I believe the weather that a ceiling keeps out is "inclement."

Sawasdee Thai needs to open a second location... on my face.

Thanks, Satchel. Spell check didn't catch that one.

I was getting fucking sick of Pinestate. I was living across the street from them, and on the weekends their stupid clientel just blocked up the sidewalk and made life unbearable.

Their are so many better brunch options within ten blocks of the place. People! DON'T STAND IN LINE FOR AN HOUR TO GET SOME MOTHERFUCKING BISCUITS'N'GRAVY!

AAAH!

Other than that, I love me some cart food. I ate at Whiffies last Friday. That was some ON NOM NOM. And I can't wait for KoiFusionPDX to finally get some evening hours.

Also, what's the legal policy of drinking at 12th and Hawthorne? Can I bring a sixer with me and drink it?

Graham, if the lot is owned privately, I don't think there would be a police problem (if public though, see http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/inde…). Obviously, there's no liquour license problem if the carts don't sell or otherwise furnish the alcohol. My hunch, however, is that excluding people who bring their own alcohol is part of the lease agreement the cart owners have with the owner of the lot (it would certainly be in my lease agreement if I owned the lot). I'd ask a couple of the cart operators if they know for sure.

here's some trash-talk about the red-hots place:

http://www.goner-records.com/board/index.p…

Great question. I think for some, having the cart is the dream. It is definately cheaper and easier to manage financially. For others, I think you hit the nail on the head that a cart allows for one to learn and work out kinks before tackling a restaurant. Also, as one cart owner put it - "there's cart money and there's restaurant money" One is a lot more than another.

Nong's Khao man ghai is now my fave lunch munch.

Most of the carts that I love are perfect as carts. There's a special combination of great food and accessibility. Take Tabór, for example; wonderful food, of course. But would the amazing eggplant sandwich be worth a trip out for dinner? Maybe not with the price increase that would have to come with it. They'd have to find a different balance, like Pok Pok.

There are a few I'd love as restaurants more, though. #1 Bento, perhaps. Chopollo's would be great as a restaurant. Freaking awesome Mexican near PSU -- they make incredible vegetarian huarache.

Los Gorditos needs to get a cute little restaurant!!

If you write about Portland, shouldn't you know it is Milwaukie, not Milwaukee?

Howdy, Cuisine Bonne Femme here from Portland Food Carts. (www.foodcartsportland.com)

It's an interesting topic and Patrick you've nailed something. Here's the deal as I see it:
Multnomah County is pretty clear. If it is on wheels, or something there of (Axles say), it's a cart.

The carts will not be effected by the new City rules, unless they are in a public right of way (such as a street hot dog vendor). That law is about public rights-of-way, not privately owned commercially zoned properties (where most carts are currently located).

As for the other stuff. I do think with such rapid growth of the cart scene we are going to come to some sort of head at some point with neighborhood complaints of noise, garbage, etc and the fine line between cart and compound. I do know for a fact that the City is very supportive of the carts overall. They meet a whole bunch of planning goals for active street use (rather than underutilized surface parking lots), help create locally owned small businesses and individual wealth creation, and well, just about everyone thinks they are cool and a good benefit to our City.

I do think they will have tighter regulations at some point, but am not sure yet what that means.

If the carts were smart they would start organizing a Cart Guild right now, similar to what NYC did when Guiliani tried to outlaw them. A guild would give the carts some organizing and political power so that they can at least have a stronger voice over city decisions that affect them