Chef's surprise

It's actually no surprise to what Sodexo's choice of meal was, last week in Walton in context to the time of year.

Thanksgiving meal is a meal that is traditionally with the fundamental dishes that bring out the essence of the Thanksgiving holiday: Turkey, stuffing, gravy. The essentials.

It is also no surprise that Sodexo wasn't able to provide all aspects of the holiday feast. With so many varieties of dishes, it is understandable that Sodexo wasn't able to include every one's choice dishes. If you walked through the classics's line, you would of seen what i meant. There weren't any sweet potatoes to be found, and what about that green bean casserole. Safe to say, Sodexo couldn't do it all. But that is alright. I be live that by providing the basics(Turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, cranberries, and rolls)Sodexo did a fantastic job.

Hope you all had a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving

HA-HA week (update)

So next week in Sodexo, be sure to take notice of the advertisements that will be on the tables in the tri-displays. You guys who are reading this get a heads up to what going on

Well since next week is HA-HA(Homeless And Hunger Awareness)week,Sodexo will be announcing the clean plate campaign. By this, students will be sure to get portions that they know that they will finish in Walton dining hall. This can be done through eating certain foods that students know they will eat. Students should not eat dishes that they think may be unappetizing.

Now you may be wandering why the clean plate act? This is because the YACHT(Youth Against Complacency and Homelessness Today)club wants to promote the idea that others less unfortunate who do not have enough food to eat each day would not waste excess food, such as those who have a surplus of resources. So this upcoming week remember when you are waiting that amazing meal be thankful that you have enough as oppose to those who do not have any.

How fresh is fresh?

Over the course of several weeks, I've come to the familiarity of the different and diverse meals provided to the students at Eastern University: Italian meals, southern meals, etc. It wasn't until recently that i've found out that that Sodexo offers a range of vegetarian food and vegean delights.

I've come to the conclusion that vegean and vegetarian foods are offered in Walton dining commons due to obvious reasons; some people protest meat because of the industrial meat companies that injustly treat animals inhumanly in the process of breeding, raising, and slaughtering, others for how the big industrail companies exploitat local farmers and their work for their own capitalist profits, others for are health conscience about what they put into their bodies, and others becasue they down right don't like the taste.

Many different reasons could of introduced the idea of vegean and vegetarian themed foods; however, no other reason that i've found is as influencing as the reason of the chemicals and unatural perservatives today's big industrial meat companies put in marketable meats. Watch this CNN news report and you'll know what I'm talking about, click the link, watch the video, and comment on what you think!!!

Think with Your Head not with Your Stomach

In consideration to HA-HA (Homelessness and Hunger awareness)week coming up in the near future, this week i would like to emphasize the conservation of food and regulated portions to in reflection to the hungry in needy. In detail, students in the dining hall of Walton will keep in mind to eat food portions that are enough so that they do not throw away excess food.

As a participant of HA-HA representing the Yacht club(Youth against Complacency and Homelessness Today)I will be speaking with Sodexo in the hope that I will be able to convince them to raise awareness to this issue of wasting food.

A couple tips for you to get a head start on this project:

-Eat small enough portions that you know you' finish, if your still hungry go up for seconds, but remember THINK WITH YOUR HEAD NOT WITH YOUR STOMACH.

-Don't get anything that you speculate might taste good; however, if you do choose to eat the 'mystery meat' or 'casserole surprise', again choose a small portion that if in the instance of your distaste for the dish you may waste it.

Grab-n-Bag

For the hectic life of a college student, feeding time may come at a costly inconvenient area of your day. So in that case, Sodexo has whipped up the convenient To-Go lunches located at the entrance of the Walton dining commons at Eastern University.

The untroublesome in and out service allows quick convenient purchasing of your snacks, sandwiches, salads, and beverages.

The positives that surround the To-Go meals are of course the efficient manner of acquiring your meal, and the variety of food offered.

To-Go offers:
-sandwiches(turkey and cheese , ham and cheese, tuna salad, peanut butter and jelly,veggie wraps)some of which are are catered on wheat bread, wraps, or a pretzel roll.
-Salads
-Drinks(juices, sodas, ice teas, good-ol-H2O)
-Fresh fruit(apples, oranges)
-snacks(chips, pretzels, Pop tarts, granola bars, and so much more)

On the downside, To-Go lunches do not offer hot meals. This could be due to the difficulty of keeping hot foods hot, or the inconvenience of finding cheap easy transportation for the hot meals so that students can carry them; however, this presents a negative outcome especially with colder weather approaching. Also, student complaints about quality and quantity of To-Go meals adds a factor to the negativity. I've personally heard students wishing that they could have more variety when it boiled down to the choice of their "entree" being just a sandwich.

Overall, i personally wish that hot meals could be provided so that the monotony of sandwiches can be broken up every so often. I would offer the possibility of foods such as soup, and beverages such as hot tea and coffee.

When considering some of the problems of Eastern's cafeteria this is a small blip on the screen, check out what this blogger had to say about other schools in their dining experience.

Breakfast for a change

So far in my previous posts, I've discussed the diverse flavors, nutrition, and dishes of the college dining experience. It isn't until now that i delve into the madness of and insanity that is breakfast.

Overlooking the cornucopia of food that is displayed in the Walton dining Hall located at Eastern University,there are many choices in the decission making of choosing the right foods to eat in order to have a whole complete balanced breakfast.

One might consider the nutritional value of a morning meal and therefore goo with foods that are low in fat and sugar. The Sodexo food service company provides a multitude of option that is just right for the healthy eater.

-breads(bagels,english muffins, sliced wheat/white/rye bread)

-fruits(bananas,apples,oranges)

- cereals(Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Bran Flakes, oatmeal, Cream of Wheat)

For others who would prefer a more hearty meal with the full effects of a full stomach, Sodexo offers:

-eggs -pancakes(blueberry,chocolate chip)

-sausage -hash browns

-waffles-sausage gravy

-bacon,and so much more...

Whatever you're preference maybe, there is always room for one more at the breakfast table.

Reading TerminalMarket

What does your mind illustrate when you think about pizza?
-Pizza Hut
-Domino's

How about burgers?
-Burger King
-McDonald's

Now let's try something a little more exotic. Let's try a falafel, or a gyro, or maybe just a juicy, artery clogging good cheese steak.

Nothing come to mind yet?That's because no one restaurant has culminated these various tastes,flavors, and dishes. Except of course, if you were to go to the ultimate melting pot of food heaven —Reading Terminal Market in downtown Philadelphia. Here where culture mixes with culinary, you'll find that there is at least one dish that pertains to any one unique person on this planet because of the multiple tastes, dietary foods, and styles of food.

When i mentioned dietary foods, i meant those who would prefer food based on their calories, and health causes. For example, the market has vegetarian cuisine for those who abstain from meat. Serving only vegetarian dishes, Basic Four Vegetarian Snack Bar attracts those who like something green in their diet. On the flip side, others who cannot stand the taste of vegetables and would rather go with some basic meat-and-taters eats, would maybe try out Rib Stand's specialty of Baby back ribs, rib sandwiches or roasted potatoes. There, they offer something for those who are feeling a little more carnivorous.

Market restaurants don't stop there. Multiple restaurants are multi culture themed with flavors ranging from domestic to the exotic that cater to all types of people. Kamal's Middle Eastern Specialties says it all in the name, offering customer's dishes such as falafel, a fried ball or patty made from spiced chickpeas. They also do fresh fruit drinks, deserts and imported groceries. (I had a razberry, banana,blackberry smoothie here, it was amazing!!)
Other multicultural restaurants include Thai, Greek, Chinese, foods as well.

What's exceptionally amazing about the dynamic aspect of the restaurants at Market, is that customer's have the option to compare and contrast different style of food. For example, one is able to compare prices of cheese steaks between Spataro's Cheese Steaks, Carmen's Famous Italian Hoagies and Cheese Steaks, and By George! Pizza, Pasta & Cheese Steaks, to find the best price. Or one could compare taste preferences between the Chinese restaurants Sang Kee Peking Duck and Shanghai Gourmet.
Overall, in the varieties of dishes, original, classic,multicultural, vegetarian, or deep fried,one can always find something to eat at Reading terminal market.