Stop 21: E-San's Yellow Curry

After being closed for a few weeks of vacation, last Friday E-San was open for business.  I had actually been to this cart before to buy some of their fresh spring rolls for the ridiculously low price of $2.50 or something unbelievable like that.

E-San was the third and final Thai stop for this stretch of carts.  The cart is actually the mini version of a restaurant with two additional locations in Portland (in actualy buildings, as far as i can tell.)  I am a big thai fan, but I have actually found that since I got preggo, it is just not my jam in the way that it used to be.  I am sure this will change as soon as I am back to myself, but for now it is preventing me from just going with the flow when the people taking orders offer their recommendations - which was this case again this time around.  The young lady recommended Pad See Ew, but I was just not feeling noodles.  When I asked her what else she liked, she recommended Gang Garee, yellow curry with carrots, potato, onions, red peppers and chicken.  That sounded much more like something I could get behind, so I ordred it along with brown rice.  I elected to go for mild.

As per usual, the meal was HUGE.  Tons of rice (which was normal brown rice, not the purple rice one often gets with Thai food.)  The curry was really frangrant and had just a tiny tiny hint of spiciness, which was a lovely color to offset the traditional sweetness of yellow curry.  The veggies were a tad on the soft side, but the chicken was absolutely perfect - tender and delicious.

So. Much. Curry.

At this point, however,  I have to confess that my ability to articulate the nuances and subtleties of flavor may have been inhibited by my burning my tongue as I tried to inhale my lunch (so smooth).  I am always so hungry and ready to tear into whatever I have purchased, that I don't wait a moment before I dive in.  With some trucks, my food has actually gotten cold on the six block walk back.  But not with curry - that stuff is HOT!  And I have zero patience (clearly.)

Having now been to three different Thai carts almost right next to each other, I unfortunately can't really say which one is the "best" or the one to go to for this or that dish.  I enjoyed each of my Thai lunches, so it is sort of a toss up.  But you can be confident in getting a solid lunch from E-San!

E-San Thai Cuisine:   Cards are a .50 Charge!
Gang Garee $7.00 (+ tip)

Stop #20: Kid's Favorite with an Extra Twist

There were a few things that made this particular cart stop unique.  The first was that I was joined by my friend, the fabulous and immensely talented Merideth Kaye Clark whom I met way back when I was getting my masters at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.  The second is that I arrived in a car.... Because it was just that kind of day in Portland.

Merideth had offered to pick me up from the office since the sky was looking threatening, but wanting to get myself moving after sitting at the desk all morning, I opted to meet her.  Just as I was walking over I-405, the sky OPENED.  And not just with water - hail, my friends.  HAIL!  In MAY!  I mean, I know that happens during those freakish storms that rip across the midwest and the south, but come ON!  As I ducked into a church doorway (like a god forsaken urchin) Merideth called and said she would come and grab me.

Merideth Giving her Order

Happily by the time we arrived at 10th and Alder, the insanity had ceased.  And I was excited - this week, it was the Grilled Cheese Grill.  (The final Thai cart in this little cluster was closed, as the owner was on vacation. Yay vacation!  We will hit them up next week.)

Now, a few things to know - grilled cheese is not something I usually allow myself or even particular crave.  However, I will use this post to announce that I am 14 week pregnant so not only are carbs and cheese the best thing EVER, I can eat them without my typical vain guilt.  Winning!

The Grilled Cheese Grill cart is actually one of three - the other two being located on the east side of the city.  I gazed at the menu rather overwhelmed, then asked the cool hipster guy (natch) who was taking orders which was his favorite: The Gabby with Pickles (we are, after all, in Portland....)  This sandwhich comes on toasted white bread (white bread, for the love of god.  Are adults allowed to eat that?) Between the two slices they melt Tillamook Cheddar, Swiss, Mozarella and Colby Jack (how are your arteries feeling?) Then just add pickles.

In an effort to balance things out a bit (and because why have grilled cheese without it) I ordered a cup of their tomato soup.  The young gentleman asked what was a good name to call.  I gave him my name, then realized I had missed a golden opportunity and asked to change it to "Their Royal Highnesses of Awesome."

 I am happy to report that he complied with vigor and enthusiasm.

 We headed back to the office and sat in the lobby to chat and eat.  OK, first off, they also include a handfull of awesome ridge cut potato chips with chunks of salt and pepper.  And a pickle spear if you want it (this is a question?)

The sandwhich was awesome - greasy and cheesy and crispy.  Felt like a real throwback to a childhood standard, but the pickles gave it that great something extra - a nice tart kick that was a perfect compliment to the cheesy richness.  The tomato soup was delicious as well - a touch sweeter than I usually like, with small chunks of diced tomato throughout.

I ate the whole thing.  Quickly and enthusiastically.  And then found it basically impossible to do anything else for the rest of the day.

Enjoy.  With caution.  Or abandon.

Grilled Cheese Grill:  
The Gabby With Pickles and a Cup of Tomato Soup: $8.50 (+tip)
ATM or Credit is an extra .50 fee

Stop #19: Vermicelli for the Win!

I love Vietnamese food.  I do not know what it is, but there is something so frickin soul affirming about a bowl of pho or a bowl of vermicelli - maybe all of the ingredients that you get to stir together?  (I seem to have a thing about that, don't I?)  I know the other big Vietnamese dish are sandwhiches, banh mi.  But whenever I have had one, I feel a little like I am eating the colonial past of Vietnam - I mean, come on- baguettes?  Merci, Le France, but I will take my rice noodles and fish sauce, thank you very much.

Anywhoo, I was super excited knowing that today was Huong's Vietnamese, as it has been ages since my last meal of this kind of food.  I knew, walking to the carts that I was hankering for vermicelli - the dish made with rice noodles, bean sprouts, cucumber, meat, fresh mint and sweet and sour fish sauce (which frankly tastes a lot more like sweet and sour salad dressing to me.)  However, I did my due diligence and asked the young man at the window for his recommendation.  He said chicken pho.  Damn!  The day was sunny and bright and the thought of a ginormous bowl of hot soup was just not what I was feeling.  Chicken vermicelli it was (I pointed out to him that it is basically the same dish minus the broth....right?)

It took some time to prepare, partially because there were about four people who were waiting ahead of me.  When my order was up, I was handed quite a heavy container of food.  If you want sriracha sauce, request it as your meal is being packed, and they will throw in a little container for you.

I made my way back to the office to tuck in.  Delicious!  They had actually included some fresh basil along with the mint - making it more pho like, which was great.  Also included was a handful of iceberg lettuce to lend the meal a bit more fresh crunch, and a ton of peanuts.  I am not sure how they prepare the chicken - it is very thinly cut and seemed to be pan sauteed or something.  A few pieces were a little dry, but it was very flavorful.

All in all a very satisfying dish.  Perhaps too satisfying - I should have eaten less of it, but I just couldn't stop myself.  Seriously, I could eat this stuff all. Day. Long.  And for the price?  All around winning.

Huong's Vietnamese:
Chicken Vermicelli
$6 (+tip)  CASH ONLY

Stop #18: Best Burrito in Portland...?

Last Friday I knew I was in for some Mexican and was feeling a bit conflicted.  I always love a burrito, but that seemed a little heavy.  Was I in the mood for a taco?  Maybe there would be a specialty surprise, like the panuchos at El Taco Yucateco from all those many weeks/months ago.

I ambled up to El Rodeo Taqueria, ready with my standard question: What's your favorite?  The gentleman said that he "likes the chicken burrito, but that is just him."  Well, I guess that committed me, qualms or no.  Burrito it was!

While I was waiting, a woman about my age approached me and said "He is just being humble.  Everything here is amazing.  My husband sends me here to get him the beef burrito - that is what I am doing now.  And I scored some tacos for me.  You are in the right place."  Well, now I was excited....

When my burrito was ready, I was offered red sauce or green sauce or both.  Both, naturally!!!  I made my way back to the office and unwrapped my lunch.  Which was the size of my head (see below).

 Then I took a bite.  Let's be real here - an outstanding burrito is something of a mystery.  I mean, the ingredients from one bundle of carbs and protein to the next are basically universal - beans, salsa, rice and some meat.  Maybe with some extras.  Usually very serviceable and hearty.

So this burrito.....Holy moly! It was the real deal.  The mercurial combo had been achieved - salsa fresca, pinto beans, rice, delicious and tender grilled chicken.  And the tortilla had been grilled as well, giving it a bit firmer texture and that added toasty flavor.  I think there was a little sour cream in there too, which never hurts.  And the sauces were both delicious - I alternated back and forth.

I ended up on a conference call while I was eating (I put myself on mute, natch.  I was NOT waiting around to eat this sucker.)  The problem was that in the process of eating and listening, I failed to notice until too late that I was eating the whole thing. I mean, look at that picture ----------------->
 And I ate that whole thing.  In one sitting.  Yeah, I basically couldn't move for the rest of the day, and for dinner was satisfied to just contemplate the idea of lettuce.

Ultimately, a delicious delicious burrito.  And very inexpensive!   Note: I also realized after I finished it that the sodium content was HIGH.  I drank an entire 32 oz bottle of water in about an hour -- but it was so so worth it.

If you go, I recommend buying a single burrito and sharing.  Or saving half for later.

El Rodeo:
Chicken Burrito $5.50 (+tip!)
Cash Only

Stop #17: Delayed Post: Kielbasa of Awesome

First off, dear readers, my apologies for two+ weeks of silence on the mobile culinary delights of PDX.  One week I was out of town and the next I was sick and was not able to make it over to the carts to purchase something full of nom nom.

Happily I was welcomed back into the fray with a fun, in some ways new and very delicious meal from the homeland of half of my family- Poland!  I don't necessarily find Eastern European cuisine to my taste on too regular a basis (the carb/protein/vegetable ratio is a little off for me to indulge too frequently) but Friday I was ready.

I was particularly excited by the prospect of kielbasa.   When it comes to sausages/hot dogs/long meat on a bun I will always go with kielbasa.  When I was living in Queens, New York, I was not far from the infamous Czech beer garden.  This place had an outdoor drinking area the size of a football field - I kid you not - which in the five borroughs (land of the 25 sqaure foot apartment) is mind boggling.  When the warm weather arrived, this beer garden was a pilgrimage site for New Yorkers from all parts of the city, who emerged from the relentless clutches of cold and winter and made the long trip North East to Astoria to drink beer at long out door tables.  Along with the fantastic beer selection, you could buy yourself a kielbasa and fries with kraut.  It was how you knew the fun part of the year had finally arrived.

So my associations with this particular sausage are sweet and affectionate.  I arrived at Euro Dish already knowing what I wanted - which denied me much opportunity to chat with the lovely lady in the cart who prepared the food.  I ordered "Combo Plate #1" which included (the much anticipated) kielbasa, 3 pierogies and a serving of Bigos - or "Polish Stew".

I was familiar with pierogies, but I had never heard of bigos.  Apparently it is the national dish of Poland and is basically cooked cabbage with pieces of various stewed meats mixed in.  It was hearty and peppery, clearly homemade with fresh and excellent ingredients.  Honestly a little too meaty and cabbage-ey for me, with a rich sauce, but it was probably because ultimately, I am just not a fan of bigos.

The pierogies however - brilliant!  I had two that were potato and one that was mushroom and cabbage.  The dumpling noodle was perfectly cooked - soft, melt in your mouth, not in the least bit sticky or chewy.  And the fillings were both excellent - creamy and peppery potato and flavorful fragrant mushroom.  Personally, I preferred the potato, but that is such a redundancy of starch, I feel like it should be illegal.

And the kielbasa - perfection.  Grilled up plump and warm, it had the perfect smoky yet sweet flavor, paired perfectly with lightly sauteed onions and some brown mustard.  My only gripe - more mustard!!!

The whole meal was $7 and for the second? third? time on this odyssey, I absolutely couldn't finish.  Though I gave it my best attempt.   If you are in the mood for some delcious sausage or craving some Eastern European comfort food on a cold day, hit up Euro Dish.  And maybe bring a friend so you can share.

Euro Dish
Combo Platter #1: Kielbasa, Pierogi, Bigos - $7 (+plus tip!)
Cash Only

Stop # 16: Curry on a Rainy Day

Folks, this one is for you.  Because it was very much due to knowing I had a blog post to write that I was willing to trek down to the trucks at all today.  It has been RAIN-NY up in here for the past few days and the forecast is promising more of the same all the way through the extended ten day forecast.  Harumph.  Well, it would be unfair to say that I hadn't been warned when I left California and relocated to the Pacific Northwest that rain and I were destined to get really, very deeply and truly well acquainted.

I made my way through the downpour and found that I Like Thai, the truck that had been closed last week, was up and running.  So Thai lunch it was!  The truck was super cute, with a bright red sign and a hand written menu describing the vegetables included in each dish.  Pretty standard Thai fare - noodle dishes, stir fried dishes with rice and curries.  You select your protein, which as this truck is described as "hen-pig-cow-shrimp-tofu".  Call it what it is, I suppose!

I asked the young lady for her recommendations.  However, I already sort of knew what I wanted, so when she said Pad Kee Mao and Sweet Basil with Rice, I broke my own rules and ordered the Panang Curry with chicken.  With the rain and still being on the mend from a cold, I wanted something hot and creamy.  I was given the option of white or brown rice and went with the brown.  Love having that choice.

Yay Veggies!

When my order was ready, I was handed a small paper bag that I hustled back to the office.  For an extremely low price, this was A LOT of food.  I ended up not being able to finish it (only the second truck so far where that has been the case!)  The curry was as warm and creamy as I'd hoped, however the flavors were a little subdued - I didn't get a really strong hit of curry spice.  And the vegetables were a smidge overdone - I like them really cripsy.  But it was a nice, south east asian comfort lunch that I thoroughly enjoyed - and will again tomorrow (yay leftovers!)





I Like Thai
Panang Curry with Chicken: $5 (+ tip)
CASH ONLY

That is A LOT of Curry

Stop #15: Eating Schwarma and Gaining Nuance About Middle Eastern Cuisine

I was all set to go for Thai food today, believing that the next cart on my odyssey was "I Like Thai Food."  But for whatever reason, they weren't open today.  So my eyes traveled one truck to the left --Saaj Baghdad.  While it took my brain/belly about five seconds to shift itself from curry and chilis to grilled meat and tatziki, I was psyched.

I asked the gentleman what he liked best on the menu.  He said schwarma - I asked him which kinds of meat he had - lamb, chicken and beef.  He then pointed to his menu and explained that they served their  schwarma on Iraqi bread called samoon.  This piqued my interest, as I suddenly realized my knowledge about food from the Middle East is extremely general.  Schwarma, hummus, kabob, falafel - but I have no real sense of regional or national specialties.  What is the local dish in Saudi Arabia vs. Qatar vs. Yemen vs. Iraq?  While a small drop in the bucket, samoon was going to be a first step in gaining some nuance about Middle Eastern food.

I was asked if I wanted everything on the sandwhich - lettuce, tomato, tatziki, cucumber, hot sauce?  I said yes, but after being burned by last week, requested light on the hot sauce.

While I waited for my food, an order was presented to a pair of men who had been waiting.  I was thrilled to hear them have a happily animated exchange in arabic with the truck owners as one of them devoured his sandwhich.  If those who were raised on the dishes being served are buying them from the establishment where you are getting your lunch, you are in the right place.

It took a fair bit of time for my food to be ready.  If you are in a rush, save this truck for another day.  However, if you want to be sure that your schwarma is cooked perfectly and to order, this is the place for you!  After about ten minutes I was presented with a steaming meal that looked like something between a sandwhich and a pita.

I got back to the office and dug in.  Delicious!  The meat had been sauteed with onions, the tatziki was refreshing with an extra flavor - tarragon? that was a great addtion and the creamy hot sauce was fabulous.  Finally, the bread, the samoon was awesome!  A little like a ciabbatta but with a crunchier and denser exterior, it was robust enough to balance the heartiness of the contents of the sandwhich better than a flimsy pita (I mean, those things ALWAYS fall apart when you fill them with deliciousness, ammaright?)

Note French Fry in the Middle

Also fun - the two french fries in the middle of the sandwhich.  I feel I can always get behind a general inclusion of french fries whenever possible.

 Saaj Baghdad: 
Chicken Schwarma - $7.00 (+ tip)
Accepts Credit Cards

Stop #14: Familiar Thai with a Little Twist

Thai Basil is the first Thai truck in what I will affectionately call the "Thai Stretch".  I think there are three or four (we will find out) Thai carts almost in a row, with a Polish and a Middle Eastern truck thrown in to maintain some variety.  I am looking forward to seeing which dishes each truck claims are their favorites, if they have different specialities and how it all compares and  contrasts....

At Thai Basil when I asked the name of her favorite dish, the woman taking orders said that she liked pad thai, pad see ew and pad kee mao.  Having had plenty of pad thai in my time, I decided to opt for something with which I was less familiar.  I had eaten pad see ew on a number of occasions but had never tried pad kee mao.  I asked her the difference - essentially it lay in the vegetables that came with the dish - pad kee mao added a few extras, including red bell peppers.  Sold!

I gave my order and a few minutes later was handed a ginormous portion of steaming wide rice noodles, chicken and lovely veggies.  Time to haul ass to get back to the office and devour it ALL!

It was delicious.  The vegetables retained a nice crunch while still being cooked enough to be tender.  The chicken was cooked perfectly - not overdone and chewy as can so often happen in a dish like this.  The flavors of each ingredient came through and were finished off with a nice basil flavor, thanks to a perfect amount of fresh basil thrown in.  My one mistake was being too ambitious about my ability to handle spiciness.  When asked how spicy I wanted it, I requested medium -- and boy oh boy it was certainly a very robust medium.  A little too much for me, but hey, I got to sweat it out a bit.

All in all a solidly delicious and satisfying meal - probably for two, but that didn't stop me from taking care of it by myself.....

Thai Basil:
Pad Kee Mao: $6.00 (+ tip!)
Accepts Credit Card

Stop #13: A Korean Standard = Magic

First off, this was a big week - I have finally crossed the street from the west side of 10th Avenue and over to the big encampment of trucks that line all four sides of a city block.  We are in the thick of it now!

My first stop was #1 Bento, which I actually thought was a Japanese food truck, due to its name.  However, I was wrong.  #1 Bento serves up Korean cuisine - everything from teryaki bentos to dumplings to grilled chicken.  Despite having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area and eating my weight (and very likely the weight of my immediate family and a few friends as well) in Japanese, Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese food, somehow Korean had never really made it onto my radar.

Well, that was about to change.  I asked the woman taking my order what she liked best.  After laughing at me, she said that Bi Bim Bap, a Korean standard, is her favorite thing.  So I ordered one with chicken.  When I arrived back at the office, I opened my container to find a mound of rice topped with little scoops of various ingredients - chicken, bean sprouts, steamed spinach, julienned zucchini and carrots and an unidentified pickled root vegetable (probably daikon?)  Everything was topped with an egg (and not because we are in Portland - but because that is what actually belongs there.)  The meal was garnished with a sprinkling of seaweed, with a side of kimchi and of hot sauce.

It was all laid out beautifully, with each individual vegetable holding its own space in the container.  So I started to try each one on its own, making my way around the arrangement.   Then I suddenly thought to myself  "I bet there is a totally a 'right' (ie traditional) way to eat this."  Thank god for Wikipedia!  After a quick search, I discovered that, while each ingredient is placed onto the "plate" separately, the eater is supposed to mix everything together and enjoy.  Which I promptly did, and with fantastic results! Everything retained its great flavor while gaining a geschtalt effect of being more than the sum of its parts.  The only thing was that I wished the egg hadn't been so fully cooked so I could have mixed it in more effectively, but I imagine that was smart business and health practice on their part (raw-ish egg = danger!)  Kimchi is not really my thing and I found theirs a little soggy, but the Bi Bim Bap is still haunting me with its awesomeness.

Pretty cool to be introduced to a whole new dish about which I had no real idea, and to know that it is a meal that has a long tradition as a staple of an entire country.

Git it!

#1 Bento: 
Bi Bim Bap with Chicken: $6.50 (+tip!)
-Cash Only

Stop #12: Mediterranean Delciousness in a Pita

Ugarit Mediterranean meals turned into yet another fun and unique food truck experience.  The owner, Mohammed saw me taking a peak at the menu and, with the confidence of a practiced salesman, asked if I liked tomato soup.  When I replied in the affirmative, he said that he had been making tomato soup, very fresh, and asked would I try it and give him my opinion.  When I said yes, he clarified "And you will tell me the truth?"  I assured him, yes of course I would.

Like any smart foodie, he knew darn well that his tomato soup was fantastic.  Somewhere between smooth and chunky, it had a robust texture, extrememly fresh flavor, subtly spiced and with bits of parsley sprinkled on top.  It was fantastic.

Then I asked what he recommended.  He asked if I wanted something with meat or without.  I asked for meat - he proceeded to describe, in quite mouth watering detail, the way he grinded, grilled and marinated each meat that he offers.  I went with chicken - but didn't specify how or with what I wanted it.  He went to work, asking if I liked hot sauce and pulling out a sriracha bottle.  He then clarified for me that of course he made his own hot sauce - he had just made a huge batch that morning - and he kept it in sriracha bottles.  This was his sauce, just to be clear.

A few minutes later I was presented with a chicken gyro with hummus, taziki and cucumbers, wrapped in a warm pita.  The chicken was moist and very tender, the taziki was delicious, as was the infamous hot sauce.  The hummus was a little bland for my taste, but it added a nice creaminess to the overall effect.

Once he had handed me my lunch, Mohammed asked if this was my first visit to his truck and then gave me a complimentary cup of soup when I said yes.  He insisted that I take a punch card and that when I come back next time, I must try the lamb.  I quote "Nobody makes my lamb.  No one anywhere."

I believe him.

Ugarit Mediterranean Meals: (Watch the news clip from August 2010 to see Mohammed's priceless reaction to Portland being named the #1 place in the world for food carts.)
Chicken Gyro: $6.50 (+tip!)
-Cash Only

Stop #11: Transylvanian Cuisine Reminds Me of Family

I had been anxiously awaiting the week I would finally get to go to this next truck - Delicios, A Taste of Transylvania - not because I have a great love for the food of central Romania, but because I had no idea what the heck would be on the menu (not that I was expecting anything blood themed - yes, I so went there.)

On that note, it IS interesting that the truck is red and black....  But any illusion to the infamous count and his hankering for the sanguinary ended there.  The menu was populated with dishes that are very Eastern European in their influence (well, duh!)  including foot long hot dogs and sausages in what look like bagel buns, as well as schnitzel.  When I asked the woman cooking what she liked most on the menu, she recommended the stuffed cabbage.

My decision was made, hands down.  My grandmother used to make stuffed cabbage.   She would stuff the cabbage leaves with ground lamb and rice, served with a dried apricot sauce that was TO DIE FOR.  The nostalgic romantic in me wants to say she groud the lamb by hand, but I think I am totally making that up.  Anway, I hadn't had stuffed cabbage in YEARS!  It was on.

While the food was being prepared by the man who was working in the truck, the woman who had taken my order unwrapped one of their chimney cakes, took a pair of scissors and cut off a little bite for each of the people waiting.  First off, this is one of the things I have come to love most about the food trucks - these extra little gestures of generosity and connection (and salesmanship) by the entrepeneurs who are serving you.

Stock Photo of Chimney Cake

Also, the chimney cake was YUM-MY!  I don't really know how to describe it - like a donut and a croissant had a love child.  Flaky, sweet, dense.  And fashioned like a chimney or a very large (and edible) cuff bracelet.

When my food was ready I was handed a large and very heavy container, which I took back to my office.  Three large stuffed cabbage pieces, filled with spiced chicken and rice, plus creamy polenta topped with cheese and sour cream.  Ah, Eastern European Cuisine - all white, red and yellow with no green to be found anywhere nearby.  You can feel your arteries hardening just looking at it:

So Much Food.....

All that being said, it was delicious.  Not exactly how my grandmother made it, but clearly homemade with fresh ingredients by someone who knows what they are doing.   Always fun to try something new and find out that it is actually quite familiar in the end.

Delicios!
Stuffed Cabbage with Polenta: $7.00 (+ Tip!)
-Accepts Credit Cards

Stop #10: Bagels - Gourmet style!

So, I'm Jewish.  And my family is from the East Coast - New Jersey, basically right across the Hudson from Manhattan.  Plus I spent 3 years living in New York - and thus have gone to the infamous H&H Bagels on the Upper West Side and purchased "whatever just came out of the oven."  So basically, I know from bagels.  They must have that slightly hard, almost tight outside, containing the fluffy, doughy inside.  They MUST be boiled or frankly we are just talking about bread with a hole in the middle - not the unique creation that is A Bagel.

So when I arrived at Tastebud Bagel, I was ready to be non-plussed.  I became particularly suspicious when I read that these were "Montreal Style" bagels.  Um, I'm sorry, but since when did Canada know from bagels?

Since always, it seems. After eating lunch I decided to do some research (ie, Wikipedia) into this fascinating new species of bagel.   I am now not at all surprised that I liked these suckers.  Smaller and sweeter than their New York cousins, boiled (natch) and always wood fired (!!) - Montreal has it nailed.

I looked at the menu and was contemplating buying "the standard" (lox, cream cheese, onion and capers) as a barometer of quality (like ordering spaghetti bolognese in order to check the quality of an Italian restaurant.)  But when I asked the gentleman running the truck his opinion, he told me the most popular bagel was the braised lamb.  Ok, definitely not where my mind and stomach had been headed, but I was game.

All of the bagel sandwhiches are served open faced.  The lamb was braised to order and was topped with pickled peppers, cabbages and a touch of mayo.  Oy! So much joy in my mouth!   The lamb was tender and flavorful, the peppers tart with just a hint of spiciness, and the cabbage crunchy with a sprinkling of caraway seeds to add another layer of flavor.

Who knew?  Bagels in Portland I did not expect to love.  But there you go.

Tastebud Bagels:
Poppyseed Bagel with Braised Lamb, Peppers, Cabbage and Mayo: $8.00 (+tip)
-Accepts Credit Cards

***Be warned that this is a messy eat.  Order when you can sit down to consume it.***

Stop #9: Savor!

 Savor Soup House is an adorable little cart right on the corner of 10th and Alder.  Specializing in homemade soups on a daily rotating menu, they also have an array of grilled cheese sandwiches and regular sandwiches (all on fresh bread) and a few salads.

The young gentleman who greeted me was super sweet and offered to give me a taste of any soup I wanted to try.  But I knew what I wanted - butternut squash and apple bisque?  Are you kidding me right now?  Put it in my mouth!  (Gluten free and vegan, for those who have dietary restrictions.)  They sprinkled a few toasted pepitos (pumkin seeds) on top for some added crunch.

But I couldn't JUST go for soup when there was grilled cheese to try.  I got a cup of soup and half a classic grilled cheese sandwhich, though if I go back I will absolutely be building my own grilled cheese from their ridonculous options.  The menu includes (among other things) manchego, swiss cheese, balsamic reduction, bacon, sliced apple, or (wait for it) carmelized OR pickled onions. (Of course pickled - this is Portland.)

I got back to the office and dug in.  The soup was creamy and delicious with the hint of apple perfectly complimenting the sturdy butternut flavor.  And the sandwhich - oh the sandwhich!  As someone who usually tries to steer clear of the highly fattening, I don't eat a lot of grilled cheese. But this puppy was off the charts - nice and buttery, but with the great crisp of toasted fresh bread and the tang of good Tillamook cheddar.  Indulgence indeed.

Savor Soup House
Cup of Butternut and Apple Bisque with 1/2 a Classic Grilled Cheese:
     $3.00 for the soup, $2.50 for the 1/2 sandwhich  
-Accepts Credit Cards

Stop #8: Italian in a Wrap

I was super excited to see that Kitchenette was open.  This sweet little truck has been closed for ages - in fact, I am not sure that I remember seeing it open until last week when I went to Snow White Crepes next door.

The menu is pretty extensive - pasta dishes, sandwhiches, wraps.  While I was deciding, a gentleman was waiting for his spaghetti and meatballs.  He asked me if I had eaten at this cart before and when I told him no, he said he had been going through withdrawl for the two months that she had been closed and was jonesing for her amazing food.

After dishing out his heaping portion and sending him on his way, the lovely owner, who is part Italian and part Turkish, took my order for an Italian chicken wrap.  She cooked me up some chicken, wrapped it in a warmed tortilla with some lettuce and cabbage, all drizzeled with ranch sauce and a hit of sriracha.

The wrap was delicious - and ginormous!  I actually ate it in two shifts over the course of the afternoon, which is EXTREMELY rare for me.  The vegetables were fresh, the chicken flavorful and tender and the sriracha added the perfect little kick.

If you are passing and see this cart open, hit it up.  While the owner was preparing my wrap, I asked about her being closed for the last two months.  Sadly, she was suffering from heart disease and had to take some time off to rest and hopefully recover.  She anticipated being open somewhat sporadically in the next few months.  

Kitchenette:

Chicken Wrap - $6 (+tip)
-Cash Only

Stop #7: Snow White Crepes

Crepes - I love me some crepes!  Anything that, with the appropriate ingredients can be made into an entree OR a dessert has a versatility that I greatly admire.  Also, when I lived in Paris and wasn't eating baguettes, a crepe cooked up fresh by one of those carts on the street. with a little lemon and sugar, would hit the spot (hey, I was broke and I have a wicked sweet tooth.)

But I digress....Snow White Crepes! should have been my stop last week, but alas the truck was still closed for the holidays.  But not this week.

I have no idea why this place is called Snow White Crepes.  But apparently this truck has been aroung for ages.  And the woman who runs it also runs a restaurant.  I am tired just thinking about it.  So I suppose it is no suprise that it took her awhile to notice I was standing there waiting to order.

After looking through an EXTENSIVE menu of both sweet and savory crepes, as well as a list of sandwhiches (although who are we kidding?  A sandwhich was never going to happen....) I had settled upon a crepe with chicken, pesto, gorgonzola and cilantro.

Everything is made to order, so it took a few minutes for the crepe to be prepared.  Unfortunately, by the time I got back to the office, the crepe had cooled down enough to become a bit soggy.  And the gorgonzola sort of overwhelmed everything else.  But the flavor of the crepe was quite good.

Not a huge win, but where there is chicken and pesto I can usually walk away smiling.


Snow White Crepes
Chicken and Pesto Savory Crepe: $8 + tip
-Cash Only

Stop #6: Caspian Kabob

***In the interest of full disclosure, Caspian Kabob is not right next to Korean Twist.  It is two doors down.  On January 3rd, the two carts in between were closed.  But naturally, Mama still needs to eat!***

Caspian Kabob has been one of my favorite visits so far - both because of the food, but also because of the owner, Victor.  This food truck opened just a few months before I arrived here myself.

Victor's Story

Victor has his story printed up and posted on the truck - this is a man who is loving his new life as a chef and food truck owner!  Victor learned to cook from his mother in Iran, eventually moving to New York to live with his American wife (adorable picture on their website!)  We comiserated about the challenges of living in New York and how happy we were that we now lived in Portland instead of the Big Apple.

I ordered a jujeh kabob (chicken kabob) over mediterranean salad.  Waiting with me for his food was a young man who carried on a conversation with Victor in farsi.  First off, farsi is a gorgeous language.  Secondly- always a good sign when other folks who were raised on the cuisine you are going to eat are patronizing the same establishment.

As my food was just about finished, two young women approached the truck.  One looked at the menu and said "Oh wow, he has...." I can't remember the name of the dish, but when her friend asked if she was going to buy something from this cart, she emphatically declared "Oh yeah!"  She then also went on to have a brief exchange with Victor in Farsi.

At this point things got super cool - Victor said that he was working on a special vegetable soup/stew that he wanted us to try.  It was  spinach based with chunks of what I think was beef.  The flavor was a delicate array of spices, combined with the warm heartiness of a regional comfort food.  Indeed, the young woman said this was her Persian version of chicken soup.  

Complimentary Mystery
Vegetable Stew

I wish I could remember the name of it-- because it was awesome.  As was the ginormous serving of mediterranean salad (lettuce, feta, kalmata olives, tomato with a very light light vinagrette) topped with tender and delicious chicken sprinkled with paprika.  The meal was served with maste khiar (yougurt sauce) and warm pita.

Go to this truck.  For realz.



Caspian Kabob
Jujeh Kabob over Mediterranean Salad: $8 (I think...didn't write it down.) Plus tip!
-Accepts Credit Cards