Food+Drink

Pig Out: River Pig BBQ’s rotating menu keeps things fresh, experimental and delicious

Emilee Wentland, photos by Emilee Wentland |

BIG TRUCK, BIG TASTE. River Pig BBQ is a new food truck from chef and operator Josh Steinmetz. Standard menu items include loaded tots, nachos, tacos, and brisket.
BIG TRUCK, BIG TASTE. River Pig BBQ is a new food truck from chef and operator Josh Steinmetz. Standard menu items include loaded tots, nachos, tacos, and brisket.

River Pig BBQ food truck may be just a few weeks old, but chef and operator Josh Steinmetz is already changing up the menu.

“That is one of the great things about being a food truck – nothing is set in stone,” Steinmetz said. “I choose my menus by thinking what I would like to eat that week and what can’t be found around here.”

“That is one of the great things about being a food truck – nothing is set in stone. I choose my menus by thinking what I would like to eat that week and what can’t be found around here.” – Josh Steinmetz, River Pig BBQ

While River Pig has some standard menu items – such as loaded tots, nachos, a “River Pig sammy” made with chicken or pork, tacos, and brisket – the chef has experimented with some other dishes and themes. These generous portions are loaded. Most menu items have a surplus of toppings (think sauces, onions, peppers, and cheese) or items on the side (because what’s an entree without some potatoes?).

The menu “can change on a whim,” Steinmetz said, so no two days spent eating at the food truck will be the same.

“My favorite part of operating the truck is being able to be creative with the menu and the dishes,” he said. “It is fun to try new things and keep things fresh while also preparing delicious food.”

Standard barbecue options aside, Steinmetz came up with some unique variations to the menu. Once, he even had a “grilled cheese day,” where all the menu items for the day were different kinds of grilled cheese. One week, he subbed Indian cuisine for the usual barbecue fare.

The food truck’s ever-changing menu is what sets it apart from the others around Eau Claire, Steinmetz said.

He enjoys his time in the kitchen and often finds himself crafting new dishes, which ultimately led to him opening River Pig. “My inventory is minimal,” the chef said, “which allows me to be adventurous.”

Ultimately, the chef hopes River Pig evolves into an Eau Claire staple – something people are willing to go out of their way to visit. As for those who’ve already eaten at the barbecue joint on wheels, he has a different wish. “For those who have had the food,” Steinmetz said, “I want it to remind them of the time or place where they first had that yummy goodness.”

If the thought of barbecue on wheels has you squealin’, follow River Pig BBQ on Facebook to find out where they’ll be dishing up some grub next. Most often, the truck is parked outside The Brewing Projekt, 1807 N. Oxford Ave.