Keep on truckin'

You’ll be able to enjoy a lot more than the world-famous doughnuts at Congdon’s Doughnuts Family Restaurant & Bakery in Wells this summer. It’s the second year for Congdon’s After Dark, New England’s first food truck park, which opens up for the season on Thursday, May 24. This year, they have even more trucks, more parking and the addition of alcohol service in a casual beer garden with local Maine brews, wine and mixed drinks as well as entertainment all summer long like live music and classic car shows.

Here’s a little guide to some of the highlights. Hang out all summer long and try everything!

Doughnut beer

The outdoor bar includes wine and cocktails, but also Maine beers, including one from Saco’s Barreled Souls Brewing made with Congdon’s doughnuts (Honey-Dipped Blonde Ale and Maple Bacon Fritter Stout), with a little doughnut hole garnish. Do you dip it in the beer? Let it fall to the bottom? Try it both ways.

It’s open late

The park will be open as late as 2 a.m., also known as way past my bedtime, but open late enough for people in the restaurant industry to be able to come and get a bite to eat and a drink.

Come right from the beach

Sandy from the beach? Just wearing shorts, flip-flops and a tank top? No problem! That’s one of the great things about food trucks, you never have to dress up. Although it would be fun to have a deluxe fancy night as one of the themes. Same food trucks, but you get to dress up. Otherwise, come as you are.

Bring the dog

Bring your favorite furry friend or borrow one from a pal. Dogs are welcome in the beer garden and at the food truck park where they’re sure to get some great snacks that happen to fall to the earth. No word on whether well-behaved parrots like my Yellow-naped Amazon, Gilligan, can come (follow her on Facebook at Gilligan the Parrot).

Bring the car, or don’t

There’s plenty of free parking or you can take the trolley because there’s a trolley stop right at Congdon’s. It goes through Wells and Ogunquit. On classic car theme nights you can, of course, bring your old car. We’d bring our 1960 Corvair if we thought it would go more than 10 miles without breaking down!

Variety is nice

OK, now for the food. There will be up to 10 food trucks a night in a rotating schedule drawing from (currently) 14 different trucks. Here are the trucks currently on the schedule with my pick for what to order. As a big food truck fan, I’ve tried just about all of them.

Hoss & Mary’s

The former Old Orchard Beach mainstay was featured on Food Network for its creative, outlandish burgers and recently returned to Maine after running a food truck in Florida. You’ll definitely get a burger here like the pizza version with marinara, grilled onions, peppers, salami, mushrooms and provolone.

Congdon’s Doughnuts

Get late-night warm doughnuts as the shop will also have its own truck that will serve fresh doughnuts later in the evening, featuring traditional, time-tested flavors that date back to Congdon’s founding in 1955. Their world famous doughnuts have been lauded by the Phantom Gourmet, Food Network and was deemed one of "America's Best Doughnuts" by Food & Wine Magazine and Saveur Magazine.

Tasting Maine (North Berwick, Maine)

Get classic Maine seafood dishes including huge lobster rolls and fried clams. They do a lobster grilled cheese that’s so decadent and delicious.

What-A-Wrap (Kennebunk, Maine)

You’ll certainly want a wrap like one I had a few years ago, The Irish, with corned beef hash, fried eggs, Swiss cheese and Hollandaise sauce. The Reuben is great, too.

Big Grampa’s Grill (Wells, Maine)

Old-school fair food can be had here like fries, mac ‘n’ cheese and excellent fried dough with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

Knew Potato Caboose (Nottingham, N.H.)

It’s all about the spuds at this Grateful Dead inspired food truck. Try the Wavy Gravy fries, their version of poutine with gravy, cheddar curds, bacon and scallions or Little Red Rooster with grilled chicken and BBQ sauce.

Gorgeous Gelato (Portland, Maine)

Find tasty gelato flavors like my favorite, pistachio, a more traditional flavor or something more exotic like mokaccino or sea salt caramel.

Farm-to-Coast Mobile Kitchen (Portland, Maine)

The menu changes frequently depending on the season and what’s available, but I’ve had some tasty steamed buns with kimchi and Gochujang aioli and a pork belly banh mi.

El Camino Fresh Mexican Grill (East Waterboro, Maine)

Find excellent nachos and quesadillas here, including one with steak, onions and gooey cheese.

Chef Koz’s Crescent City Kitchen (Farmington, N.H.)

I’ve known chef Koz Kozlowski for well over a decade from his Crescent City Bistro in Dover days. Now, he brings that food back in this sleek, shiny food truck. Try the shrimp and crabmeat gumbo or vegan vegetable jambalaya.

The Truffle Truck (Portland, Maine)

Get organic ingredients from Maine and Italy in Italian dishes all with some element of truffle. Dishes include carbonara with Maine lobster and truffle or potato stuffed agnolotti and truffle. Get truffle shaved over any dish you like.

Falafel Mafia (Portland, Maine)

The falafel pitas here are vegan with tasty combinations like The Wiseguy with ginger-carrot puree, pickled beets, quinoa and cabbage with a peach sauce.

Fishin’ Ships (Portland, Maine)

Find twists on fish ‘n’ chips like haddock and bacon croquettes, a fish cake with whipped Maine potatoes and roasted red pepper sauce or The High Thai’d, fish with a basil, ginger and chili batter and Thai mayo.

Arundel Ice Cream (Arundel, Maine)

So good. I love their ice cream with flavors like pecan banana bread but they also have vibrantly flavored vegan sorbet like one with strawberry and lime or one made of lemon and served in the peel.

Go back all summer long!

About Congdon’s After Dark

Open in the evenings, from 4 p.m. to as late as 2 a.m., beginning Thursday, May 24th. The park will be open Thursday to Sunday until late June, then open daily for the summer.

For more information, go to cadfoodtrucks.com.

The Dish

Thursday, May 24, 2018 is the official start of summer in the Seacoast region of Portsmouth with the annual Hit The Decks celebration. The city is throwing open all its decks and doors to welcome residents and visitors to come dine and drink outside on the city’s picturesque decks, stroll into neighborhood shops, check into charming hotels, inns and grand resorts, and experience all that Portsmouth and the Seacoast has to offer with its blend of historic charm, maritime activities and contemporary services and style.

Go to www.goportsmouthnh.com for a complete list of Hit The Decks sponsors and specials in local restaurants, shops, attractions, hotels, inns, resorts, and get to the Hit The Decks Kick-Off Headquarters Party on Thursday, May 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. on the Portsmouth Gas Light outdoor deck at 64 Market St., Portsmouth. VIP Guests are the crews of the USS New Hampshire and the LCS-14 (soon to be christened the USS Manchester).

Rachel Forrest is a former restaurant owner who lives in Austin, TX. Her column appears Thursdays in Food and Drink. She can be reached by e-mail at rforrest@gatehousemedia.com.