Like many of the busy denizens of Hydaelyn, I often find myself craving a delicious meal with neither the time nor ability to settle into a comfortable tavern. Thankfully (for all of us) I recently spoke with Lily Laminae, the owner and founder of Lil’ Lunches; this boxed lunch boutique is built on the idea that fantastic food can be as portable as it is palatable.
According to Lily, her passion comes from her mother, the resident cook on a small farm. Meals like shepherd’s pie served as a comforting gift to exhausted bodies tired from tilling. After losing her home to the Calamity, like so many others, she carried that spirit of food as a gift through constant travel. From Ishgard to Kugane, she learned from every chef she could find at the taverns and pubs where she’d find work as a barmaid. Lily picked up plenty of tricks, like how a Limsan steward would filet a fish or a Doman cook would use bamboo towers to steam their catch. The result was a talent for meal preparation supplementing her desire to bring people joy with her creations. So often did friends tell her that her meals could be sold that she eventually decided to believe them; Lil’ Lunches was born.
The storefront which serves as the heart of the business beats near the beaches of the Mists. Guests are greeted by friendly staff upon entry, ready to walk you through the daily offerings and take an order; Lily admits that it would be easier to make boxes ready ahead of time, but all of their lunches are made to order as to prevent waste.
Beyond the counter is a spacious kitchen designed with a series of stations laid out to put together a lunch box piece by piece. Fresh ingredients are cut, washed and mixed in one, cooked in the next and finally boxed at the end. Each team of cooks fills their role and sets up the next, their easy banter making it feel more like a family kitchen than a restaurant. Today, I’m watching them create a specially ordered stew for Ishgardian knights. The Grand Companies make for great clients; Lily’s meals are known to boost morale and energy on lengthy exercises. After my own lunch, it’s easy to see why they favor them.
I’m treated to a fresh sushi box, mixing the haul of Limsan fleets with the skill of Doman preparation, a style Lily reluctantly admits a soft spot for. The selection is vibrant in color and tastes fresh from the sea, layered with various vegetables for a mix of flavorings. And as with all of the options, it comes in perfectly portable packaging, meaning that this lunch could come with me to the beach below, or my room at an inn, or even on my next ship.
As a frequent traveler, I found myself highly appreciative of the work Lil’ Lunches stives to do. So often do I, or others like me, think while stuck on a ship or a carriage how much we look forward to the meal at our destination. Thanks to Lily Laminae and her growing business, it’s quite possible for us to look forward to one on the journey as well.
