More often than not these days, executives and other office workers find they're too busy to leave the office for lunch. Rather than going without lunch or gobbling down fast food, the Apple Spice Junction, 35 W. 300 North, will deliver a box lunch to the office.
Established six years ago in Salt Lake City by Randy Clegg and Larry Thompson, the Apple Spice Junction opened its doors in Provo six weeks ago. In that time, the business community has discovered the convenience of having a lunchtime catering service in the area, according to Richard Blanco, manager of the Provo outlet."We have a dual focus. The first one is servicing people caught in the office and the other is our catering service for large meetings and company parties," Blanco said.
One important feature of the Apple Spice Junction is the homemade food. All the bread, pastas, salads, soups and other items are made from scratch or cooked on the premises daily.
"Our breads are homemade and have no additives or preservatives," Clegg said, adding that the company feels strongly about being in Utah County. "We really tried to put together something that would help people have a good lunch in the office that's cost effective and nutritious."
The box lunches feature a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, microwave entrees and desserts. For instance, the large executive box lunch offers a choice of one of 14 sandwiches, choice of salad, cucumber slices, carrot sticks, mushrooms and olives with a vegetable dip, cheesecake and an after dinner mint, delivered to the office for $5.95.
Blanco and Clegg agree that summer is the slowest time of year. But, come the cold days of winter, they say the delivery cars will be busy, most likely delivering homemade soups and chili.
The service also fills large orders. In a week's time, Blanco said, the company has catered to board meetings of 20 or 30 people, to large groups of 750 and to a company barbecue of more than 3,000.
Items from the catering menu include the country style picnic for $5.95 per person, which offers barbecue beef on homemade sourdough rolls, pasta or potato salad, chips, fresh fruit and a dessert.
They also have soup and salad bars, potato bars, South of the Border taco and fajita bars and also hot buffet items such as sirloin tips, prime rib, chicken cordon bleu and baked Alaskan halibut.
Plates, napkins and cutlery are supplied. For special occasions, Apple Spice offers china, glassware and linens for an additional cost.
Catering orders should be called in at least two days ahead, whereas box-lunch orders may be called the day of delivery. Some breakfast menu items are also available. To guarantee delivery time, box-lunch orders should be called in or faxed by 10 a.m.