This weekend’s Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance featured food cart is Garden Monsters.
Garden Monsters specializes in made-to-order entrée-sized salads that are made from 100% natural, organic, and local ingredients.
Kyle Hulings opened Garden Monsters on February 3, 2013, after a year of preparation. He says after being laid off from his job in November 2011, he spent over a month trying to figure out what he wanted to do next when the idea came to him.
“I woke up with an idea and immediately began putting it down on paper,” said Hulings. “Five hours later I had half my menu written down and felt absolutely certain that I knew what I was supposed to do with the next chapter in my life.”
Hulings says he spent seven months putting together a complete business plan and financial analysis, but had a hard time convincing a bank to fund his venture due to the youthful nature of his business.
“I spent the next few weeks incredibly discouraged,” he says, “but with support of my friends who I call family I decided to change my attitude and began adjusting my plans. With the help of my life savings and several great friends we were able to construct and launch the first Garden Monsters food cart”
He says that the Portland Timbers Food Cart Alliance is a huge opportunity for him to showcase his brand new food cart to the city of Portland.
“Being just a few months old and getting the highest amount of votes in round 2 has put a near permanent smile on my face since April,” he said. “I treasure the chance to be here and I know this is going to be a huge push towards swift and long term success for Garden Monsters.”
Garden Monsters will be serving at the Soccer City Grill above section 93 during the Timbers vs. Galaxy game on July 13, the Thorns vs. Western NY game on July 14 and the Timbers Reserves vs. LA Galaxy Reserve game on July 14. Fans will be able to choose from the following menu items:
The Paul Bunyan - $8
Grilled steak, romaine & iceberg lettuce, seasoned & roasted baby
reds, bacon chunks, red peppers, red onion, garlic croutons
and signature bleu cheese dressing.
No meat option - $5.50
Caesar The Great - $7.25
Grilled chicken, bacon chunks, romaine lettuce, parmesan,
diced roma tomatoes, lemon wedge, garlic croutons,
and signature creamy caesar dressing.
No meat option - $5.00
The Colossal Cobb - $8
Roasted turkey, roasted ham, bacon chunks, romaine & iceberg lettuce,
bleu crumbles, cage-free hard boiled eggs, black olives, diced roma
tomatoes, garlic croutons and signature avocado ranch dressing.
No meat option - $5.50
The Macho Taco Salad - $8
Grilled chicken, grilled steak, or ground beef, romaine & iceberg lettuce,
cheddar cheese, green onion, diced roma tomatoes, black olives, sour
cream, tortilla strips, and signature Santa Fe ranch dressing.
No meat option - $5.50
