Meet Milo Basa | Owner & Baker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Milo Basa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Milo, how does your business help the community?
Lunchbox Cookies is a LGBTQ+ and Latin-owned bakery that offers chunky fun cookies with flavors inspired by my own childhood as well as cuisines from all around the world; all while giving back. Our brand’s goal is very simple: to create happiness, from the joy of eating our cookies to the process of making them. That’s why we’ve crafted a cookie that’s gentler on the environment by using 100% plant-based dough—to reduce water use, land use, and carbon emissions, and because it’s kinder—without compromising taste, texture, or overall experience. With our tree-planting program, every purchase of six cookies results in a tree planted in the buyer’s name. Additionally, we donate a portion of our profits to organizations dear to our hearts, including The Trevor Project, Farm Animal Refuge, and A Sense of Home. We strive to make a positive impact on the world. Our dreams are big, just like our cookies.

Please tell us more about your business. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
We specialize in thick cookies with playful flavors drawn from nostalgia and cultures from all over the world. For example, we have a cookie that makes you feel like a kid at a birthday party, sprinkles and all. And another cookie that uses peppers, like Peruvian Aji and the Korean Gochujang paste. Our best-selling cookie is stuffed with two different kinds of Oreos, cookie butter, and then smothered in our in-house made caramel.

Getting here was not easy, but I never imagined it would be. I think the key to overcome challenges is being comfortable with permanent change. We are constantly learning and given chances to improve—from our bakery, packaging, customer experience, and so forth. We have learned to welcome failure as a chance to change, adapt, and improve; I think change has been the biggest constant since I started baking cookies. I’ll give you an example: you finally find the ideal chocolate for your cookies, it’s the perfect texture and flavor, works within your budget like a dream, it melts just right…and a month later, you find out that it’s been discontinued. This has been true since day one: life throwing curve balls, me learning, adapting, and moving forward. But the reality is that’s true whenever you learn something new; it’s hard, it’s frustrating, and, most often than not, you’ll fail. But then you’re given an option. You either give up, or you learn from your mistakes, and then you grow and you try again. That’s the lesson, I think: push yourself to take risks and don’t be scared of failing in the process. It’s an uncomfortable feeling, but it’s a vital one to grow as a person.

I wanted to make cookies that were fun, decadent, and that could drive positive change; yummy treats as a force for good. That’s why I do what I do, despite every hurdle. Knowing that people are enjoying themselves while, at the same time, helping—the world, the environment, small communities. It only takes a few people to start thinking about ways to change, to improve, for a wave of positive impact to take off and snowball. That’s at the heart of Lunchbox.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There’s so much to see in LA, and most importantly, to eat. We pretty much have everything in LA, that’s what’s magical about it, and I wish everyone could get to experience that—a tasting, so to speak. We would go to a few touristy spots—the Griffith Observatory, the Walk of Fame—and then some less known areas—Little Tokyo, Olvera Street Marketplace—making it a point to try a bit of everything from white tablecloth restaurants, to street vendors and food trucks—and of all kinds: from CaliMex food, to Chinese and Ethiopian. And then there are incredible museums to visit, and wonderful hiking trails near the Santa Monica Mountains with breathtaking views. I honestly don’t know if I could fit the entire experience in one week…maybe I convince them to extend it?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband, Chris. I don’t think Lunchbox, as it is today, would’ve been possible without him. A lot of people helped create Lunchbox with baking tips, flavor suggestions, design feedback, print recommendations and more—yet Chris’s input, alongside his unconditional support and patience, were the rock that kept me going. And I stress patience, because our home was in an utter state of chaos when I first started baking; crowding everywhere with equipment, boxes, packing supplies and more. He offered to drive me to my first (and second, and third…) pop up, and still to this day helps me load the car and gives me a ride to Lunchbox’s retail location on Melrose. He’s been my best critic and my number one supporter. And he doesn’t have to do any of it, and most times, I don’t even ask. He just does it from the goodness of his heart.

Website: lunchboxcookies.com

Instagram: @lunchbox_cookies