PORT CLYDE — Michael Mastronardi, owner of North Beacon Oyster in Rockland, launched a new food truck this month featuring high-quality beef burgers and hot dogs as its stars.

Named QP Burger, the new business features quarter-pound smash burgers with all-natural chuck from Pineland Farms and red snapper hotdogs from W.A. Bean & Sons. The burgers and dogs concept is "Build your own" with a variety of handmade toppings and chili.

As for the name, Mastronardi said, "I knew I wanted to have my patties weigh four ounces [a quarter pound] and the world we live in is abbreviating things more and more; i.e., Dunkin, DQ, BK, et cetera, so I just thought it was a quick, memorable name."

While Maine seafood, especially locally harvested oysters, is the focus of North Beacon Oyster, Mastronardi said the fast-casual appeal of operating QP Burger made sense. "I've always loved hot dogs, and I saw a few places out of New York doing these ridiculously tasty-looking cheeseburgers," he said. "The concept from the beginning was simplicity.  I wanted to make this model fun and easy to duplicate when the time is right."

With his business partner and co-owner Eric Buxton running the daily operations at North Beacon Oyster, Mastronardi has taken a step back from the formal restaurant business and now has more time to focus on the small food truck.

As a trained chef, his standards remain consistent when it comes to using high-quality ingredients.

"QP Burger is fortunate to have a few Maine partners," he said. "Our all-natural ground beef comes from Pineland Farms. Our hot dogs come from W.A. Bean & Sons. Our mustard comes from Raye's Mustard. Our sauerkraut comes from Morse's, and our relish comes from Flo's.  It's really cool to have a hot dog, our Ultimate, that is 98 percent made in Maine. "

Asked what people should try on the menu first, he replied: "I always suggest people try The QP Burger first. Smashing the onions into the beef and having them melt and cook into the beef fat when you flip the patty is about as good of a taste and smell sensation as I've experienced. The sharpness from the pickles, the mild heat from the jalapenos, and the crunch from the crispy fried onion bits all work together really well.  It's funny to say that I researched different burgers for months, and The QP Burger is what I came up with."

The food truck is at Ocean View Grand, No. 63, Port Clyde. Its hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information visit: QP Burger

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com