Welcome to the Portland Food Cart Songs!
This is a project in the making, locating and documenting Portland culture(s) through food and music. I am collaborating with various workers and owners to write and record original songs that reflect the often-challenging life in the carts and reveal the flavor of each one. Themes in lyrics have arisen: about the dreaded rain or limited counter space or quirky insider catchphrases about menu items. The songs are both ‘work songs’ and ‘songs about work’ and will be archived on this website, along with recipes, biographical information, and photo documentation.
Sultan’s Kitchen’s Coban Salad
pronounced ‘choban’
Chop tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, parsley and feta
Toss with lemon juice, olive oil and pomegranate syrup
Voila!
Sultan’s Kitchen Song references an argument among baklava-eating men about its origins and authenticity, over a traditionally religious tune. Sadi plays saz and spoons, Dan plays drums, Lexa sings
The Portland Soup Song features chef/owner Jeremy and worker Cody, who make mad harmonies… about the homeless man who serenades them, their love of the job, and their quirky insider lingo
Buddha Bites Song: After a shift of washing dishes and chatting with Kari, we came up with some ideas for these lyrics, which discuss her branding, the pain-in-the-arse grey water system and rain, and the city’s displacement of porch structures. The music is inspired by India, which we both have visited… a little Bollywood?
Buddha Bites Gluten Free Banana Bread
1 banana mashed
8 eggs beaten
1/2 t vanilla
1/4 t almond extract
Pinch pumpkin pie spice
3/4 cup coconut flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Blend first 5 ingredients in food processor
Add sugar and blend
Sift remaining ingredients except chocolate
Blend
Pour into well greased 3x9 loaf pan. Use baking paper if you want and add chocolate chips- barely mixed in
Bake in 325 oven 15 minutes, then cover and bake until firm and tooth pick comes out clean
