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