Residents of a quiet downtown block were treated to an unusual grand opening this morning when a towering antlered figure wearing a chef’s hat began serving grilled meat from a brand-new food truck parked near the curb.
The vendor, identifying himself only as “Chef Wendigo,” began cooking shortly after sunrise, drawing an immediate line of curious customers intrigued by the smoky aroma and the truck’s slogan: “Locally Sourced. Extremely Fresh.”
Witnesses report the chef appeared friendly, though slightly unsettling.
“He was polite,” said one customer who asked to remain anonymous. “But when he smiled, there were… a lot more teeth than I expected from a small business owner.”
Things took a strange turn when two local officers stopped by after receiving complaints about “unusual growling noises” and a sign on the menu board that simply read “MEAT — ASK NO QUESTIONS.”
According to officials, the chef insisted his ingredients were “ethically harvested from the forest,” though he declined to elaborate further.
“He kept saying it was free-range,” one officer said. “Which, technically, could mean a lot of things.”
Health inspectors have reportedly taken samples from the grill for testing after several customers noted the meat had a “distinctly gamey flavor” that one diner described as “kind of like venison… but with existential dread.”
Despite the investigation, the food truck has already developed a loyal following.
“Honestly it’s the best barbecue I’ve had in years,” said one patron while nervously checking the nearby woods. “Whatever it is, it’s tender.”
Local authorities say the truck will remain open during the investigation as long as no laws are technically being broken.
Meanwhile the chef has added a promotional message on the side of the truck:
“Come try the special before it tries you.”
Officials have also issued a small advisory reminding residents to travel in groups after dark, avoid wandering too far into nearby forests, and “please stop asking the chef where the meat comes from.”
At press time, the Wendigo food truck was reportedly sold out for the day.
Police have not confirmed whether the missing hikers reported earlier this week are related to the incident.
But investigators say they are “looking into it.”
