I'm frankly puzzled by the apparent assumption that the "box lunch" is a
thing of the past.  Although I confess that I've never really thought about
the history of the box lunch, when it originated, or what forms and materials
the boxes might have taken over the centuries, nor was I sure what the
original requester had in mind with the term "old-fashioned" box lunch, I was
unaware that the box lunch was obsolete or that anyone thought it was.  Half
of the professional conferences I've attended in the last ten years have
supplied box lunches to participants at some point,.as an incentive to eat
informally outdoors while exploring the institution's grounds.  When I
organized a meeting for over 100 people last year and had to solve a timing
problem so that people could eat and still get to an out-of-town program on
time, the hotel conference manager immediately suggested preparing box
lunches (for a dollar or two extra per person) to be consumed on the buses en
route--and found that box lunches indeed were listed on their service
schedule.  The boxes, of course, were cardboard.

I have the impression that most hotels and caterers routinely provide box
lunch service--and certainly some fast-food restaurants put lunches
(especially chicken, plus side orders) in special boxes emblazoned with their
logos and designs.  Ever hear of "Happy Meals"?  I shouldn't think it would
be hard to find upscale caterers who offer box lunches in more elegant
containers (at more elegant prices).

Although the history of the box lunch is one thing, and it might be
interesting to try to replicate, say, a typical Victorian box lunch--if there
was such a thing--with a period menu and period containers--assumptions about
the demise of the box lunch are greatly exaggerated.  It sounds like some
people on this list don't get out very much.

David Haberstich

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