Since I moved to Portland eight years ago, I have mostly gotten used to the thrill of living by the ocean. A native Midwesterner, I was amazed at first by the way the fog smells like salt and wondered at how no one else seemed to stop mid-run on the Eastern Trail to take 10 pictures of the view. I even loved the seagulls that frequent downtown, a fact that made my New England-born husband laugh. Those sights, smells and sounds now feel like familiar friends.
But one spot that continues to give me a little thrill is the Portland Head Light at Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth. I love to see the iconic lighthouse, the rocky beach, the expanse of open ocean. I have visited in all seasons and weather, taking in the massive storms and the perfect blue skies. It is the kind of place that makes me think, “Could this even get any better?”
As it turns out, the answer was yes.
A new food truck called Pie-Oh-My has set up in the park this summer, and it is the addition I did not know I needed to this favorite spot. On a recent visit, the converted 1977 Dodge ambulance was parked in the lot near the beach. It was a hot day when I would usually prefer a cool treat, but the promise of ice cream on top piqued my curiosity.
I waffled over the menu but ultimately chose a piece of strawberry-rhubarb pie, and my husband ordered key lime. We ate on the nearby beach, and my first bite was as close to the taste of summer as I could possibly imagine. The crust was buttery. The fruit was both sharp and sweet. The ice cream was melting fast but not as fast as I was eating it. The sky was blue, and the water was cold, and we dipped our feet in the surf before we went home.
I thought, “Really, could this even get any better?”
And then I saw a woman picking up four pies for a takeout order ($29.50 each with preorder highly recommended). Never say never, I guess.
Strawberry-rhubarb pie, $5 plus $2 for the scoop of vanilla, Pie-Oh-My! food truck, Fort Williams, Cape Elizabeth. @pieohmymaine on Instagram.
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