William Gaddis services up catfish and other southern cooking delights from his food cart at the Boise-Eliot Outdoor Market. Photo by Mark Washington.
About a year and a half ago, William Gaddis noticed a void in Portland’s otherwise robust food cart scene: southern cooking, with catfish being particularly absent.
He wanted to help out his granddaughter with college, so he and his girlfriend got together a food cart serving up catfish, potato salad, corn and green beans. “The Best of Shevens” is present at the King Farmers Market, Alberta Street Fair, and the Boise-Eliot Outdoor Market.
Gaddis, a native of New Orleans who moved up to Portland to escape the humidity and be with family, said that he uses a southern-style cornmeal breading for the catfish that includes garlic and black pepper.
He said that sales on some days do better than others, but overall he is still doing alright.
