... And dining! Fri lunch food cart series #2: " Hillsboro Downtown Station"

Okay here's a second dining out series, also truly Portlandian. Food carts! We don't call 'em food trucks here in Portland. Are we still in the heyday of Portland food carts? Well, sort of! The scene has changed and many venues have improved. Beer gardens, restrooms, indoor/outdoor, nice plates to eat off of, (sometimes.)

I'm doing this series on Fridays at lunch time for now.

In the history of Portland food carts, many have gone on to be brick and mortar businesses and some have disappeared as times have changed or as the cooks may have become chefs. Famous "graduated" food carts might include: Cheese and Crack, Fried Egg I'm in love, the Frying Scotsman, Nong's, Lardo, Salt & Straw, Guëro, PDX Sliders!

Well, I'm going to pick notable food cart pods that must have a couple of notable food carts each. Something more than just smash burgers and tacos.

This week's pod will be the bright and shiny Hillsboro Downtown Station food cart pod which has a nice indoor outdoor appeal, beer garden and bar, and live music at times. This place is more known for its sum-total of international options as well as it's large, clean and fully appointed infrastructure. They do have notable Thai and Korean fusion carts, but that extends into Nepalese, Italian, Mexican, Chilean, Indian, Cuban, Vietnamese! (and possibly some good old fashioned grilled and fried American food).

How will this work? 12 to 16 of us will meet at one of the long picnic tables and get oriented. Maybe grab a beer and walk around and decide what to order. But for the adventurous I have a dream! ... if at least four people will join me, we will pool our resources to purchase four or more entrees to share using the clean cutlery that I have stashed in my backpack. Are y'all game for something that adventurous? If not people can order their own food.

(next pods might include Prost!, Hawthorne Asylum, ... ?)

Joe