The cart version of Big-Ass Sandwiches had closed for its third-to-last day. Its final two days are this Wednesday and this Thursday. Soon after that -- not my place to say when -- the brick-and-mortar opens. This is a big deal for people in my circle, so indulge me writing about it.
I've gone to Brian and Lisa's cart since their second day, in Old Town Portland in December 2009 near Voodoo Doughnut. (They opened Dec. 21st.) A few times in mid-2012 I helped out at the window, taking orders. Later was their Central Eastside location, the attempted "Super Pod" that dwindled to just BAS over time; overlapping with that was their attempted second location, on N. Mississippi next to Prost! Bar -- and also, it turned out, the wrong location for them. (N. Mississippi was where they were most likely to get customers asking "You make vegan salads?") That cart ran for less than a year, from fall 2013 to mid-2014, then they sold it.
I've been back to that pod next to Prost!, so far just to visit. The former BAS there is now some other cart, though the new owners for some reason kept BAS logo stuff on the side. Lisa confirmed that the new owners flat-out wouldn't remove them. Odd, but not my place to ask why. Makes me not want to eat there, though, I'll tell you that. I'd try other carts, especially the ramen one, as it's good at noodles and noodles are still possibly the perfect food. (Reminds me: noodles -- spaghetti noodles -- have been used in a BAS special.)
Being a good patron: that's one continued goal. I'm still not sure why, but I went to Carts on Foster only once before BAS moved there, even though I've lived within walking distance of it since last June. BAS got me to go, and to see that it's a good place to go; so I'll keep doing so. (That first time, in fact, was to have drinks with Lisa and Brian as they scouted possible locations to move to, when they were about to get kicked out of Central Eastside earlier this year.)
I'd wondered about being a patron at the cart this weekend, but I wasn't, since it was one eating-out expense more than I felt I could spare right now. I may or may not have a chance to get food from the cart one last time; my schedule this week is up in the air. But it seemed right, on this warm evening, to get over there, even just to see it. I patted the counter on the front of the cart. From there, people I like have served food I like...and not too long from now, these good people will serve good food from a building, not a cart.
And then, I'll be trying more food at more carts. Take advantage of what's nearby. Including the newer food cart pod that's even closer to this house...
