Last week I got to try The Roving Lunchbox – a new Boston food truck that had debuted this year.
The Roving Lunchbox specializes in a very unique food – hand pies!
This tasty pies come in savory and sweet variations, making them a filling lunchtime delight or a dessert depending on your mood.
A Bit About Truck Owner Melissa
Owner Melissa Lynch has a pretty amazing food trucker origin story.
After 18 years working in health software and project management, Melissa decided to launch a foodie career (despite no background)! Previously, Melissa had been a home cook before bringing her kitchen culinary skills to the public. Her friends raved and suggested culinary school, but Melissa was content with her job in software – that is, until the job was eliminated.
That’s what spurred Melissa to have her hand at opening her town food truck – and to great success!
Melissa is a really great example of what makes the food truck industry so awesome. Melissa didn’t have any previous experience in the food industry, but her entrepreneurial drive grabbed the wheel and demanded a truck!
Previously, it’d be pretty difficult (and financially dangerous) for Melissa to open a brick and mortar restaurant, as the upfront costs are tremendous and out-of-reach for most.
However, food trucks serve as a smart alternative, giving foodies the ability to set out on their own without going completely bankrupt (that’s not to say food trucks are cheap – but they certainly cost less than starting a restaurant).
Origins of the Hand Pie
Hand pies wasn’t Melissa’s first idea, but it was the most original and became the one that stuck. Melissa was introduced to hand pies by her British mother, who cooked Cornish pastries.
The Cornish pastries, nicknamed “pastys” have a very interesting back story – they used to be cooked and given to miners, who would take the warm pastiess and wrap them in a handkerchief and put them in their pockets. Come lunch time, the hand pies would still be nice and hot.
Melissa offers some classic hand pies, like the Cornish Pastry, as well as more adventurous options, like the Roasted Pork Cubano, the Truffle Mac n’ Cheese, or the sweet Lemon Curd Blueberry (see the whole menu here).
My Take On The Patsy
I got to try a few pasties myself (the Ruben and the Butternut Squash) and loved them – I imagine they’ll be especially popular with the cooler weather coming in.
What I really love about The Roving Lunchbox is the original concept – sandwich, pizza, and taco trucks are a dime a dozen, but hand pies? Those are a first for sure!
I’m so psyched to see what pies Melissa comes up with next – she told me she was looking forward to experimenting with different flavors and recipes (she had a Gobbler-style pie for a recent fall food truck festival). It’s always great to see trucks experimenting with their menu!
Another smart tip to take from The Roving Lunchbox is to predict what your audience will want to learn more about. Melissa knows that not many customers have previous experiences with handpies, which is why she explains what a hand pie is right on the truck, and on an accompanying sign:
I thought this was a really smart idea – definitely a smart move if your food offering needs a bit of an explanation!
In short – definitely don’t miss out on The Roving Lunchbox – try a hand pie!
Make sure to check out The Roving Lunchbox and follow them on Twitter for location updated!
Want to learn more about The Roving Luchbox? Check out our Q&A with owner Melissa Lynch!
For more info about Melissa and her hand pies, check out another detailed article by North of Boston and a piece by the Boston Globe.
