And you know what? I couldn’t be happier. You see, every Thursday since the dawn of our new Lunch Box food truck, I’ve ordered the Philly Cheesesteak for lunch (with the occasional Bahn Mi here or there too). Is it healthy? No. Does it sometimes make me want to take a nap in the afternoon at my desk? Probably. Do I care about either of those things? Most certainly not.
I understand many a Philadelphian might balk at my love for The Lunch Box Cheesesteak, but I think it’s one of the best cheesesteaks around. Interestingly enough, there are multiple places to grab cheesesteaks nearby: Castlerock Pub and Paradise Provisions immediately come to mind. And no offense to those meaty, cheesy delights, but the Lunch Box takes the cake (er, cheesesteak).
I think it’s the consistency that works so well for me. The bread is sturdy enough to not get soggy without being baked too long. The shaved ribeye is tender and shaved particularly finely for that almost melt in your mouth bite. The caramelized onions and peppers in between pieces of meat add an extra zing. But the coup de grace is easily the Vermont cheese fondue layered over the top. Don’t go for a jog right after eating this. A ski? Maybe. It’s everything I want. Plus, and let us not forget, that you can add garlic fries to any sandwich order, complete with garlic aioli. Will your significant other like you after this meal? Doubtful. But that’s a risk you need to be willing to take.
And if that’s not enough, you can basically get the breakfast variation of this deliciousness in the Steak n Egg Sandwich as a breakfast item. Throw on two fried eggs, garlic aioli, cheddar cheese, and shaved ribeye and you can start your food coma as early as 8:00 AM!
There’s a running joke in the office now about how excited I get for my weekly cheesesteak. I suppose during a pandemic it’s the little things that matter. Do I look more forward to my Thursday cheesesteak than picking up my kids from daycare? I don’t think I’ll answer that one publicly.
I shouldn’t undersell the rest of The Lunch Box offerings either. When I first learned this fall that we had purchased a food truck as a means of encouraging easy to grab, outdoor take-out, I was ecstatic. If there’s one thing I wish we saw more of in The Mad River Valley, it’s the food truck style quick grab food so common in cities. But The Lunch Box hosts a number of other great offerings. The Bahn Mi is a big favorite of many on the mountain. The Lamb Gyro, Vermonter, and Vermont Grilled Cheese are great too. Not to mention all the great breakfast offerings.
And finally, if you’re enjoying a drink in the Courtyard, The Lunch Box also has a nice assortment of Vermont beers. Easy to grab, rarely a line, and in full view of that spring sun.
So give the cheesesteak a go if you haven’t already. When you wake up from your food baby nap, come tell me thank you. Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s back to finishing mine for lunch…