Bari Food Cart Serves Up Italian Street Food in Southeast Portland

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In this pizza-obsessed city, how do you choose the doughy, tacky staple to the subsequent level? Just talk to Trifone Walter Ferrante—he goes by Walter—who serves a Southern Italian avenue food stuff not often noticed stateside known as panzerotti out of a Foster-Powell meals cart. 

In its essence, panzerotti is in essence like a fried pizza or calzone. New dough will get rolled out by hand and stuffed to order with tomatoes, cheese, and options including anchovy-caper (Ferrante’s favorite), smooth spicy Southern ‘nduja sausage, or our decide, the carciofi (artichoke). Then, it’s lovingly deep-fried until golden brown, the place the dough puffs up and turns into crispy though somehow not absorbing much too substantially grease. Magic! It is airy, flavorful, and delicately crunchy—think Chinese fried dough adhere or frybread. Slash open a panzerotto to reveal the stretchy mozzarella within just, and really don’t forget to get a freshly piped, lemon zest-loaded cannolo for dessert.

But if panzerotti and cannoli by yourself aren’t adequate explanation to pay a visit to, then Ferrante himself is just as a lot of a draw. Born and elevated in a small town in the Apulia area, he delivers that Southern Italian warmth and hospitality to every buyer conversation. “How are you?” he stated, popping his head out the window whilst I was finishing having to pay with the cashier in the course of my 1st go to to Bari. “I’m psyched to cook for you!” When my panzerotto was all set, the cashier squeezed a bike horn, drawing curious stares and laughter from all the other food cart patrons. Later, a neighboring food stuff cart proprietor arrived in excess of, gave Ferrante a big hug, and asked, “Can I do the horn?” He tooted the horn rhythmically, and soon the complete cart pod was cheering, “Walter! Walter!” Appear for the puff, remain for the party. 

Bari Food Cart (shut July 23 – September 1 for getaway), 5205 SE Foster Rd, barifoodcart.com