I wasn’t even hungry when I started talking to Beth Bond, the executive chef at The Lunch Box and Custom Catering, after the family operation at 1503 Argillite Road (across from Faith Christian Assembly) had wrapped up its first day of business last week.
I was wiping my chin, however, by the time she had described a few of her entrees and started telling me about one of her signature desserts. My notes literally trailed off into a blur as I tried to follow her description of “Beth’s Apple Delight” — although there is something in the notebook about deep-fried cinnamon rolls and caramel.
Bond, who is a certified chef from Sullivan University’s Culinary Arts School in Louisville, said she and her family moved back to the area for the sole purpose of opening the restaurant.
Their menu is based on things they would like to eat at other restaurants, but didn’t find on other menus, Bond said. Everything they serve is homemade, she emphasized, listing a selection of menu items including fresh-cut fries and potato chips, sausage gravy and biscuits every morning, pancakes and muffins, hand-battered catfish and cod, cheesesteak sandwiches made in authentic Philadelphia style, deep-fried pickles and a selection of handcrafted chicken-wing sauces including teriyaki, Thai, Buffalo, hot and spicy.
Bond, a 1995 Russell High School graduate who is quick to say “once a Devil — always a Devil,” said she is working alongside her parents, Hank Bond, also a graduate of Russell, and Marilyn Bond. Hank will be the man responsible for cooking the roasts, pulled pork and rib specials at The Lunch Box, she said.
She also seemed quite confident in her dad’s ability to cook ribs for their Saturday special. Her mother, whose own cooking has earned awards and recognition, will serve as business manager as well as assisting with food preparation and menu expansion. Mom’s Chili Dog is another of their specialties, Bond said.
“We truly believe we will have something for everyone,” Bond said. “Our menu is unique and everything will be homemade — something that is rare in restaurants today. No processed food. It is all us.”
Bond said they don’t actually catch their own fish or make their own hot dogs, but otherwise they do make all of their food from scratch.
The Lunch Box and Custom Catering will be open from
6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Orders can be placed online at order@thelunchbox.com, or call (606) 834-1110 for more information.
A good stop in Grayson
Someone recently advised there are new owners and staff at the former Randy’s Roadside along U.S. 60 near downtown Grayson, so I stopped in after a recent city meeting to check it out. I was pleased to find they still have a selection of blue-flavored sodas, and quickly snagged a bottle of Frostie and a Nehi.
The place is now called Bluegrass Roadside, according to the nice ladies on duty that evening, and is owned by John Brammer and Tom Carper. The roadside restaurant continues to offer the “world famous hot dogs” using the sauce recipe that has made their dogs a top choice for many years.
They also have the “Giant Burger,” which the gals estimated to include a half-pound of ground beef. They’re also preparing meat trays for events, and developing daily specials as well as adding menu items including homemade vegetable soup, soup beans and pizza rolls.
I snagged a carry-out menu and was surprised at the number of items available for $1.99 to $2.99, and couldn’t find anything on there priced above $4.99 (the price for daily specials including country steak, pork chops, turkey and dressing, meatloaf, open-faced roast beef, lasagna and more — each with a choice of two hot side dishes).
Everything on the breakfast menu costs less than $3, which will get you two eggs, four pieces of bacon and a choice of biscuit or toast.
Bluegrass Roadside is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information or to place an order, call (606) 474-6455.
Out of juice
If you had to swerve around a disabled out-of-gas SUV near the traffic signal at the bottom of the hill near Walmart in Ashland last week, I was the idiot inside. I knew I was low on fuel, but figured I had just enough to get up the hill for a Chick-fil-A sandwich and get back to a convenience store.
I was wrong, but at least I was stuck on the roadside with a hot, fresh and tasty chicken sandwich.
With my vantage point half-in and half-out of U.S. 23, it was an interesting experience — complete with the spectacle of an elderly lady flat-hand slapping the tar out of the man driving the car after he made an abrupt (and dangerous) move from the outside lane to the turn lane.
While awaiting rescue in the form of Kenneth Hart with a can of gas, I noticed a definite lack of good Samaritans — until an employee from Chick-fil-A slowed down and asked if I needed assistance, followed shortly by one of the restaurant’s owners in the distinctive cow-spotted truck, just before Mr. Hart arrived to save the day. While there wasn’t much either could have done to help, I really appreciated their efforts to at least check on the stranded motorist.
And, for a couple of kids who grew up in the country, Hart and I didn’t do such a great job getting the gas into the vehicle. Without admitting to any kind of hazardous-material spill, I’m guessing we lost almost as much gasoline as we got into the tank. But, it was enough to get the gas guzzler out of traffic and back to a proper pump.
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.
