Party with a Purpose: 100% Portland

Last night K and I attended a fundraiser for a political candidate. Heck, I endorse him so of course I'll tell you his name. Jefferson Smith, and he's running for Mayor of Portland, Oregon.

The evening showcased Jefferson's plans for our city's future, ideas to be working on together and some amazing P-town talent that included fire-dancers and hoop girls, poetry and prose. Truly, a great night at the Bossanova Ballroom (very charming venue, by the way).

But this is my food and drink blog and so I digress, although the beer and wine were fine, there wasn't food available and so after the highly informative and entertaining event we headed down to the food carts on Hawthorne.

Now, I know that the food carts in Portland are on the verge of, if not already, fully overplayed. The height of their trendiness brought cart-pads willy nilly to every vacant lot in the city only to be quashed by zoning and permit limitations. I may just sound a little bitter because my own idea for a cart has materialized under someone else's name and is flourishing. There go my retirement plans.

The food carts on SE 12th and Hawthorne have long been favorites of mine and they have some real staying power which I believe is testimony to their greatness in a food cart metropolis.

Last night we enjoyed sampling from two places on the pad, as we vow to always choose food from different carts in order to patronize as much as possible. In the past, we have enjoyed the offerings from Pyro Pizza (amazing) and El Brasero (meh)and Perierra Creperie (some yum, some meh). Last night, however, was a win/win situation.

First stop, ordered a Chicken Pot Pie from Whiffies. While they were working that up for us we rolled over to Potato Champion. Side note, with a name like Potato Champion, how could you possibly go wrong? Right? I ordered the small Poutine, because it's still a serious serving of the Canadian comfort food. Poutine= Perfect, piping hot french fries covered with gravy and cheese curds. Do not knock it, you just don't know. I would be lying if I didn't tell you this was a return trip to PC. Then, back over to pick up our pie at Whiffies. Oh! How do I love thee, Whiffies? The vendor hands the lovingly foiled pie to K as if it were Excalibur, gently, with great reverance. We soon know why. The flaky crust on this hand-held, deep-fried golden delight is buttery goodness. No doughy cold spots, no chewy burnt crimps. Perfect all the way around. The filling was not so much chicken as potato and vegetable with some chicken in it but please do not let that sway you. This was amazing and delicious and everything I want from a chicken pot pie from now on. All in all a fabulous evening. I do love Portland.