A year passed like a day
“It seems as if we opened the “Neringa website” recently, and on November 16 we will celebrate our one-year birthday, – shares N. Mikalkėnienė: – Before I decided to open my website, I had all sorts of thoughts: maybe we won’t have customers, maybe people won’t want Lithuanian dishes. But my expectations exceeded everything. It turns out that Lithuanian cuisine is necessary, and the year brought me a lot of joy due to the large flow of satisfied customers.”
The entrepreneur remembers how she faced many challenges in the beginning. “Before I started my business, I hit a wall everywhere I turned. There were many questions and no answers. But with my husband and I shouldering each other’s shoulders, we answered all the questions ourselves and climbed up little by little,” says Neringa. She admits that starting a business was much more difficult than working in it all year: “I’m the kind of person who wants everything here and now, so it took a lot of willpower and effort before opening the doors of Neringa website. And now I see happy and smiling people every day.”
Constantly changing menu and visitors from foreign countries
Neringa’s website is open six days a week and the menu is constantly changing. Every day, the daily lunch offer includes three soups and five main dishes. Customers like various meals, but zeppelins have become especially popular, which have become a symbol of Neringa sveita since its opening. “We started cooking zeppelins four times a week – Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. We cook a lot of them during the day, but they are sold in an instant,” says Neringa.
She is also happy that visitors of different ages visit the site to eat: “I get a lot of customers. From the youngest to the elderly. There are also regular customers who, having little time for a lunch break, come from the other side of the city.”
The site receives tourists not only from Lithuania, but also from foreign countries. There were Finns, Poles, and Latvians. “The number of families who want to have Lithuanian lunch is increasing, because here, in Rokišky, or elsewhere, Lithuanian cuisine is being replaced by exotic and foreign dishes,” notes the entrepreneur.
Authentic Lithuanian atmosphere
During the first year of operation, “Neringa’s website” also underwent minor interior changes. The wall was decorated with the inscription: “Live not to eat, but eat to live”, made by the Gravilolis team. Several chairs were also changed, but the overall interior remained cozy and wooden, preserving the authentic atmosphere of a Lithuanian living room. “I’m not changing the wooden living room to a modern one. “Lithuanian dishes prevail here – let it be a wooden living room reminiscent of the old days,” says the founder of “Neringa sveita”.
On the occasion of a birthday – the biggest zeppelins in Rokiški
On the occasion of its one-year anniversary, Neringa’s website is organizing a celebration that will take place on November 16. The site will open its doors at 10 a.m. that day. in the morning and will offer a portion of zeppelins for a symbolic price of 3 euros – just like it was on the opening day.
In addition, the largest zeppelins in Rokiškis are prepared for the celebration, each of which weighs as much as 800 grams. The price of one such zeppelin will be 6 euros. Neringa promises a surprise for those brave enough to overcome two such giants. From 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. children’s beloved bear Luna will come to entertain everyone, with whom you can take pictures. All attendees will be treated to cotton candy.
Aphrodite TUSKAITE
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Interview between Time.news Editor and Neringa Mikalkėnienė, Founder of Neringa’s Website
Editor: Welcome, Neringa! It’s a pleasure to have you with us today, especially as you approach such a significant milestone—your one-year anniversary at Neringa’s website. How are you feeling about this accomplishment?
Neringa: Thank you! It’s hard to believe a year has flown by so quickly. I was both excited and anxious when we opened. I had my doubts about whether people would appreciate Lithuanian cuisine, but the response has been incredibly positive. The joy I feel from seeing satisfied customers makes every challenge worth it.
Editor: It sounds like you faced quite a few challenges at the beginning. Can you tell us about a few of those turning points?
Neringa: Absolutely! In the early days, it felt like I was hitting a wall everywhere. There were countless questions and hardly any clear answers about starting a culinary business. My husband and I leaned on each other for support, tackling issues as they came. The struggle to get started was far more intense than running the business once it was up and running. I’m a person who wants things done immediately, so it took a lot of patience!
Editor: It’s inspiring to see how you’ve navigated those early hurdles. One of the standout features of your business is the constantly changing menu. What inspired that decision?
Neringa: We wanted to keep our offerings fresh and exciting! Each day, we provide a selection of three soups and five main dishes to give our customers variety. Among those, our zeppelins have really captured hearts and become a signature dish for us. We’ve started making them four times a week, and they sell out quickly!
Editor: That’s amazing! It sounds like you’ve built a loyal customer base, as well. Who are your typical customers?
Neringa: We attract a diverse crowd—everyone from kids to the elderly. Many of my customers are regulars who work nearby and come from all parts of the city during their lunch breaks. It’s wonderful to see families visiting, especially with the growing number of tourists from Finland, Poland, and Latvia. It’s rewarding to share our Lithuanian heritage with them!
Editor: It must be gratifying to see people appreciating authentic Lithuanian cuisine, especially as global food trends evolve. How do you maintain that authentic atmosphere at Neringa’s website?
Neringa: Creating that atmosphere was essential to me from the start. While we’ve made minor changes to the interior, like new seating and a meaningful wall inscription, we aim to keep the cozy, wooden feel of the place. The message “Live not to eat, but eat to live” reminds us all of the importance of food in our lives.
Editor: That’s a beautiful sentiment, and it’s clear that you’re passionate about what you do. As you celebrate this one-year mark, what are your hopes for the future of Neringa’s website?
Neringa: I hope to continue growing our customer base and perhaps even expand our menu further to include more traditional dishes. I also dream of hosting events that highlight Lithuanian culture, creating a community space where people can not only enjoy food but also learn about our traditions.
Editor: Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Neringa. It’s inspiring to hear how you’ve turned your vision into reality, and we look forward to seeing how Neringa’s website evolves in the coming years. Congratulations on your first anniversary!
Neringa: Thank you so much! I truly appreciate the support and look forward to sharing our journey with everyone!