By Tina Marie Macias| TheAdvertiser.com

A new food truck, Lil’ Chubs Grill, pulled into Lafayette and began serving up a different kind of burger this month — sliders on dinner rolls that range from a traditional 2-ounce burger to a Philly cheese steak slider — paired with fried pickles.

The truck is owned by brothers Richard and Randy Wilkerson, whose careers have included food service jobs. Most recently, Randy has been working for a helicopter company, and Richard as a truck driver. Richard operates the truck, and Randy manages the finances.

“Last year, on a cold day in Lafayette, I saw a food truck, Bon Repas,” Richard Wilkerson said. “I stopped and ate, and I knew right then and there I wanted to operate a food truck. But what do I cook? What is fast to make, something that I can be creative with, and something everyone wants? Burgers, but not just any burgers. Sliders.”

Bon Repas has since moved to Baton Rouge, but other trucks that have popped up around town in the past couple years. Some of the Wilkerson brothers’ competition includes Oh My Taco, Viva La Waffle and Taco Mama.

Richard Wilkerson first bought a truck in February. He spent months putting the business together prior to the opening on Sept. 1.

The Wilkerson brothers’ menu includes the classic slider, a swiss-onion-mushroom slider, a Philly cheese steak slider, and a grilled cheese sandwich that each cost $2 or $3, and fried pickles that cost $1.The menu could change with specials, including a Southwest slider.

“I am considering doing breakfasts in the future,” he said. He plans to have a Lent menu that would include shrimp with grits and seafood balls. “And during the cold weather, I’ll have my award-winning chili. And, you never know, I might sneak in my award-winning baby back ribs in here and there.”

Wilkerson and Team Lil’ Chubs has competed at several cook-offs and has won the third-place chili award in Church Point and a second-place award in Basile.

Lil’ Chubs is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays around Lafayette Parish. The truck’s location can be found by visiting Facebook.com/lilchubsgrill. Wilkerson hoped to open six days a week in the near future.

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