Hapa Ramen

October 30, 2013, 2:00 am

Hapa Ramen is located at the A la Carts Food Pavilion (SE 50th and Ivon) in Portland, Oregon. Michael and Sarah opened this food cart on October 17.

With fall solidly in place and winter fast approaching, I'm not surprised to see carts selling hot items to keep their loyal customers warm. Opening a cart during this time is not as common as summer, but I thought it was a great time for Hapa Ramen to open, simply for the comforting dish prominently on the menu.

My first trip here started with the Shoyu Ramen ($8), starting with slow-cooked chicken and pork broth with shoyu (soy sauce) base. Toppings include green onion, chashu pork, spinach, and hard-boiled egg. It's a delicious broth that brings a controlled flavor balance and allows one to savor each bite of ramen.

Hapa Ramen uses Sun Noodles, which I remember eating a lot of in Hawaii.

Other options include a Miso Ramen ($8) using a house broth and sweet miso base; and a Curry Ramen ($7) that mixes curry into a pork broth. Now all I need is a saimin option with dashi (fish broth) and spam, and I'll really feel like I went back home to Hawaii.

Condiments include La-Yu chili oil and togarashi (chili pepper). The cart even includes a Hawaii license plate.

The chicken karaage (fried chicken) is an option to add to the Curry Ramen for $1 more. Michael suggested a curry rice bowl with the fried chicken on top. Genius move. While I'm not sure how the chicken is breaded, the non-chicken option could provide a gluten-free option.

NOTE: "Hapa" basically means a person of mixed ethnic heritage. Probably the most common usage is to describe something as "part Caucasian" with part Asian/Pacific Islander.

It's always nice to see another ramen cart in town. Seeing items on the list that remind me of Hawaii (with cart owners also from the 808) make it that much better. I look forward to seeing the progression that Michael and Sarah make over the next few months. 8.75/10

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Carol's Corner Cafe

November 4, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Sugar Mamas' Cafe

≪ Previous: Hapa Ramen

Carol's Corner Cafe is located at the corner of NE 78th St. and St. Johns Road in Vancouver, Washington. This is an award-winning breakfast place, having won "Best Breakfast in Clark County" multiple times.

I've found several places to date in and around Vancouver that serve giant breakfast portions. Add Carol's Corner Cafe to that list.

Breakfast menu

Lunch menu

This place has a diner-like feel, at least near the entrance. The overall atmosphere had more of an old-school vibe; not sure if anything has changed in the 16+ years the cafe has been around.

Breakfast is served all day. Their full-size omelets have six eggs and the larger pancakes are 10" in diameter. You can get smaller portions, but sharing is not uncommon (add $1 per plate if you share).

One of the notable dishes is the "CC Hash," a blend of shredded hash browns, ham, cheese, peppers, onions, and tomatoes, smothered with either country gravy or brown gravy. If you want more salt, the brown gravy is the saltier of the two gravy options.

My server told me that the full order is about 4-5 pounds of food. For about $14, it's a damn good deal if you want leftovers.

Just for fun, I got a half-order of the CC Hash ($10.95) with the country gravy. It came piled nicely on an 8-inch plate. Frankly, the half order looked like maybe a pound and a half of food, with two pounds being generous.

I thought it was a good dish. A bunch of carbs for fuel, a few bits of ham for protein, some gravy to fill in the crevices, and veggies to make a somewhat logical argument that you ate something healthy. Bacon would have made this dish even more epic. I probably shoulda added a bunch of superhot sauce, too.

The coffee here is nothing special, just a standard cup of caffeine that was a bit on the watery side. Or three cups in my case, because panda logic dictates that caffeine rules.

Carol's served dinner until October 1; they now close at 3 p.m. each day. Frankly, I think it's a good move. They seem to be more known for their breakfasts, although the lunches here are also reportedly good-sized.

Carol's has garnered a loyal following, and a line formed out the door by the time I left (brunch time on Sunday). I'd urge my friends to give this place a shot. I'll probably be trying the omelets and/or the pancakes on my next visit. 7.5/10

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Sugar Mamas' Cafe

November 7, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Stickers Asian Cafe

≪ Previous: Carol's Corner Cafe

Sugar Mamas' Cafe is on SW Alder St., near SW 3rd Avenue, in downtown Portland, Oregon.

For those that aren't aware, cinnamon rolls remain one of my many weaknesses. It's just hard to resist carbs filled with gooey cinnamon-sugar and topped with sweet addicting icing.

Menu (with font probably too small to read...oops!)

Sugar Mamas' Cafe serves two types of cinnamon rolls (Classic and Maple Bacon) and their Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns every Friday. Since I'm unable to get to downtown Portland on Fridays, I used the power of social media and had one classic cinnamon roll ($3.75) and the Maple Bacon cinnamon roll ($4.75). Unfortunately, the sticky buns are immensely popular and I was not able to try that (yet).

This is a heck of a cinnamon roll. I reheated it at home for about 20 seconds since I prefer them warm. The sugary glaze virtually coated the entire cinnamon roll, with the cinnamon-sugar layers providing a food porn-worthy sight.

I loved that the Maple Bacon Cinnamon Roll sprinkled bacon bits on top. Spread the pork love all over the top. Embrace meat crack.

Both rolls were very good. As much as anything "maple bacon" might be in terms of winning the internet, here, I would stick with the classic cinnamon roll. Either the maple syrup and icing combined for sugar overload, or the bacon might have tried too hard to sway me. I'm guessing the former.

Sugar Mamas' Cafe is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. As far as breakfast goes, the hash brown dishes ($7 to $9.25) and meat loaf ($9.25) remain the more popular items. I probably would also have to add the breakfast burrito ($6.25) to that list. Tasty lunch menu items include the "Reuben-ator" ($8), Chicken Pesto Grill ($8.50), and a Peanut Butter & Jam Grill ($6.75).

I've been reeled in with tasty cinnamon rolls, and hopefully I can fit in a time to go back for another meal. 8.25/10

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Stickers Asian Cafe

November 11, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Rolling Gourmet Fusion

≪ Previous: Sugar Mamas' Cafe

Stickers Asian Cafe is located on SE Milwaukie Avenue in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland, Oregon.

One of my friends recommended that I try this place out. Stickers' menu contains dishes from multiple countries. There's several Chinese options, like the potstickers and dumplings, but there are also dishes like Thai Salads, Pad Thai, and Bulgogi.

Starter snacks included a sampling of seasoned peanuts (awesome) and what looked like pickled daikon (probably a bit too vinegary for my tastes).

I ordered a half-dozen pork potstickers ($4.95). Beautiful golden brown on one side thanks to the shallow-fried cooking technique. Juicy pork on the inside, and the dipping sauce was pretty good.

Pork potstickers

The Hot & Sour Won Ton Soup ($4.95 for a single serving) includes three pork and shrimp dumplings in a tangy broth that includes wine, shredded ginger, and fresh Napa cabbage. You can ask for vegetarian dumplings.

Hot & Sour Won Ton Soup

The soup lived up to its name, probably one of the better hot and sour soups I've had. Not too sour, with the spice relegated to the back of the throat. Well-made dumplings here.

Stickers has an array of delicious dishes on the menu that are served all day, plus a list of lunch specials served until 3 p.m. They also make their own ice cream.

I would definitely recommend Stickers Asian Cafe as a great place to get some Asian food. Even when I have a growing number of places to visit, I hope to return here so I can try more items. 8.5/10

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Rolling Gourmet Fusion

November 14, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: YouTube: Chubby Bunny Duel; 1 lb Snickers

≪ Previous: Stickers Asian Cafe

Rolling Gourmet Fusion is located near the corner of SW 9th and Washington in Portland, Oregon. This food cart sells sushi and sandwiches, mostly fusing Japanese and Korean dishes.

I walked through downtown Portland a few weekends back and randomly felt like eating sushi. In a town with no shortage of food options, Rolling Gourmet caught my eye for its unique fusion sushi and sandwich options. I also found the menu board appealing, although the food-porn photos left me staring for a good 2-3 minutes. Well played....

Side item options

I finally settled on the Dynamite Roll ($8), which also comes with a choice of two sides. I opted for the 4-piece California Roll and Korean kimchi.

Side order of California rolls

Side order of kimchi

The Dynamite Roll starts with an asparagus, avocado, and cucumber roll topped with baked tempura snapper and wasabi pico de gallo. That's right, wasabi and pico de gallo together. What will people think of next? Extremely colorful presentation, very eye-appealing.

The snapper was cooked perfectly, not oily. The snapper is actually fried (basically what tempura is) and then baked. Great job on rolling and cutting that sushi. Fresh ingredients and a nice portion size for the amount paid. I also enjoyed the Korean kimchi.

There are also six Lunch Box Combos for $7 each. Each combo comes with kimchi fried rice and two side items. Those Korean dishes just scream amazing flavor.

There are three sandwiches highlighted at Rolling Gourmet: the Korea-Anna Hoagie ($7; choice of Korean BBQ chicken or Korean spicy pork), Cajun Shrimp Hoagie ($8), or a Fried Snapper Hoagie ($8; same baked and fried snapper as the fish on the Dynamite Roll combo).

Yes, you can get great sushi, sandwiches, and dishes at a food cart. Rolling Gourmet is proof of that. I am lucky to be surrounded by so many outstanding food options. 8.5/10

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YouTube: Chubby Bunny Duel; 1 lb Snickers

November 16, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Bridgeport Brewing Pub

≪ Previous: Rolling Gourmet Fusion

Over the past few weeks, I feel like I've gotten a bit more popular in the YouTube world. A few people from some great companies sent me some of their hot sauces to review. I might not be as big a name as Ted Barrus (for this particular spicy food genre), but I'm humbled and honored that others have watched my videos.

1 lb Snickers satisfying my hunger!

In order to freshen up the channel a bit, I've wanted some of my friends to make cameos. Max Carnage of Big Eaters Club got double the spicochist fun. First, a lovely dose of Satan's Rage ghost pepper sauce. Next, an onslaught of Mrs. Renfro's Ghost Pepper Salsa. There may be more torture lined up. :-)

Be sure to subscribe to Big Eaters Club. Max and Honey Badger attempt several quantity challenges that I would have zero shot at completing.

Competitive eater Stephanie Torres visited the Pacific Northwest in October and challenged me to a Chubby Bunny duel. But hey, it's too easy to stuff marshmallows in your mouth. We made it more extreme with atomic fireballs (which are not malleable like marshmallows) coated in pepper extract. Stains and spice burns for days!

Since it's the holiday season, I ate a 1 lb Snickers bar to satisfy my hunger. And damn, that thing was hard as a rock after sitting in my cold kitchen for a few days. Simply a chocolate nightstick. I probably would have tried to eat another one if the bar wasn't so solid.

In October, Mucho Burrito sells a ghost pepper burrito for a limited time. I've been told that the promotion has extended into late November. If you live in parts of Canada or the state of Washington and seek a spicy burrito, I highly recommend this one. Delicious and a great kick.

Tim from Adoboloco sent me more delicious hot sauces. While the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion sauce is fabulous, the Pineapple Habanero stole the show. I still dream about drinking that sauce.

Representatives from Sweet Sunshine also wanted me to review their entire line of award-winning sauces. We agreed to have individual reviews on all six sauces and to space those videos out over a lengthy period of time. I'm working up from the mildest to the hottest. The Sweet Sauce is tasty and should be mild enough for almost anyone to enjoy.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. Thanksgiving is coming up for us in the U.S., and Christmas isn't too far away, either. For me, I'm taking advantage by getting all the limited-time seasonal items I can find in stores. Panda logic!

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Bridgeport Brewing Pub

November 18, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Maine Street Lobster

≪ Previous: YouTube: Chubby Bunny Duel; 1 lb Snickers

Bridgeport Brewing Pub is located on NW Marshall, near NW 13th Avenue, in Portland, Oregon.

Pubs aren't really known for their lighting, so I struggled to get a few pictures of the menu.

Appetizers included the House-Smoked BBQ Chicken Quesadilla ($8.25), which also contained roasted green chile and IPA BBQ sauce. A damn good quesadilla; I just wish I had more of it.

The warm spinach-artichoke dip ($8.50) arrives in a cast-iron skillet and served with tortilla chips. Delicious.

I got the Cuban Pork Sandwich ($10), which starts with citrus and cumin-braised pork, grilled onions, cilantro, roasted jalapeno aioli, and romaine on Cuban bread. I enjoyed the extremely juicy, tender pork. I'm a cilantro fan and appreciated the extra dimension this sandwich got. Kudos for toasting the bread.

The dish came with a side of fries. A good portion for many, but I would have liked a few more spuds thrown my way.

IPA was my beer of choice on this night. Can't really go wrong with a beer that's won some awards. As advertised, a slight bitterness and an overall floral, cirtusy aroma. The panda approves.

I was also tempted to get the Pork Chili Verde ($8) here. Braising pork shoulder with tomatillos? Yes, please.

A couple of my friends enjoyed the Hawthorne pizza ($12.50), which includes artichoke hearts, red onion, spinach, feta, and parmesan cheese.

Parking may be an issue if you go during peak hours. Even at night, when the meters are no longer running in the area, one might need to walk a few blocks to get to Bridgeport Brewing Pub.

Frankly, if you enjoy hitting up a good ol' pub for food and beer, this is a great place to start. For me, I enjoyed the food but probably won't frequent the place as much as others. 6.75/10

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Maine Street Lobster

November 21, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Pix Patisserie

≪ Previous: Bridgeport Brewing Pub

Maine Street Lobster is located at the Cartlandia food pod in Portland, Oregon. David and Cathy have been doing soft openings for the past couple of weeks. I stopped by recently after seeing a Facebook post about this cart.

Ever since Hot Boxx closed its food cart many moons ago, I haven't seen many places (food carts or brick-and-mortar spots) put lobster as the main attraction. In fact, this might be one of the first carts in Portland to base its entire menu on lobster.

The menu looks pretty good. Cathy mentioned that she also wants to add a lobster salad to the menu. Personally, I think some type of combo meal would really work here, such as slider and soup (choice of lobster bisque or clam chowder).

The prices are steep, but hey, getting the real deal is expensive. David and Cathy go the extra mile by flying all their lobster in from Maine. Working with shipments of crustaceans = winning the internet.

The Maine Lobster Roll ($14) is a hot lobster roll. Lobster meat is lightly sauteed in butter, lemon, and herbs. A nice helping is put inside a buttery toasted New England-style roll, served with Ruffles chips, a side of cart-made cole slaw, and a dill pickle. Excellent execution on the lobster, sweet and juicy. The toasted roll had a slight crunch. I wish I had the bankroll to eat 10 of those. The chilled cole slaw was crunchy, all veggies practically diced or minced.

Mmm...lobster

Great toasting on the buttery new England-style roll

After not having had a lobster roll in about two years, I decided to splurge and got a cup of lobster bisque ($6). Beautiful color on the bisque, with a wonderful creamy consistency. More sweet and juicy chunks of lobster. The sherry was very noticeable here and might be a bit much for some people. I wasted little time in finishing the cup off.

For people who want a chilled lobster roll, the Down East Lobster Roll ($14) has fresh chilled Maine lobster chunks mixed with a light mayo and herb dressing.

The lobster slider has a hot or chilled option, and is probably meant for people that don't have $14 to spend on lunch.

The Po'Boy ($10) has an option of shrimp, scallops, or breaded oysters. Add $4 if you want lobster here.

For winter, this cart is open six days a week, closed Mondays. They also have a website.

Very good food here. Frankly, with the cooler weather coming in, the lobster bisque and clam chowder are probably the menu items that may keep me coming back here. 8.5/10

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Pix Patisserie

November 25, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Da Fat Boyz BBQ

≪ Previous: Maine Street Lobster

Pix Patisserie is located on E Burnside in Portland, Oregon. This is a place known for their desserts, namely the macarons, a sweet French meringue-based confection.

Before meeting some friends for dinner on a Friday night, I decided to stop by because pandas logically eat dessert first.

The chilled display case holds a number of macarons in various colors. The guy working that night recommended the sea salt macaron. It was quite good, but perhaps a bit hard and chewy for me because it had just been in the refrigerated display case. Considering it's a meringue-based confection, I probably just expected the macaron to be much lighter and airier.

An array of eye-catching desserts were displayed above and below the macarons. One of my co-workers mentioned the Concord ($7.50), a chocolate-fest consisting of several chocolate meringue sticks, with more chocolate meringue, chocolate mousse, and chocolate ganache. Oh, and a single red ribbon for presentation.

The "Amelie" ($7) was the winner of the Patis France Chocolate Competition. The description basically says "Orange-vanilla creme brulee sits atop a glazed chocolate mousse with caramelized hazelnuts, praline crisp, and Cointreau genoise." I probably understood about 1/5 of that, but it sounded tasty.

With time running short, I basically ended up eating the Amelie three hours later. Just an outstanding treat in presentation and flavor. Nothing too heavy or overpowering. Chocoholics are likely to become addicted to this one.

I saw a sign for "Macaronuts," which are deep-fried macarons. My simple mind cannot compute that. I wish I could have stuck around to try one.

The person helping me choose the desserts was very friendly.

You'll also enjoy this place if you love wine.

Probably the price becomes my one major deterrent. Paying $7 for a small treat fits the "rare splurge and I gotta really impress someone" category more than the regular, everyday stop. Pix is a great spot and still worth a try. 7/10

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Da Fat Boyz BBQ

November 28, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: El Brasero

≪ Previous: Pix Patisserie

Da Fat Boyz BBQ is located at the Cartlandia food pod in Portland, Oregon.

John opened his food cart back in August at another spot on 82nd Avenue, then a spot opened up at Cartlandia within the past few weeks. Being a fan of BBQ, I've been pleased to see several BBQ carts that have set up shop in this food pod in the past year or so.

John has the usual classic meats: ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and chicken.What first caught my eye here was the BBQ Parfait ($7), a genius savory twist on a sweet classic. It's basically a meat of your choice (brisket, pork, or chicken), then BBQ beans, then another meat of your choice, and finally topped with choice of cart-made cole slaw or Hawaiian-style potato/macaroni salad.

BBQ Parfait (with mac and potato salad on top)

Very good mac and potato salad!

BBQ beans and some pulled pork!

Pulled chicken (dark meat FTW)

Frankly, I'm shocked that more BBQ places (at least around here) don't do this type of dish. For me, I think I might like this better with the cole slaw, only because the crunch of the slaw would provide a better texture contrast from the rest of the parfait.
The ribs are also fantastic. The meat came clean off the bone, and the layers of glaze provided a wonderful crispiness. You can add some BBQ sauce on top, but heck, I even enjoyed a naked rib here.

John with a full rack of ribs!

The cart name and its "Aloha Friday" menu are appropriate; John's wife is from Hawaii and they met there.

Da Fat Boyz BBQ is open Wednesday through Sunday from about 11-6 (or until all the food is sold). John has some awesome food. I'd highly recommend this cart to any fan of BBQ, and it'll probably convert several people otherwise. 8.75/10

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El Brasero

December 2, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Brazilian House

≪ Previous: Da Fat Boyz BBQ

El Brasero is located at the Cartopia food pod (SE 12th and Hawthorne) in Portland, Oregon.

A very large menu here, complete with a section for vegetarian and vegan options. Very reasonable prices.

I was on yet another breakfast burrito bender, and bacon wins the internet. Therefore, panda logic requires eating a bacon breakfast burrito. Breakfast burritos here are $4.50 and also come with eggs, cheese, and potatoes. Several meat options here.

The burrito itself was OK. I've seen larger and meatier burritos for a similar price. For the first few bites, I mainly got egg, cheese, and potato. After excavating through about halfway, more bacon started to show. The cuts of meat crack here didn't have much crispness, but I took comfort for it being irreplaceable pork love.

Two types of hot sauce here. I'm guessing the green one uses jalapenos and the orange one has some type of smoky pepper such as a chipotle. I preferred the green sauce's chunky qualities, but the orange sauce's color and flavor.

This one probably borders on the OK experience. It wasn't bad but didn't blow me away. 6/10

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Brazilian House

December 3, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Smokin Rome's BBQ

≪ Previous: El Brasero

Brazilian House is located at the Good Food Here pod (near SE 43rd and Belmont) in Portland, Oregon. The cart operates out of the old Rockabillies food cart.

I remember a Brazilian cart at the old D-Street Noshery pod that abruptly closed before I had a chance to try the food. One of the menu items from that cart was also on this menu, and the curious panda just had to try it.


Menu as of November 2013

Feijoada ($8) is a dish containing black beans, bacon, beef, sausage, green onions, and garlic. It was served with rice and collard greens. I happily admit I didn't have to read any further once I saw bacon (but I kept on reading anyway). All the meats brought awesome flavor to this dish.

Feijoada

My initial thought of the dish: a flavorful black bean and meat chowder. Looking it up later, Feijoada is a bean and mixed meat stew often called the national dish of Brazil.

Moqueca ($8) is a Brazilian fish stew that contains coconut milk. There are options to get it with chicken or shrimp instead. It's served with rice and tomatoes.

Tropeiro ($8) is another traditional dish featuring pinto beans, bacon, beef, sausage, green onions, eggs, garlic, and yucca flour.

I definitely recommend Brazilian House to anyone! 8.5/10

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Smokin Rome's BBQ

December 4, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: YouTube: 75 Reese's PB Cups; 4 lb Cupcake

≪ Previous: Brazilian House

Smokin' Rome's BBQ is located at the Cartlandia food pod in Portland, Oregon.

Three generations have laid the foundation for Smokin' Rome's BBQ, from grandpa James to father (Pit Master) Wayne, and now owner Jerome. They specialize in Texas-style BBQ that James started in Southeast Texas. Wayne brought that same BBQ to Southern California (where his restaurant is still going today). Jerome opened his mobile BBQ truck in Spokane before moving to Portland a few months ago.

It's the standard BBQ menu here: brisket, pulled pork, sausage, and sides. Jerome told me that brisket is far and away the top seller.

The Brisket Sandwich Combo ($9) packs a nice amount of juicy, tender brisket from the smoker. Jerome slices the brisket (probably chilled so it doesn't fall apart) and heats it back up. He fills a toasted garlic bun with the heated brisket and adds sweet-tangy Texas-style BBQ sauce on top. It's hands down one of the better BBQ sandwiches I've had.

Excellent cole slaw here. Chilled, crunchy, and creamy.

Smokin' Rome's will do catering events (weddings, reunions, company outings, etc.). The website provides a catering list and prices.

Unfortunately for now, it appears that the cart is only open on Fridays, when I'm unable to make it down (I tried the food on the final Saturday he was open before switching to the Friday-only schedule).

Smokin' Rome's also does a BBQ Parfait, which includes baked beans, mashed potatoes, pulled pork, and smoked sausage. Again, I wonder if Jerome would be open to putting some crunchy cole slaw on top of the parfait for that added texture contrast. Funny how I had never heard of such a menu item before this cart and Da Fat Boyz BBQ came along.

This was some of the best BBQ I've had. I'm very pleased that I got a chance to try the food. 9/10

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YouTube: 75 Reese's PB Cups; 4 lb Cupcake

December 7, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Kind Coffee

≪ Previous: Smokin Rome's BBQ

The past few weeks have been fairly normal -- for people who like to hurt themselves with sugar and spice. Nothing like 4-pound cupcakes and a Reese's video response to a huge YouTube star.

Several people have asked me to review their products, and I've tried to honor the requests in a somewhat timely fashion. The numerous Sweet Sunshine sauce reviews will continue to be spaced out into the year 2014. For the second of six reviews, I reviewed their "Warm" sauce a couple weeks back.

A representative from Paqui Tortillas sent a few bags of their Haunted Ghost Pepper chips. Top-notch chips with amazing corn flavor and lovely ghost pepper heat!

Roland from In the Hot Seat sent a bottle of his homemade "Hawaiian Amazon" hot sauce. Trust me, I'm making this one last -- which isn't too hard only because I have a gazillion other sauces already in the rotation. The "Hawaiian Amazon" is a very solid sauce. Well done, sir!

Rocky, a fellow YouTuber, also sent me a package of spicy chocolates. These were clearly made for chileheads and would probably send the others racing for the ice cream. I would totally be interested in eating more of these!

More sweet-spicy combos! Legendary Doughnuts does a version of the cronut, dubbed the "doughsant." I added Adoboloco's pineapple-habanero hot sauce. What would I think about that combination?

New Afterburn video! John Ford of Ford's Fiery Foods and Plants sent me a few peppers to review. First up, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Caramel!

So finally, we get to the common question of "How stupid can the spicochist be?"

I talked with the owners of Twinsies Coffee and Cupcakes, and they thought it would be awesome to have me eat a 4-pound cupcake that could feed 12-14 people. How far would I get on this? Click the video to find out!

I love Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, enough for me to subject myself to another L.A. Beast video response. L.A. Beast powered through 60 in his video. I set the goal at 75, or about 2.5 pounds of lovely sugar. How many would I eat?

More idiotic stunts and spicy reviews to come in future blog posts! Stay tuned.

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Kind Coffee

December 9, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Homegrown Smoker Vegan BBQ (Part 3)

≪ Previous: YouTube: 75 Reese's PB Cups; 4 lb Cupcake

Kind Coffee is located at the Good Food Here pod (near SE 43rd and Belmont) in Portland, Oregon

This food cart, which used to be the Da-Pressed Coffee Cart, has been under new management for almost two months.

It's a standard coffee and espresso menu here. There are a few non-coffee items, including fresh juice.

Mary from the nearby Blues City Biscuits cart recommended the hot chocolate here ($2 for the small), which contains milk and Holy Cacow chocolate syrup. An excellent choice indeed. It had some body to it, which makes me believe either whole milk or 2% was used. The cocoa wasn't an overpowering chocolate blast, just a comforting pick-me-up for a chilly day. Great choice for a chocolate syrup.

Kind Coffee is a good stop for a quick drink. There is also a Twitter page for the cart. I hope the word spreads about this food cart! 8.5/10

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Homegrown Smoker Vegan BBQ (Part 3)

December 12, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Kaboom Box

≪ Previous: Kind Coffee

(Original Review -- August 2011 at SW 4th and College)
(Second Review -- June 2012 at Green Castle food pod)

I returned to Homegrown Smoker in late November. For some reason, I was on a burrito bender and figured a vegan meal would logically allow me to eat more later. Healthy food means you can consume more of it, right?

The menu basically remains the same as I remember it. Also be on the lookout for some awesome specials.

Chili Mac was a special in late November!

The "Macnocheeto" ($8) is a burrito containing smoked soy curls, their signature "Mac-nocheese," BBQ beans, grilled peppers and onions, and maple bourbon BBQ sauce. Holy crapballs. Living proof that vegan meals also make the panda's mouth water.

A hefty burrito!

Inside the Macnocheeto!

The Macnocheeto is a carb-filled, blissful meal. The mac-nocheese used large elbow macaroni. Addicting BBQ beans. Grilled peppers and onions merely tell me to keep eating because vegetables automatically make a meal healthy. Whomever invented maple bourbon BBQ sauce needs to be nominated for a Nobel Prize. If you blindfolded me and didn't tell me what was in it, I still would have eaten the whole thing -- and I probably wouldn't have asked if it contained meat or animal products. No doubt, I'd definitely get this again.

Before and after I ordered, a number of people stepped up to order from here. The fans don't lie. Must be a heck of a place.

Give Homegrown Smoker a try if you haven't already. You may be pleasantly surprised! 8.75/10

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Kaboom Box

December 16, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Aussie Pie Guy

≪ Previous: Homegrown Smoker Vegan BBQ (Part 3)

Kaboom Box is a food truck located in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Their usual spot is near the corner of Granville and W Georgia Street.

A few hours in Canada, and it didn't take long for the panda to get his poutine fix.

From what the owner (Andrew) told me, food trucks in downtown Vancouver BC get a space from the city to call its home. Eventually, the trucks have to move off the space, but they get to return to that spot the next day.

The smoked salmon sandwich starts with fresh, local, wild-caught salmon that is smoked in the cart. It's served on a whole wheat bun with spicy mayo and house-made maple-mustard slaw.

Smoked Salmon Sandwich + Poutine!

I'm not sure exactly how "world famous" this salmon sandwich is, but it totally deserves a ton of praise. The fish was moist and perfectly prepared. The refreshing slaw has great crunch and provides a savory-sweet experience without upstaging the salmon.

I got my sandwich with a side of poutine, the ever-famous Canadian dish of fries, gravy, and cheese curds. The BC Poutine has a mushroom gravy -- and there's no mistaking it. I saw some minced mushrooms in the gravy. A great way to continue the gluttony.

The menu also includes an oyster Po'Boy, fish and chips, and a crab cake sandwich.

One cool fact: The Kaboom Box's "Vanburger" veggie burger (which can be made vegan) was recently voted one of the top vegan dishes from food trucks in Vancouver BC!

Kaboom Box is fairly active on Facebook.

One of several food trucks in Canada that I recommend. Still thinking about that smoked salmon sandwich. 8.75/10

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Aussie Pie Guy

December 17, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Smoke's Poutinerie

≪ Previous: Kaboom Box

Aussie Pie Guy is a food truck located in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Their usual downtown spot is on Hamilton Street, near W Georgia.

We don't have many Aussie food trucks near Portland, so I figured this would be a great introduction. The food is basically similar to personal-sized pot pies. Most of the choices here are savory, but there is a sweet apple pie option (appropriately called the "Sweetie Pie"). All pies are $8.

The "Aussie Pie" is their take on the traditional Aussie Pie: chunks of free-range BC beef and onion in a pepper gravy. The gravy contains locally brewed ale (Howe Sound Rail Ale from Squamish). This was outstanding beef, kept moist and juicy in the gravy.

You can make any pie "epic" by topping it with a scoop of mashed potatoes, a scoop of mushy peas, and a ladle of gravy for $2 more. It is awesome with the Aussie Pie to make it a more balanced meal. Admittedly, the gravy made the crust a bit soggier and tougher to work through without the use of a knife. I guess there was always the "pick up and make a huge mess on your face" option.

I don't think "epic" options would work as well with the Sweetie Pie, but hey, maybe someone has tried it?

Glancing at their website, I thought it was interesting that their current food truck was originally a USPS delivery truck. The food truck owner before them used it for her own business in Canada before moving on to other ventures.

The "Porky Pie" sounds amazing. BBQ sauce, pulled pork, and slaw. For vegans and gluten-free people, the "Hip Pie" is an option. Aussie Pie Guy carries drinks from Australia's Bundaburg line.

As far as I know, Aussie Pie Guy is open throughout the year. A great place to stop for food. 8/10

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Smoke's Poutinerie

December 18, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Japadog

≪ Previous: Aussie Pie Guy

Smoke's Poutinerie has multiple locations across Canada. This review is for their poutinerie in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Roughly 30 types of poutine here, from the traditional to the gluttonous Triple Pork (add chipotle pulled pork, double-smoked bacon, and Italian sausage). Here, poutine starts with daily, hand-cut seasoned fries (a "unique seasoning"), fresh Quebec cheese curds, topped with Smoke's signature poutine gravy.

You can "DELUXE-IT" for a few extra dollars, or "WOW-SIZE" any poutine and get that much closer to yummy gluttony.

I barely had time to squeeze in a regular Traditional poutine here ($5.99). The fries had a slight crispness, thicker than the usual French fries I had growing up. The gravy had a unique flavor, perhaps a bit of herbs and vinegar incorporated.

The cheese curds squeaked as I chewed and savored. The curds slowly melted after the hot gravy was poured. Lots of curds, too. Frankly, it's the most traditional poutine I've had to date.

Traditional Poutine

You can get a brown veggie gravy for the traditional poutine, so I assume that the signature gravy is meat-based in some way.

Meat lovers should try any poutine topped with shaved Montreal smoked meat. And bacon. Heck, add all the meats and it'll probably be called epic.

While most of the menu is for the carnivore, a few veggie options are available. The Rainbow Poutine ($7.49 regular) is topped with guacamole, sriracha, sour cream, and cheese sauce. Probably one of the more colorful options out there.

Smoke's Poutinerie sponsors a poutine-eating contest for Major League Eating. Unfortunately, I cannot eat 24 pounds of poutine in one sitting, like Joey Chestnut.

Try this poutine special!

Smoke's has locations all across Canada. If you're near one of those locations, check them out. I'm already planning to return next time I'm in BC. 8.75/10

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Japadog

December 23, 2013, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Mean Poutine

≪ Previous: Smoke's Poutinerie

Japadog is a famous hot dog cart that started in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It has now expanded to multiple carts and brick-and-mortars in Vancouver BC and New York City. This blog post only covers the brick-and-mortar on Robson Street in downtown Vancouver BC.

When fielding suggestions on places to go in Vancouver BC, a couple of people mentioned Japadog. From what I gathered, the hot dog carts only accept cash, so I went to the Robson spot (cards accepted there).

Hot dog menu

The menu here has a myriad of hot dog choices -- and may have the most choices of any BC spot. There are fries topped with different seasonings. Heck, there is a dessert option, with three scoops of ice cream inside a deep-fried bun. The workers here create each hot dog right in front of you.

The Terimayo dog ($4.75 for just the hot dog) is the signature item at Japadog: teriyaki sauce, mayonnaise, caramelized onions, and strips of seaweed (nori) on top. The nori loved getting stuck to the roof of my mouth as I valiantly dove in. Gluttony is a dangerous thing, but someone's gotta do it.

I'll have to try the "Hot and Spicy" dog next time: a beef wiener with lettuce and spicy sauce. I'm sure it won't be blowing my face off, but virtually anything with the word spicy in the title is like a toddler spotting a shiny object.

I saved room instead for the "Age Ice" ($2.99), a deep-fried bun filled with ice cream. There are several flavors to choose from, and I got the matcha (green tea) ice cream. The bun reminded me of a malasada (Portuguese doughnut popular in Hawaii) in terms of flavor -- without the overload of granulated sugar.

Age Ice with Matcha (green tea) ice cream

My friend got the Butter and Shoyu shaked fries. I tried one and gave it my panda approval. The butter gives it a pleasing richness and tends to give the shoyu an extra boost on savory nodes.

Especially during the usual lunch hour, the place fills up quickly due to its popularity. There are some seats available right outside.

Head to Japadog if you're in downtown Vancouver BC. There may be a wait, but I thought it was worth it. 7.75/10

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