Truckies, get ready – another restaurant on wheels is set to drive onto the St. Louis scene. Le Camion Bistro, literally “The Bistro Truck” in French, will debut Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Washington University and will highlight a wide range of international cuisine, as reported by Feast Magazine.
Originally a certified public accountant, Brundage decided to pursue a new direction after retirement. Encouraged by friends wowed by his dinner party dishes, Brundage opened a small catering company in 2012 before deciding to take his show on the road. “A truck is smaller and less complicated than a restaurant,” he said. “Rather than jump into an overwhelming situation, I thought I’d take my lumps and start smaller in the truck.”
Despite its French name, Brundage doesn’t limit Le Camion Bistro to a particular style of cuisine. Brundage’s far-reaching menu was inspired by his exploration of different cuisines, as well as the many places he has lived around the U.S. “My food comes from a lot of different areas. I take classical dishes from all over like Argentina, France, even the Middle East, and make them my own,” he said. “I’ve been around the block … I’ve been exposed to a whole bunch of cuisines and eaten all sorts of food.”
Look for those influences in menu items like arepas topped with pork or chicken and avocado, bourbon-braised beef brisket and paninis filled with roast beef and peppers, roast chicken and fig jam or roast chicken with tomato and mozzarella.
Le Camion is set to roam the streets of St. Louis, hitting up spots like Washington University, Wells Fargo and Citygarden. Brundage anticipates that Le Camion will reach St. Louis County once he obtains the permit.
This article appears in September 2014.