Food trucks are a “wheel” good idea.
The concept of grabbing some food on the run is a terrific one and many New England cities and towns are now welcoming mobile cuisine vendors to set up outdoor shop. The kitchen on wheels idea appeals on so many levels with the customers and food truck owners building closer neighborhood relationships, diners getting to enjoy eating outdoors when possible, and businesses conveniently and quickly offering diverse cuisines that might not otherwise be available in a given location. For the food truck owner, it’s much less expensive setting up a food truck than a brick and mortars restaurant. We’ve certainly come a long way since the ice cream truck!
Although some food offerings can get quite creative and expensive, most food trucks offer cheap eats. Whether it’s a burger, cupcake, Mexican cuisine or southern fried food, the food truck industry is certainly booming. Maine is one such example.
Avery Richter can certainly attest to food truck business success. As the owner of Wrap N’ Roll located on Route 27 just south of the Belgrade Lakes village center in Belgrade, Maine, Richter opened her take-out summer business trailer before graduating college. This allowed Richter a more affordable way to get a head start in the food business while building a loyal customer base that loves her sandwiches, wraps, salads and breakfast items — and the chance to dine at the lake. I recently chatted with Avery and she expressed enthusiasm about her business growth via a food truck presence.
“This is going great, it’s my second year,” said Richter. “It’s really a good way for someone like me to get into the food business. You start on a smaller scale. Working in
small quarters and limited space makes you push yourself to get better. You work with what you have and make a good quality product.”
Richter says that her food truck business also allows for better camaraderie with the customer.
“With me and one other person working (the food truck), there’s better one-on-one customer time,” said Richter. “My business has so many loyal customers and followers, I think you get more personalization here than with a restaurant. It’s like close family relations.”
Diners can sit at a picnic table or in a tent and feast on items like freshly made grilled chicken salad with grapes and almonds, or the Jo Jo Wrap wrap with turkey, black beans, green peppers, wild rice, salsa, cheddar cheese, and Sriracha. There’s also the Greg Wonder roast beef melt (pictured right) — a roast beef and Swiss cheese melt with tomatoes, bacon and horseradish sauce on toasted multi-grain bread. Yum!
Hungry now? Good! The Maine Office of Tourism recently tipped us on some more food trucks offering cheap eats around the state…
In Portland, El Corazon offers Meixcan food with dishes coming in at under $6. While in Portland (and also Scarborough), also check out Mainely Burgers that features five gourmet burgers, hot dogs, fries, and chicken and veggie burger options. The Wicked Good Truck also conducts a food truck business in Portland and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with innovative offerings like herb and buttermilk-brined chicken breasts coated with corn flakes and deep fried served with buttermilk Belgian waffles and Maine maple syrup.
Just north of Portland in Falmouth, Love Cupcakes is housed in a 1960s travel trailer on Route 1 and offers fresh-baked classic and creative cupcakes ranging from traditional vanilla and chocolate to seasonal strawberry cheesecake. And just south of Portland at Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth is Bite Into Maine that taps into one of Maine’s favorites — the lobster roll.
In Peru at Worthley Lake, you’ll find a yellow school bus called appropriately The Bus that specializes in comfort food, including deep fried bacon-wrapped hot dogs and beer battered onion rings.
Do you have a favorite food truck in Maine, or in any other New England state? Tell us about it by commenting in the box below!
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Editor’s note: For ideas on Maine travel, we suggest you log onto VisitMaine.com or our VisitingNewEngland Maine Vacations and Travel page.
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