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Before March 15th, 2020, my daily routine included enjoying lunch at one of the many excellent restaurants near my office with colleagues or in our cafeteria, savouring my home-prepared lunch while catching up with coworkers. In July 2020, I decided to create The Lunch Pro website under the name The Lunch Channel.
As almost four years passed and I started writing for The Lunch Pro website, I discovered there was so much more to this topic than I initially thought, so it transformed into what it is today.
When I began to socialize my idea back then, the intent was to restrict myself to recipes, reviews, and nostalgia backed by a vlog. Every time I started writing an article, more ideas on the same subject, based mostly on my experiences, led me to so much more, as you will discover as you take the time to browse this widely expanding subject of Lunch.
Like many others, when the pandemic hit, I began teleworking exclusively. What I missed most was the social aspect of lunch breaks. As we started returning to the office in 2021, initially one day a week, then gradually increasing to three days, the experience wasn’t the same. My employer’s decision to stagger our office days and have us work from different locations often left me alone at lunchtime.
With this experience in mind, the thought came to me that it is unlikely I am the only person in this situation. The idea to build this website came to me in July 2020 to create a reference site dedicated to the topic of lunch based on my experiences since then.
This isolation made me realize I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. In July 2020, I created this website dedicated to lunch, drawing from my experiences and memories.
Lunch has always been special to me, extending beyond the work environment. I cherished lunches with my grandparents and enjoyed coming home from school to meals my mother or neighbours prepared. Weekly hot dog days at school and occasional lunches with friends at nearby restaurants were highlights of my childhood.
I grew up in Chomedey, Laval, Quebec, on the outskirts of Montreal. High school Saturdays were spent with my friend Stephen, catching a movie at the Loew’s and enjoying lunch at Murray’s Restaurant, Woolworth’s Lunch Counter, Howard Johnson’s, Mr. Steer, or Eaton’s Ninth Floor Restaurant. We’d most often eat at one of the three Murray’s locations on Ste-Catherine Street or at the Laurentian Hotel if the movie was later in the day.
Murray’s holds a special place in my heart, a sentiment I will explore in a dedicated section of The Lunch Pro. This section will feature memories, recipes, and reimagined keepsakes from this beloved, now-extinct establishment.
Starting in 2020, I felt nostalgic for those regular lunch breaks and the restaurants of my youth. The Lunch Pro aims to introduce you to luncheon dishes you can easily prepare while working from home, recreating some of my favourite childhood lunchtime treats with a modern twist. Some recipes will even utilize the Instant Pot for convenience.
The Lunch Pro website offers guidance on adjusting to the post-pandemic work-life reality, including tips on teleworking, integrating socialization tactics, and suggestions for balancing work and social life. Family lunches and the benefits of having lunch with friends will also be a significant focus, emphasizing that life isn’t all about work.
Read the Lunch Pro Website’s mission statement, and I invite you to subscribe to our YouTube Channel, where you’ll find videos of recipes and nostalgic content. We also have a shop featuring exclusive items that evoke memories of the places we once visited and recommended products to help you prepare your best lunch.
Please share your memories and ideas in the comments. Your contributions will help us build a community centred around the joy of lunch.
Thanks for stopping by.
Jon Simon
