Time to get busy Eating and Drinking our way to a Happier and Healthier Portland

It was a busy freaking weekend.  I know that started out blunt and maybe a little crass but no ill -will was meant.  I overbooked and it looks like I've set the stage for an entire summer of overdoing.  Over-eating, Over-drinking, spreading my time too thinly and my budget even thinner.  Oh why should this summer be any different from any other summer?  I clearly have no desire to change.  So when I do over-indulge, I at least like to think that some good is coming from it somewhere.

This weekend's events did just that: good stuff.  The Portland Summer Food Cart Festival, that helped raise awareness and funds for ALSO: Adult Learning Systems of Oregon and The Portland Monthly magazine sponsored The Country Brunch, a fundraiser for Zenger Farm.

Both wonderfully worthwhile causes, creating wonderful events worth attending.  Today I want to talk about the food carts but tomorrow, I promise, I'll give you a complete rundown of the Brunch and Bloody Mary Smackdown.  How's that for a teaser?

I had not been to either of these relatively new gatherings and was therefore intrigued.  The Food Cart Festival was in it's third year. Enough time to iron out some kinks but still new enough to not get too crowded, right?  Well...

K and I went early enough to get to the food cart festival and not hit a crowd.  We really didn't need to worry.  The parking lot in Mt. Hood Community College where the festival was being held was nearly empty.  We were assured by the volunteer putting on our wristbands that we came at the right time.  People had come later in previous years and run into long lines and 86'd items all over the place. OK, I can deal.  I'm not a huge fan of crowded situations but a few more people to help generate a festy type mood would be nice.  There was food to be had.  We lapped the lot once and took stock of what we were in for.  Some nice options, I was getting excited.  BBQ, Comfort Food, Tacos, where would I start?  Then I noticed that the carts were all charging basically full price for full items.  (insert Debby Downer face and waa waa flugelphone noise here.)  Not sure why, I just feel that if an event is charging a cover charge and there are numerous food items to be tried and there is a contest for best "entry", you shouldn't roll in with your full cart item and charge full price.  This would be the atmosphere and event for "trials" and "tastings".  Pick your favorite item, downsize it and offer "mini-me" selections.  In this manner, patrons wouldn't fill up on one sandwich or noodle bowl or what-have-you and have the opportunity to try-out more carts.  It's called exposure.  "Try this little nibble of mac and cheese now but you're really going to want to come to the cart/restaurant/bar later and try the entire Southern Comfort Food Platter."  OK!

I'm just sayin' I would've spent the same amount of money and spread the wealth even if the offerings were little bite sized tastes for $2 a pop.  Instead, I had to make a choice and risk further over-indulgence.

Oh well, I went for a personal favorite of mine.  PB&J's Grilled.  Yum!  If you have not enjoyed one of their grilled sweet, smoky, savory confections get over to one of their carts quick.  The Cartopia location at 12th and Hawthorne will unfortunately be closing down with the rest of the pod later this autumn.  Reason to smile may be if rumors are true and the developer leaves street level options for businesses.  Could brick and mortar be in PBJ's future?  Truly hope so. This time around, I ordered the Smokin' Goat:   KALAMATA OLIVE BREAD, PBJ’S ALMOND BUTTER APPLE WOOD SMOKED BACON, GOAT CHEESE, APRICOT JAM.  The olive bread hit the grill and immediately sent up a warm, pungent, savory toast.  Feel inward smile grow.  The heat, the sweet, the tang, the smoke.  There isn't a sandwich on the menu I wouldn't order twice.  Glad they were here to start me off on the right foot. 

 Now K is a big fan of all foods southern.  Southwest? Southeast?  Southern Pacific? Doesn't matter.  I thought for sure he would go for the Gumbo or Etoufee from Cajun Life but today he felt lucky and pulled the re-invented Comfort Food card.  A fried chicken Po'Boy with a remoulade dressed salad atop a brioche.  See the irony there? It was fabulous. In spite of the big pink truck and laid back attitude,Retrolicious is slightly illusive in the cart scene.  Coming out of Beaverton, you may want to look these people up on Twitter or Facebook as they post where you'll be able to catch them and their rotating menu of deliciousness.  It is worth the hunt.  Trust me.

Now after those sandwiches and the delicious brews from Base Camp, I was tempted to say "Uncle, I'm full", but nooooo.  I was determined to try out just a few more items.  I was on a mission.  There was more I needed to know.  And so we turned to Da Fat Boys,   They had bbq ribs for $2.  Thank you for showing them how it's done.  Less your typical food cart and more your beefed up competitive BBQ team with catering AND food cart options. These people knew how to draw a crowd.  Warm, spicy, crunchy bark wrapped around silky sweet meat.  Sauce delicious, but optional.  And now, much to my joy of joys, I hear that Da Fat Boys will have their truck at the Troutdale Farmers Market on Thursdays from 3-8pm.  Good enough reason as any to head east.

Now I was looking for something a little sweet. Retrolicious was putting together a NanaWafer Pudding but it wasn't ready so we decided to take a lap and wait it out.  We were waylaid at the end of the block by Stumptown Dumplings.  Now I had enjoyed the Stumplings at a Timbers' game. Savory, hot.  Just a perfect little pocket of pow. I was ready and willing to try their Nutella Bao.  I wish I hadn't.  It didn't live up to my delicious expectations and the bao itself was slightly underdone, making it more doughy chewy than fluffy, dense bao. I had not had their bao before and so cannot say if this is their usual bao faire.   

We walked further around the circle and stumbled onto Hungry Heart. And hence, I lost mine. This little pink truck puts out some of the sweetest little baby cupcakes you've ever seen.  But wait!  I know you're thinking cupcakes are a thing of the past.  A cliche' dessert that had it's heyday. More than once.  Sure, you can say that but you still cannot deny the delicious POW! to your mouth that is the Sweet and Salty: Chocolate cupcake filled with Salted Caramel, Creamy Peanut Butter frosting, Crispy Applewood Smoked Bacon and more Salted Caramel.  

The chocolate cake is dense, moist and almost meaty.  Not overly sweet, it is deep and rich and complex.  The peanut butter frosting doesn't have a hint of cloying sweet or pasty grease. Something I have unfortunately found in many a frosting mishap.  This frosting is silky and warm like a peanut butter blanket.  The salty caramel and the bacon balance any sweetness and turn this cupcake into a dessert worth dying for.  So don't eat one everyday.  It's bad for you. Except right now, it's too good to give up and K and I want to arm wrestle for the last piece of bacon.  

I understand that there was a vote on best dish but I was unsure how to do this and I did read later that Hapa Ramen took the prize with a Pork Belly Shaka Bowl. Congratulations!  I will definitely look them up and try that dish later this summer.  

My choice for winner would be Retrolicious and their amazing menu options.  But that is the joy of cart hopping, right?  We all get our favorite.