





After suffering from actually having all the rain we are known for here in Portland and being on lock down with my twins for the last few years (they are runners!), I found myself falling out of love with my city. I was at a place where I felt like I have to find that lovin' feeling or I was going to go crazy! When having little ones it's hard to think of places to go and things to do that are enriching for both 3 year olds, a 14 year old and a 36 year old! Lord knows we have traversed the parks and gone for about a billon walks. I love these things but I really needed to connect culturally to my city. So, now that taking my twins M+L out and about isn't always filled with near death experiences I have been trying to enjoy the best that our lovely city has to offer and, you know, kind of remember what makes it so great. This is where my food cart journey began because one thing we all love - food! Food carts in portland are just about everywhere, the prices unbelievable, authentic food from all around the world can be attained, as well as new twists on old staples. So, it's a great and inexpensive way for me to take my kids out and experience the culture of our city.
So I guess the way back to this girls heart was right through the stomach! This little journey through visiting food carts reminded me of one of the things I love best about Portland - we are a city where people just do sh*t and they do it well. There's no fear here about where you begin not being good enough. We are willing to try new things because we have a lot of talented people in this creative city. One doesn't have to be fancy or perfect to start your own thing or launch your talent. Here, you don't have to have gone to Parsons to be a designer or to have gone to cordon bleu to be a chef and be taken seriously. Really Portland thrives on people following their dreams and their passion, our little community embraces it and supports it. This gives the city not only fabulous new and creative places and things to discover but a "you can do it vibe" - this city is creative rain or shine and I think our many lands of food carts is a true testament to that. You have a talent for cuisine? Well selling it out of a truck is actually a plus here and the fact that is so, started making me remember why Portland is so cool. I know there's a thread of this city that afforded me the confidence to start my own business from nothing, and I really mean nothing, because here you can totally do that. In fact if you didn't do it that way you might actually be considered a lot less cool. This is true, may be unbelievable to some but you could say Portland is completely pretentious about being unpretentious. I know . . . but if you can look past that contradiction of thought to the results, you will see it makes complete sense. So if you visit Portland and you see a parking lot filled with food carts, stop the car! They have some of the best food around, you will truly be amazed.
Images from top to bottom:
Fifty Licks - Maple Bacon ice cream anyone? It's sooo good!
Seared Ahi Fish tacos - I am a glutton for fish tacos and ahi tuna, so this combo was a dream come true for me. Seriously one of the best tacos I have ever had. So sad I can't remember the name of this cart!
The Honey Pot - Chicken Curry Pot Pie. The pie was good, the filling was comfort food with a kick. But the crust, oh my goodness! After woofing this down I went back and gushed so much about the flaky, yet thick and creamy tasting pie crust they gave me a free calendar. They also have the most beautiful and delicious fruit pies in town!
Pupusa's - First I just love saying Pupusa! And I love eating them too. It's a salvadorian dish, like if a quesadilla and a tamale got married and had a baby. I got these at La Cochina De Chepe and they were
so good! Bonus - most items were about 2.50! I also ordered fried plantains which came with rice and beans and a "cream" - sour cream maybe? I didn't ask because that sounded weird but tasted so good! Didn't want my brain to ruin the moment for my tastebuds.
Is there something in your city that reminds you why you love it? Do you have any favorite local haunts or outings to share with your family or friends? Do tell!
Happy weekend! xo