  • Batavia's Indonesian cuisine (from the 3rd and Washington downtown cart pod)
  • Visiting from Corvallis, OR was Creperie du Lys, offering both a sweet and savory crepe bite of either chocolate hazelnut spread or smoked salmon spread with sour cream and capers.
  • Buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy and smoky collard greens from Blues City Biscuits (from D-Street Noshery cart pod)
  • Oregon Bay Shrimp ceviche from El Gallo Taqueria (SE Woodstock)
  • Little bites of dessert from Sweet Jane's at the front table of the Mara's Ladle food cart (SE 41st Hawthorne)
  • Shut Up and Eat's famous meatball sample of their Italian comfort food (SE 50th) never disappoints
  • Hog Time's fries with pulled pork and queso fresco and a touch of spicy aioli (from the 3rd and Washington downtown cart pod)
  • The Oregonzola fries at Violetta, courtesy of their rolling mobile truck version "Etta" (Violetta is located at Director's Park, Etta by definition travels around since it's an actual food truck, not a cart that theoreticaly can move…
  • I stopped at Fifty Licks as usual for ice cream… but also discovered a love for a new ice cream food truck, Scoop (N Killingsworth). I did have two of these- both the Salted Caramel and the Strawberry Balsalmic, both excellent. They also offered Trailhead Expresso and Basil Pineapple Sorbet to round out the four flavors
  • Taco Pedaler is an actual cart on a roaming bike that pedals to a location to deal out their locally sourced tacos… they bike pulling these carts you see them prepping on behind!
  • An actual conversation that took place between us and some strangers: "Hey, where did you get that chicken wing" "Oh, these spicy garlic chicken wings are from ::pointing:: These Guys" "From where? ::looking around behind:: which guys?" "Yeah… the tent there that says THESE GUYS" "Oh… ha ha…" These Guys Brooklyn cart (SE Milwaukee) offered samples of their smoked meats via smoked Carlton pork shoulder and spicy garlic chicken wings
  • 808 Grinds (Sw 9th Washington downtown cart pod) offered their 808 Fried Chicken and 808 Crunch (Chex Mix concoction)… one in my eating party found their concept for their 808 crunch apparently somewhat revelatory because he mentioned it several times afterwards as future inspiration. I just had enough going on as I had to restrain myself from taking a second portion of their fried chicken when I went back in line with my friends and there was a line behind me of others anxious awaiting for their truck doors to swing open so they can have their bite of fried wonderfulness.
  • Lardo's generous sampling of their pork meatball banh mi- people were lining up almost the length of an entire row to get their hands on these. (Lardo is located at the Good Food Here cart pod)
  • The Mini Sandwich Shack (SE Powell) generously was offering four options of sandwiches

Most of these carts are not used to having to prep and serve over 2000 people a day, and here at the Eat Mobile festival the attendance easily was over that, and all within 3 hours. This sweet cart of Breakfast Lunch Today was hand rolling individual empanadas in the last hour of the festival, trying to still feed hungry interested patrons. Because I sympathize with all these small business owners having to create all this food and so quickly getting in the weeds when the general admission opens, I purposely did not visit some carts that I already have tried their food- such as Pizza Contadino, Oregon Ice Works, Koi Fusion, PBJ's, Emame's Ethiopian, Gaufre Gourmet, Somtum Gai Yang, Flavourspot, Brazi Bites, The Dump Truck…

There are also other samplings I did not photograph, such as the always tasty healthy juice shakes of Sip, the beer chili of Robb's Really Good Food, spicy chicken of Cackalack's Hot Chicken Shack (awesome name), and clam chowder of Chowdah, the lil ice cream of Fifty Licks… all of which I really enjoyed despite lack of photographic evidence.

Thank you to all the food carts and Willamette Weekly for putting together this event again, of which proceeds benefit Mercy Corp's Northwest's local economic development program that assists entrepreneurs in securing funds for small businesses (including food carts). I also appreciated Vitamin Water providing complimentary thirst quenching for all the food, and the music provided by the DJs and the performance of the Pynnacles kept me rocking.

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Spencer! Brought to you by PB&J

I stopped at the PB&Js Grilled cart with Spencer in mind as something to enjoy as I continued running my errands yesterday. I was thrown off my game slightly because of the debut of a new special, a shiny sign with photo of a luxe bottle of bourbon and the red wax all sexy while alongside, the words read “Makers Mark Hair of the Dog”. Wait, does that bold print say Makers Mark soaked french challah toast? Does that say and with apple wood smoked bacon? And their peanut butter and blueberry jam and maple syrup!??? I had seen on their FB that they were concocting something, but missed what the result was and that it would debut that day! Well…

No. No. Stay strong. I stuck with Spencer: Campagnola bread, Walnut butter, Caramelized onion, Capicola, Brie, Pear Jam. That is what my intention was when I stopped by, let’s not get distracted. I told myself I would eat just half of that warm sammie, and then run into the stores I needed and finish the rest later. Yeah, it didn’t make it. I couldn’t stop. People were jealous as I took the photo below too- and who wouldn’t be, just look at it!

PBJs Grilled, food cart, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pbj, Spencer sandwich, Campagnola bread, Walnut butter, Caramelized onion, Capicola, Brie, Pear Jam PBJs Grilled, food cart, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pbj, Spencer sandwich, Campagnola bread, Walnut butter, Caramelized onion, Capicola, Brie, Pear Jam PBJs Grilled, food cart, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pbj, Spencer sandwich, Campagnola bread, Walnut butter, Caramelized onion, Capicola, Brie, Pear JamPBJs Grilled, food cart, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pbj, Spencer sandwich, Campagnola bread, Walnut butter, Caramelized onion, Capicola, Brie, Pear Jam

I was disappointed to miss their event with Upright Brewing that they did a couple months back when I was out of the country traveling for work, so am anxiously anticipating their grand opening of their brick and mortar in the future (still in the works – the overhead of opening a real place is a lot to try to do at the same time as running your everyday operations, new partner gigs they do, exploring new special combinatons to feature, and they will be Eat Mobile – the food cart/foodie festival that was their initial big debut just 2 years ago!). Each of their sandwiches are yes, versions of peanut butter and some sort of fruit jam sandwich, but that’s like saying french fries are just a version of potato…

I can’t wait to try more from their brilliant minds of flavor combinations once they have access to a bigger space for both storage and execution of more of their ideas. It’s hard to believe the huge menu they have from their little grill that varies from sandwiches with 4 different kind of breads, a dozen different kind of jams, a few different nut butters, and other toppings besides ranging from half a dozen of options for cheeses to sweets like chocolate or caramel or coconut fillings to the savory like the bacon or for the Spencer, the big pieces of Capicola- which ultimately what edged the Spencer to the top of my to do list. Can you imagine the possibilities with a real kitchen?

And, I will be back for that Hair of the Dog.

PBJs Grilled, food cart, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pbj, Spencer sandwich, Campagnola bread, Walnut butter, Caramelized onion, Capicola, Brie, Pear Jam

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A Plate Lunch: 808 Grinds Food Cart

I am in charge of researching a possible multi-island vacation to Hawaii, and to set me in the right mood, besides watching the new Hawaii 5-O on my DVR, I recently stopped at the food cart downtown called 808 Grinds. I’ve always heard good things about this food cart even though this was only my first visit, and I was lucky to get there very early as when I passed by after my lunch, there was quite a line of people waiting.

I’ve been eyeing this cart for a while and was not disappointed. It’s a lot of food in a plate lunch: what you see is the Combo plate with Kalua Pig and Fried Chicken. If you want a  more reasonable amount, get one of the single food orders. But I figure hey, for a few dollars more I can have a plate lunch for both lunch and dinner, so let’s go!

808 Grinds Food Cart, food cart, Combo plate with Kalua Pig and Fried Chicken, hawaiian food808 Grinds Food Cart, food cart, Combo plate with Kalua Pig and Fried Chicken, hawaiian food

Besides their generous portions, I appreciated their fast service with the freshly fried chicken and the fact that when they call your name because your order is up, he opened it up so I can admire it… and in this case the prep guy suddenly said “wait! Green onion!” and so they pulled it back to make sure the combo came out perfect in every detail. I was tempted on my visit as I saw they were offering Korean Fried Chicken… that will just have to be a future visit.

So onolicious!

808 Grinds Food Cart, food cart, Combo plate with Kalua Pig and Fried Chicken, hawaiian food

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The Mac and Cheese Strikes Back, by Big Ass Sandwiches

Big Ass Sandwiches… a food cart downtown at SW 3rd and Ash open for lunchish (11am-4 or 5pm depending on the season), and also late night for the bar crowd (11pm-3am- awesome right). They always roll up their huge sandwich with fries together so it is larger then any burrito as big as your head, and I couldn’t even get my hands around the width of this thing. Here is an idea of size in comparison to the knife I brought to cut it…

The Mac and Cheese Strikes Back sandwich special, by Big Ass Sandwiches, Portland food cart The Mac and Cheese Strikes Back sandwich special, by Big Ass Sandwiches, Portland food cart

The sandwich that made me finally visit this food truck that has long been on my To Do list  was a special mac and cheese sandwich special: “The Mac and Cheese Strikes Back”

The Mac and Cheese Strikes Back sandwich special, by Big Ass Sandwiches, Portland food cart

And here it is! I could barely finish half of it, even though I even skipped lunch and maniacally to rush through my workday to get here by 4 to get this trophy. They were out of ham, so I went with turkey and declined the bacon to go with my fried mac and cheese.

She sweetly warned me to be careful of burning my mouth with the super hot mac and cheese, and I tried to be really really really patient… which only meant I kept picking out the fries and turkey while trying to give it a few minutes, so I didn’t get the full experience of having all those ingredients in my mouth in one bite. It was a struggle to bite this monster it’s so thick, I felt like I was a nibbling ground squirrel. Also, this goes crazy good with beer.

Next time I visit, whatever sandwich I get whether its a special or from their regular offerings I will order extra of that bechamal cheese sauce. Hopefully I can try another meat instead of turkey because it tasted a little too dry for me- I usually like to have any turkey in a sandwich smothered with gravy or condiments so more cheese sauce could have also fixed that up.

The Mac and Cheese Strikes Back sandwich special, by Big Ass Sandwiches, Portland food cart

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The Frying Scotsman – Fish and Chips

I feel so unfortunate that I work out in Beaverton instead of downtown where there is such bounty of food. I rarely enjoy a food cart meal, and only if I make special plans and block time on my work calendar for it. But, as it was a morning meeting only Friday before a long Independence Day Holiday weekend, I made some time, specifically I had an interest for fish and chips.

If you come after 1:30, it’s a totally different atmosphere at the Alder Street Carts- the rush is gone as everyone is back to their offices, and you can take the time to chat with the owners without bumping elbows with people who fill the sidewalks. Some carts may run out of certain ingredients depending on how much they are slammed- I saw 808 Grinds had several “Sold Out” stuck on their menu… though even with the many people in front of Frying Scotsman so recently after their profile on Eat St on the Cooking Channel, they were still at the ready.

They fry everything fresh, so when you see the line in front of the Frying Scotsman cart to order, or the people gathered around waiting for their name to be called, take it in good stride. When I visited, his son was there to give a hand too- with the same lilting Scottish accent. They managed the rush well – everyone was in good spirits, sniffing the scent of fried fish and chips and anticipating.

The Frying Scotsman - Fish and Chips, food carts, Portland The Frying Scotsman - Fish and Chips, food carts, Portland

I had the large order of haddock and chips. A large is a lot of fish- 8 oz- enough for two people, two big chunks of fried fish filet laid on just enough chips, with one each of tartar sauce and cole slaw alongside.

The Frying Scotsman - Fish and Chips, food carts, PortlandThe Frying Scotsman - Fish and Chips, food carts, Portland

The chips are essentially large slices and wedges of potatoes that are crispy but firm on the inside and thick- they also give a side of tartar sauce which I didn’t want to use with the fish, but I did use with the fries now and then as the crispness started to wear off. The tartar sauce is ok- a bit too much mayo- the cole slaw was a better counterpoint in its tartness as opposed to the creamy heaviness of the tartar. Once in a while I would do a teeny forkful of their cole slaw as a palate cleanser so I could re-appreciate the flavors. I didn’t salt and pepper them when I got the potatoes and they come unseasoned. I saw plenty of others pouring a lot of ketchup- I had wanted to taste them as they were- but they do have several options of condiments to season your compostable container of fried goodness.

What makes the Frying Scotsman stand out and why they have such fervent followers is the authenticness James brings when you order from someone who is using a recipe passed through generations, and then, the taste of the batter coupled with the perfect execution of frying. The batter is golden brown and crisp without being greasy- but the fish inside was moist yet flaky. There was something about the batter that just tasted unique. You don’t want to get that something something lost in tartar sauce. As I was waiting in line and saw those before me open their fried treasure boxes, every single one looked equally golden and consistent.

The Frying Scotsman - Fish and Chips, food carts, Portland

I didn’t try for the dessert of the fried Mars Bar- I think eating the fish and chips already hit my “fried food” limit – but I think their batter could coat anything and make it tasty.

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