Nothing wrong with a shameless plug :-P (I'm sure you understand that I didn't literally mean lunch...). That seems like it would be really fun, like a blind date, except you're looking for technical connections, not romantic ones.
But by saying lunch, you hit the nail on the head. Actually taking the time to sit down with someone for lunch is one of the highest forms of respect. In contrast, a meeting in a cold conference room doesn't convey the same message.
