Vegan Waffle Sandwiches

The waffle, with its elegant and demanding little troughs, is the brainchild of the Belgians. However, that does not prevent our home turf -- the presently sunny hamlet of Portland, Oregon -- from having its own page in the grand history of the waffle. After all, it is here that Bill Bowerman ruined his wife's waffle iron by pouring rubber into it, inventing the first lightweight Nike running shoe. It is in this state that young Steve Prefontaine set the American record for a 5000 meter race wearing waffles on the soles of his feet. A noble lineage, indeed. However, friends, Portland's association with waffle greatness does not end with Pre's violent, breakfast-unrelated, death. A new page has been written.

Inside this innocuous North Portland food stand, very appropriately named "Flavour Spot," we meet waffle history in the making. What? You doubt that breakfast is being redefined in a Videorama parking lot? You doubt a meager cart's limited kitchen can supply the fluff and sweetness of a superlative waffle? Not only are your doubts worthy of shattering, reader, but they should be cast into the river. Flavour Spot delivers delicately foil-wrapped waffle sandwiches filled with any measure of things. On our first visit, we timidly chose what had been recommended to us: a vegan waffle, freshly ironed, with veggie sausage and the sweetest, honey-thick maple syrup folded inside of it. The sausage was perfect, and creamy maple syrup a perfect complement to the meat's savor. As for the waffle, need I explain? Light, just barely crisp on the outside, the fleecy dough on the inside commensurate to balmy morning on which we discovered it.

Perhaps this was the best thing on the menu, but from the looks of it (a fresh waffle wrapped around a chocolate coated slab of vanilla ice cream? A PB & J offering? Vegan mallow-fluff? Nutella?) there may be much more to discover. And at an average price $4.00, the risk of trial and error is deliciously encouraged.

FLAVOUR SPOT is located on N. Lombard Ave, between Greeley and Denver, in the Videorama parking lot. MAP HERE

Monday-Friday 6:30-3:00, Saturday 8-3. 503-289-YUMM (seriously).