Food Cart Open

With all the different ways to instant update on the internet, facebook, twitter, email, etc., I have fallen a little behind on this particular blog. Since finishing up summer vending in early October, I started working on building up my Eugene Street vending cart.

As of December 15th, it is now working weekdays in downtown Eugene. Hours are 11-4pm, Monday through Friday.

Additions to the menu include a delicious Vegan Tempeh Reuben Sandwich served on whole wheat organic Dave's Killer Bread. Also, a gluten free option, the Tempeh Satay served with peanut ginger sauce.

For more info on the cart and menu: http://eugenecooks.com/cart.html

Also, there is a Yelp! listing for the cart if you care to review it: http://www.yelp.com/biz/viva-vegetarian-grill---food-cart-eugene

Thanks!

Local news

I have added another event to the lineup for this summer, the Lane County Fair here in Eugene. I've never been, as a vendor, or patron, but I get the impression from friends and locals that it's kind of like a smaller version of the State Fair, with similar rides, and carnival scene. I like it when I don't have to travel too far for an event.

On another local note, I put in an application to the Eugene Saturday Market food court. It was a rare occasion that they had an opening. I would love to have a spot at the market and be involved in that whole local scene. I should know more about the status of my application late June or even next month.

Folklife Recap

We had a good time up in Seattle at the Northwest Folklife Festival. It is pretty much the biggest event on the schedule to date. We ended up selling out of everything we brought on the last day! The new griddle performed very well, and so did my help! Thanks to Joey, Anna, Irene, and Alex for your help making it a success!

ASUO Spring Street Faire

Helped out with my good buds Anna Ponto and Thomas Q.B., we got through the year's first fest with success, the University of Oregon Street Faire. All this despite the first two days being plagued with rain and a bit of wind.
We had the new booth banner flying and plenty of room to spread out between our neighbors. The Vegan Cheesesteak, a newcomer to the menu, was well received, and I was happy to see plenty of return customers who couldn't get enough of the All-American classic turned vegan.

T-Shirts!

Thanks to my super talented silk screening girlfriend Amy, I have some great new shirts for sale.

www.stickybutts.etsy.com

Chocolate Sauce

I was doing some experimenting and made a very easy and delicious dark chocolate sauce.
So far I've used it in crepes, coffee (mocha), and on the finger. I could think of many more uses. It has the consistency of nutella out of the fridge and even at room temp. It doesn't take much warmth to get it liquid or melt it into a hot drink.

Recipe:
8 oz dark chocolate (I used half a "pound plus" bar from Trader Joe's)
1 can coconut milk (some are thicker than others. The one I used had very little liquid and a somewhat thick coconut mass)

Break up chocolate into pieces and put into a steel saucepan on low with coconut milk. Heat on low and stir with whisk as mixture softens and melts. Pour into a container and store in the fridge.

2009 Eugene Celebration

I just saw that the 2009 Eugene Celebration overlaps with the last weekend of the Oregon State Fair in early September, which is quite the bummer, because I like working the Eugene Celebration. I am not sure I can find a way around this one. In 2007 I did 4 festivals in two weekends (2 overlapping), and it was a bit stressful. Hmm.