Bryan Voltaggio To Open a New Spot Named Lunchbox

Man, all the local former Top Chef contestants are quite the busy entrepreneurs these days. On the heels of last week's news that Mike Isabella is opening Bandolero in Georgetown, today Bryan Voltaggio has announced that he's opening up a lunch spot named Lunchbox about five blocks away from Volt — a move that is strikingly similar to his brother (and fellow former Top Chef contestant) Michael Voltaggio's decision to open a sandwich place named ink.sack a few doors down from his Los Angeles restaurant Ink.

Lunchbox will essentially take over lunch service from Volt, which is cutting back lunch to just Saturday and Sunday afternoons beginning in January. Menu items will be available to-go or to stay in the 30-seat dining space and, according to a press release, offerings will include things like a Cuban jerk pork shoulder hoagie, blue crab rolls, roasted butternut squash with caramelized apple soup and chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches.

And because all of that is not enough to do, Tom Sietsema reports that Voltaggio also has a diner concept in mind that he hopes to unveil in the spring. And remember the North Market Kitchen, the Eataly-like project that seemed to have stalled last month? Well, now it's full steam ahead yet again and aiming for late 2012.

The press release:

BRYAN VOLTAGGIO OPENS LUNCHBOX

This December, Chef Bryan Voltaggio will open Lunchbox in Frederick, Maryland. Located just five blocks from his flagship, the celebrated VOLT, Lunchbox takes the fresh, seasonal ingredients used daily at VOLT and turns it into a quick, on-the-go lunch. Located on the beautiful Carroll Creek Promenade and adjacent to the Frederick County Library, Lunchbox makes for a great stop for parents to grab a nutritious lunch
for the kids or a place for the many professionals to grab something on the go.

“I had been thinking about cutting back our lunch hours at VOLT when this opportunity presented itself. A former coffee shop in need of a coat of paint was the perfect place to open the doors for lunch,” says Bryan Voltaggio. VOLT, which just announced new hours beginning in January, will now be able to concentrate mainly on dinner. “I always wanted to offer an impeccable, quick and casual lunch to our guests, and by separating our lunch and dinner service into two separate restaurants, each can fully concentrate on delivering the best meal possible.”

Lunchbox is a casual dining venue that seats about 30 people and features gourmet sandwiches, salads, soups and desserts. Patrons will be able to dine in the venue or take their meals to go. Examples of menu items include Cuban Jerk Pork Shoulder Hoagie ($5); Blue Crab Rolls ($5), Roasted Butternut Squash with Caramelized Apple Soup ($3); and Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches.

“Bryan and I each have young families, so our weekday mornings begin with packing lunch boxes. We understand the importance of a high-quality meal that will keep kids and adults energized throughout the day,” says Hilda Staples, co-owner of VOLT. “We’ve embraced this same mentality of preparing a wholesome lunch for our families to the menu at Lunchbox.”

Just in time for the holiday season, Lunchbox will also offer "LunchCards," gift cards that can be purchased in denominations of $10. LunchCards are perfect as stocking stuffers for children and adults alike. Cards can be purchased online beginning on Black Friday, November 25 at voltlunchbox.com and at the shop once opened. Lunchbox is slated to open the first Saturday in December, and will operate daily from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

About Carroll Creek Promenade
The Carroll Creek Promenade is considered the entryway to Frederick’s downtown and home to Lunchbox.  Public art is incorporated into the fabric of the promenade itself, including the celebrated trompe l’oeil bridge mural over Carroll Creek, planters with shade trees, the pedestrian bridges and the 350-seat amphitheater for outdoor performances.

About VOLT
Situated in the heart of historic downtown Frederick, MD, Chef and Co-Owner Bryan Voltaggio’s VOLT is a contemporary American restaurant that emphasizes the use of pure and seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers. Located within 50 miles of Washington, D.C., Annapolis, and Baltimore, VOLT is set inside Houck Mansion, which was built in the 1890s and includes the restaurant’s five dining areas: the main dining room, the oval-shaped Conservatory, the Chef’s Dining Room, and Table 21—a extraordinary dining experience where guests are served a 21-course tasting menu – and the courtyard patio. VOLT melds Victorian elegance with contemporary, urban sophistication—sustaining the original spirit of the brownstone’s warmth while transforming the interior to complement Voltaggio’s forward-thinking cuisine. For more information visit www.voltrestaurant.com.

VOLT’s 2012 hours of operation
Beginning January 2012, VOLT will extend dinner availability to Tuesday through Sunday and lunch availability will be shortened to Saturday and Sunday. The snack menu will be available at the bar Tuesday through Sunday at a first come first serve basis from 3pm to close. For additional information on 2012 hours of operation, menu changes, and pricing, please visit http://voltrestaurant.com/new2012.htm

· Coming From Chef Bryan Voltaggio: Lunchbox [WaPo]
· All Previous Bryan Voltaggio Coverage [-EDC-]