WRITTEN BY JOANNA O’LEARY
There is a very narrow window during which one can comfortably visit a food truck without having to navigate some sort of frozen precipitation. And while mobile food purveyors used to be few and far between in rural Maine, the options for “meals on wheels” have grown exponentially. We’ve picked our favorites below, so add them to your summer bucket list and don’t forget to check social media for the latest updates on where they’re currently parked.
At the Cluckin’ Moo (Dexter), galline and bovine proteins take center stage via its popular “build a burger” entree option. Customers choose their patty (beef, grilled or fried chicken), then stack it with their choice of cheese, vegetables, and sauces (honey mustard, teriyaki, garlic Parmesan, buffalo, etc.). The best thing to accompany these gut-busting burgers is, of course, something fried. We’re partial to the zucchini sticks and Penobscot Fries, topped with cheese, bacon, and sour cream.
To open the Cluckin’ Moo, owner and head cook Shelley Rumsey parlayed years of experience in the restaurant industry, and she counts its clientele as one of the main perks.
“I not only enjoy cooking delicious food, I love meeting people from literally all over the world,” she said. “Brewster Inn right in Dexter gets travelers from all over and sends many of them to us!”
What’s also to love about the Cluckin’ Moo? Its semi-permanent location boasts ample parking and easy access to the adjacent ATV trail.
The Mobile Mug, as its name suggests, specializes in liquid refreshment, offering all the standard caffeinated options (lattes, Americanos, cappuccinos, chai, and mochas). But try something bolder, such as its innovative riffs on the classics, like the “Maple Maine Sunday” (cold brew infused with maple syrup and topped with maple cold foam) or the salted caramel shaken espresso.
“Trying out new things is so much fun for me,” explained owner and operator McKenzie Landry. “The best feeling is being able to convert a non-coffee drinker to a coffee lover.”
Never fear, however, if conversion is not part of your journey; the Mobile Mug also makes stellar hibiscus lemonade and delightfully nostalgic orange creamsicle soda. And of course, you’ll need something to nosh on while you sip your beverage of choice. The Mobile Mug, based out of Abbot, is one of a handful of places in the tri-county area that makes its own bagels in flavors such as plain, asiago, and everything, though weekly special flavors pop up on occasion.
Although Bishop’s Dine & Dash in Dover-Foxcroft is a relative newcomer to the mobile food scene, this bright red trailer is already a local favorite thanks to its beloved Reuben sandwiches, made-from-scratch beef empanadas, and homemade dipping sauces (try the maple bacon jam on a burger).
Owner and operator Jennifer Bishop was inspired to open Dine & Dash by her parents’ experience in the hospitality industry.
“What brings me the most joy about having the food truck is that unlike a restaurant where you’re behind the scenes, here I get to interact with my customers and get to know them,” she said.
Lunch and early evenings see the picnic tables out front filled with families, so if you want to snag a seat, avoid those peak times.
“It’s not just a food truck,” Bishop said. “It’s become a gathering place where people hang out, make friends, listen to music, and eat great food.”
Finally, while dessert is often an afterthought at food trucks, that is not the case at Bishop’s, where attention must be paid — and room in the stomach reserved — for the deep-fried apple fritters with salted caramel sauce and French vanilla ice cream.