At 11:45 a.m. on May 10, there was a lot of horn honking going on in the Central GM parking lot in 100 Mile House.
Folks strolled over to the windows to see what was going on just as a van from The Hills Health Ranch pulled up to the front door. Hills chef Ed Burney immediately started ringing a loud dinner bell, while Hills general manager of business development Len Doucette started carting big bins into the showroom.
After setting up a large table, Doucette announced this was The Hills first Flash Lunch and invited staff and everyone in the building to enjoy the lasagne, Caesar salad and garlic toast luncheon.
Doucette says The Hills wanted to come up with something that has never been done, and after a bit of brain-storming, they came up with the idea of having a Flash Lunch.
"We thought it would be a great, fun idea and it was a way for us to thank our community for their support and patronage."
It also helps promote our business and the business we hold the event at, he explains.
"I am sure the staff and customers at Central GM went home and told their spouse and friends what happened."
Doucette says The Hills will be doing Flash Lunches periodically over the next few months.
They will pick a business and supply them and their customers lunch at no charge.
First, they will contact the business owner or manager and let them know the date and time, so they can be a bit prepared, he explains.
"We will ask the business manager not to tell anyone."
Then the fun begins, he says
"We will start to post hints on our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HillsHealthSpa – hinting where we might be and at what time."
On the day of the lunch, Doucette says they will announce the date and time on their Facebook page, but not the place.
That day, they will drive around town ringing the dinner bell and eventually pull into a business and supply lunch.
Folks are encouraged to follow The Hills Facebook page to learn when the next Flash Lunch will occur.