Food & Dining 
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sketches from chefs of plates
sketches from chefs of plates
Renee Rhoads in her food truck outside Austin Street Brewery in Portland on July 17. Rhoads taught in Yarmouth before starting Mashed, her own mashed potato business. Staff photo by Gregory Rec
Rhoads places an order of mashed potatoes with curry chicken, plus a mango, cucumber and cilantro mini salad, on a table outside her food camper parked at Austin Street Brewery in Portland. She originally planned to serve only gluten-free and dairy-free food, but her son called it a "horrible" idea. Staff photo by Gregory Rec
Rhoads scoops mashed potatoes into a bowl amid the half-dozen crockpots she uses in her trailer. She is developing new recipes, including chicken mole; cioppino; and potato pancakes with Maine-smoked fish, dill crème fraîche and capers.
Rhoads places a pinwheel on the back of her 1972 Shasta Compact camper, affectionately dubbed Spud, while setting up outside Austin Street Brewery in Portland.
Curry with chicken and a mango, cucumber and cilantro mini salad, made by Rhoads in her food camper. Rhoads says she misses her students, but she has no regrets about beginning her business. She's now making plans to winterize her trailer.
Barbecue pork with slaw, pickles and corn bread in a nest of mashed potatoes from the Mashed food truck. Rhoads' other toppings include dishes such as shepherd's pie and chicken curry.
Rhoads prepares her mashed potato dishes from her food camper. She sought advice on her venture from Jenna Friedman, co-owner of the CN Shawarma food truck and the Bayside restaurant Baharat. Staff photo by Gregory Rec
Customer Ben Corriveaux places an order at Mashed. A small metal table outside the trailer holds napkins, forks, business cards, a bouquet of fresh flowers, a big bottle of hot sauce, and Rhoads' potato kitsch, which includes potato-shaped salt and pepper shakers. Staff photo by Gregory Rec
Rhoads says a lot of people take photos and comment on this sticker on the side of her camper. "I am a tiny potato and I believe in you," it reads. "You can do the thing." Staff photo by Gregory Rec
