Small Bites: Fresh Lunch debuts new downtown delivery service

ON THE MOVE: Malena and Pablo Gomez recently opened Fresh Lunch, a delivery-only service that brings handmade sandwiches, wraps and salads to the downtown area. Photo by Pat Barcas

Fresh Lunch

Having lunch delivered to the office is a fairly regular occurrence for many downtown workers. And with their new delivery-only business, Fresh Lunch, Pablo and Malena Gomez are hoping to tap into that market for freshly made, convenient fare.

Open only a couple of weeks, Fresh Lunch features a simple but varied menu of eight different combinations, which all can be ordered as either a sandwich, a wrap or a salad. Originally from the European melting pot of Argentina, the couple drew from the diverse culinary influences of their upbringings to produce a menu that sparkles with combinations such as prosciutto-mozzarella or brie-green apple with arugula, honey and balsamic vinegar.

They also offer classics like house-made chicken and tuna salad, roasted turkey and shaved roast beef. The sandwiches are served on handmade bread that Malena bakes each morning from a recipe handed down from her grandmother, a native of Italy. All menu items come with chips and a drink, and prices are between $7.59-$9.89 for each combo. Delivery is always free, and there is no minimum order.

The couple are keeping overhead low by renting kitchen space at the Days Inn on Tunnel Road, where Maleta also works. For the time being, since Pablo is the only delivery person, they are only serving the downtown and Tunnel Road areas, although they do have plans to expand soon to other nearby locations.

But Fresh Lunch’s modest size is an asset to customers. “We are very small, so we don’t just buy a lot of stuff and keep it in the fridge forever,” says Pablo, who is currently transitioning away from his job as general manager at Luella’s Bar-B-Que to focus on his own business. “We buy our ingredients every day, which is how we came up with the name Fresh Lunch.”

Fresh Lunch takes orders 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. To order, call 423-9165. For details and to view the menu, visit freshlunchasheville.com.

Standard Pizza

West Asheville’s Standard Pizza will soon open a new location at 755 Biltmore Ave. in the space previously occupied by City Mac. The property is next to Appalachian Vintner and Hi-Wire Brewing’s new production facility. Owner Jim Coleman says city permitting and scheduling with contractors are still in the early stages, so the store won’t be ready to launch until late summer or early fall. Look for more details soon.

Beer City Cup soccer tournament

Registration opens June 1 for the 2015 Beer City Cup soccer tournament. Sponsored by Oskar Blues, Pisgah Brewing, Asheville Brewing Co., Catawba Brewing Co., French Broad Brewery, Hi-Wire Brewing Co. and Green Man Brewing, the largest independent adult soccer competition in the U.S. will expand this year to include 84 teams from across the U.S. and Canada competing in eight divisions. The entry fee is $450 in June, increasing to $550 in July. The tournament will take place Sept. 5-6 in Asheville. Last year’s event sold out, so buy tickets early.

To register and for ticket information, visit beercitycup.com.

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