Brighten up those Benson blues
By Brittany Benjamin
We've all had those moments where we walk into Benson hoping for country fried steak, mashed potatoes, corn or any culinary reminder of home.
We glance around the stations, noticing the long lines at The Grill and the unknown brown meat being served in Exhibition, and disappointedly make a beeline for the cereal station.
Without dying from the Benson boredom epidemic that will inevitably infect every student, there must be some way to eat delicious food without worrying about the freshman 15. Through six simple philosophies that can be applied to all meals on campus, this guide may not necessarily ease all symptoms, but it will limit the pain and suffering.
Audio by Kathleen Grohman; photos by Kathleen Grohman, Chris Woodhouse and Christina Harris
* Stop by Mission Bakery
Yes, the campus coffee shop offers some of the tastiest food the school has to offer.
Lunch items include made-to-order sushi on Wednesdays. Twice a week, dinner items include piadinis, tortillas filled with salad. Build-Your-Own-Pasta night offers a great alternative for those who miss when Pastapalooza used to be served at dinner.
Mission also has those "quick fixes" for when you're in a hurry or have a bad sweet tooth. They serve various chilled salads served in to-go containers (Caesar, mandarin chicken, etc.) for when you're looking for a quick snack between classes. Plus, Mission rotates fresh pastries and desserts (strawberry shortcake, doughnuts, cupcakes and a fondue bar) every day for when you need a little afternoon pick-me-up.
* Get to know the workers
It may be common sense, but you would be surprised how many students don't thank the workers who prepare their food every day. Get to know the magic-makers who work behind the counter of all the stations. There are numerous familiar faces that you see every day but don't really know.
Bruno can usually be found standing behind the Mission Bakery counter. Marina serves at the Deli station on a regular basis. The same sweet checkout ladies swipe your Access cards every day. And many of the workers rotate around the various stations. We know that you're busy and just want to get your food fast, but getting to know the workers on a first-name basis makes both your and their dining experience more pleasurable.
* The Bronco
The Bronco provides a great location for your late-night dining pleasure. While the temptation will always exist to open up a bag of chips or pop a bag of Orville Redenbacher while studying in the dorms, The Bronco's brick oven pizzas, sandwiches and mozzarella sticks serve as a great excuse for a study break or additional late-night procrastination.
We miss the days when The Bronco used to be open at lunch as well as dinner, but the food is well worth waiting for into the late hours of the night. The Build-Your-Own-Pizza option allows you to dress The Bronco's brick oven crust with your own toppings. This means you can get your greasy pizza fix for whatever alcohol-induced cravings you may be having.
* When in doubt, head for the sandwich line
While it may be tempting to go for the shortest and easiest option -- cereal -- when nothing sounds good, it's far healthier to stand in the longer line to get a sandwich. The Deli station makes a delicious, although not entirely healthy, BLT. But the true beauty of the Deli station allows you to make a meal of whatever cravings you've been having. Feeling adventurous? Try pairing sandwich spreads with vegetables you've never tried before. The hummus, peppers, sprouts, tomatoes and lettuce sandwich is always a bit different, but somehow also delectable.
* Tips for Vegetarians and Vegans
No matter how many comment cards have been filled out asking for more options, there still aren't many choices for vegetarians and vegans. For those who find themselves eating garden burgers at every meal, our biggest recommendations are salads at Verde and vegetarian burritos from Ole. While they have the potential to become mundane meals, they leave the opportunity for choice in toppings and fillings. As a last resort, the vegetarian soup is usually acceptable.
* Get creative with your food
Almost every station offers the opportunity to put a little bit of yourself into your food. You can build your own burrito or quesadilla at Ole, add guacamole or onion rings to a burger at The Grill, or even sprinkle edamame into a salad at Verde. When it feels like you've got the Benson Blues, try mixing it up on your own.
True, the evening specials don't always look appetizing, and the food choices on Sunday nights make eating your own shoe look appealing, but there's no need to starve yourself in protest. There are many alternatives: toast a bagel and make your own sandwich, get a grilled cheese with bacon and tomatoes on top, make your own PB&J. Get creative!
Contact Brittany Benjamin at (408) 551-1918 or brbenjamin@scu.edu.