The Lunch Room goes hog-wild with food prep equipment. Our new stand mixer and food processor will revolutionize our ability to make great vegan food.
Anita and Joel open the 5-quart stand mixer.
In all it’s glory…
LOVE
Anita and Joel exhibit the 12-cup food processor and attachments.
Better than Christmas!
We passed with flying colors. Nothing to correct. Many thanks to the entire crew that worked on the cart!
Joel gives a victory grin in the parking lot of the Washtenaw County Service Center on Zeeb Rd.
Our name and license plate taped in the back window make us very official.
The cart made it home and landed in Joel’s yard. Notice the beautiful panels painted by Marcy Davy.
The cart is ready for action, hopefully in about a week and a half. Stay tuned for the opening date!
Today is the big day: food cart inspection by the Health Department.
So far we’re batting 1000, though we haven’t had the actual inspection yet. Here is our day so far.
Step 1: attach the cart to the van. Check. Step 2: check the brake lights and blinkers. Check. Step 3: drive slowly to the truck stop on Baker Rd. at I-94. Check. Step 4: weigh in. 2,300 pounds! Step 5: slowly drive the rig to Zeeb Road and leave it in the Washtenaw County parking lot, ready for inspection later. Check. Step 6: get into Phillis’ little Toyota and go to Secretary of state for registration and license plate.
Check. Step 7: go to Food Co-op and get supplies for lunch, then head home. Check. Step 8: drive back out to Zeeb Rd for the inspection.
Wish us luck!
STARTING LINEUP
Breakfast:
Fruit & coconut-milk smoothie
Cherry-oatmeal breakfast cookies
Curry roasted potatoes
Lunch and dinner:
Summer rolls with spicy peanut sauce
Barbeque tofu sandwich
Kids meal:
Peanut butter & jelly sandwich • Applesauce • Carrot sticks • Chocolate chip dinosaur cookie
Salads and sides:
Baguette slices with olive tapenade
Tangy slaw
Goodies:
Chocolate, cashew-cream truffles
Blackstrap molasses gingersnaps
Chocolate chip cookies
Beverages:
La Croix sparkling water
Hansen’s Soda
UPCOMING MENU ITEMS
Breakfast:
Apple-cherry coffee cake
Homemade bagel with savory spread
Fruit salad with toasted coconut
Lunch and dinner:
Curry-potato wrap
Barbeque seitan with rice and broccoli
Twice-baked potatoes
Hummous with veggies on multigrain roll
Tempeh and rice with wild mushroom gravy
Sides:
Tortilla chips with pico de gallo
Veggie kabobs
Sundried tomato-artichoke focaccia
Goodies:
Raspberry oatmeal bars
Spicy chocolate snickerdoodle cookies
Orange carrot chewy spice cookies
Lemon bars
Apple cake
Ooh-la-las (vegan oreos)
Gingerbread cupcakes
We have now produced t-shirts, buttons, magnets, cookie cards, and sandwich cards: rewards for donors to our Kickstarter campaign. The t-shirts, buttons & magnets will also be for sale at the food cart.
Sorry, no cat shirts.
About 70 people redeemed their Kickstarter rewards today by attending The Lunch Room’s food cart preview/food-tasting party. Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate with us, and especially to our magnificent helpers: Anita Sherman-Moran, Bill Shea, Deb & Jim Panozzo, Ellen Fischer, Monica Asis, Celibeth Donnelly, Andy Sell, and Jae Gerhart. Joel and Phillis were proud to show off their extremely beautiful food cart and delicious food.
Check out our rooftop sign, decked out in lights!
Yummm… sesame tea cookies.
Kyle and Ryan created a festive atmosphere with their jazz standards.
Michelle, Simone and Charles peek out through the concession window.
Mama Panozzo, bartender extraordinaire.
Joel with Leah & Scott’s super-cute baby!
Phillis and Jae don’t let the cold drizzle ruin their party spirit.
Ryan, Freida and Kyle.
The Lunch Room is grateful to all of its wonderful supporters. We can’t wait to see you at the cart!
Yesterday we had a long workday at the food cart. Despite the disappointment over continued chilly, mostly gray weather, an enthusiastic crew covered much of the interior with FRP (fiberglass reinforced panels) aka Marlite aka bumpy board, and installed the most kickass service windows ever invented. We are greatly indebted to our fantastic volunteer builders!
FRP team 1: Joel and Amanda
FRP team 2: Jim and Anita
Jeff, construction manager (left), confers with Harvey on important matters of the day.
John poses with the beautiful cabinet he made for the food cart. Thanks John!
Christina and Leah install FRP on the ceiling.
Phillis installs and stains the trim.
Leah puts FRP on the window well.
Phillis and Joel pose in front of their work-in-progress.
The first window, looking good, after Andy installs it.
The non-window side, almost done. Note the beautiful lunch-tray-painted panel. Thanks Marcy!
Rock stars: Jim (aka Papa Panozzo), Amanda, Joel, Leah, and Andy. Note that both windows have been installed!
Phillis joins the rock stars and Mulugeta peeks out through the window.
CART COMPLETION SLATED FOR THIS WEEK! Next up: one more wall of FRP, installing the equipment and plumbing, and mounting those cute letters on the roof.
Yesterday the food cart took a huge leap forward. Through intermittent sun, clouds, rain, snow, warmth and cold winds, the brave crew finished the wiring, installed roofing material, put on the door, sawed and hammered into place interior plywood walls, painted the letters, and made a step for the door. WOW!
Joel and Jeri celebrate atop their newly built door step.
Jeff supervises the roof crew.
Harvey, the roof crew.
Joel visits with neighbors Sarah and Tejas.
Bill and Jeff confer on wiring issues.
Our cart has one of these! Much thanks to Dan Freidus for heading up our electrical team.
Charles and Simone put in a full day’s work.
So did their dad, Patrick.
Simone, Michelle, Charles, and Patrick: the family is ready to serve delicious vegan food.
Phillis experiences interesting fumes while applying adhesive to the roofing material. The operation moved into the garage when the rain and snow began.
a little perspective…
our door!
Joel prepares to paint the underside of the roof overhang.
Those letters are so cute!
NEXT WORKDAY: SATURDAY APRIL 9TH
