“Strawberry Fields” salad from Farmer and the Beast. Oregon Strawberries, Fromage Blanc, Pickled Fennel, Roasted Spring Vegetables, Cucumbers, Spring Greens, Almonds, with Strawberry Vinaigrette and Balsamic Drizzle. This is a really incredible salad. They ran it last year too and it really blew me away so I had to get it again this year. Oregon strawberries are so incredible. This came from the NW cart location. Farmer and the Beast has recently taken over the kitchen at Breakside as well.

Lao Crispy Rice Salad (Nam Khao) with Beef from Little Bloom. Beef, ginger, lime juice, palm sugar, fish sauce, mint, green onion, peanuts, red onion, cilantro, coconut, curry paste, egg, and rice. Little Bloom is a food cart on N. Mississippi Ave that has turned into my go-to for Lao & Thai food the last year. The lady who runs it is super sweet and is cooking up some of my favorite Lao food. This Nam Khao is so good! It’s funky, fresh, the beef is fantastic. Delicious and crave-able. Highly recommend this cart.

Chicken Wings from Lil Barbecue at Tough Luck bar. Lil Barbecue has been really knocking it out of the park since opening last year. The sanctioned sister-BBQ outpost of Michelin starred La Barbecue in Austin, TX, they came into one of the best BBQ cities in the U.S. swinging! These chicken wings are only available on Wednesday until they sell out, which they do pretty early. If I can get down there early, I always make sure to order these. They are the best chicken wings I’ve eaten in my life! No hyperbole. They have a very unique flavor and are very peppercorn forward. I’m a blue cheese guy, but their house made ranch is really incredible. Besides being the best wings in town, they are only $10 for 10! Insane value and quality. The rest of the BBQ menu is great too, and they are running great specials too.

Tacos from Mahi Taco. Mahi, Garlic Shrimp & Ahi Tuna. Jeff at Mahi just celebrated 10 years of running his cart at Piedmont Station on NE Killingsworth. Ten food cart years is like 30 normal years! I can’t say precisely how long I’ve been eating here, but I’m pretty sure it’s the full 10 years. Jeff has always made the best fish taco in town: blackened mahi in a Baja style with his own flair. The fish is always the star and the accoutrements are perfect. Mahi is one of my favorite fishes. Garlic shrimp has been a more regular addition as of late, and is delicious. For the anniversary he made a special of Ahi Tuna which was nice too. If you love fish tacos, this is the place to be!

Braised Beef Cheek Curry Set from Hat Yai. This is a new addition to their menu. Comes with one roti. I always add a chicken wing ($3) if I get something that isn’t their fried chicken as well as a side of cucumber salad. This food is so incredible. Hat Yai is one of my favorite restaurants in town and I go there all the time. Their fried chicken is so insanely good. I don’t know how they do it. Executed perfectly every single time. The consistency is mind blowing. Their curry is delicious, these beef cheeks were melt-in-your-mouth and the roti is always delicious. This is always one of the first places I recommend to people who are visiting.