Hungry? Leave the Lunchbox at Home
For most students, cafeteria school food may conjure up some less than ideal memories of long lines for mediocre elementary school “food.” If this doesn’t ring a bell; think suspicious mystery meat accompanied with bland boiled veggies and a bag of chocolate milk (yes, a bag).
When you first walk through the cafeterias’ automatic doors; there’s an immediate rush of nostalgic feelings for high school. For some, these memories may be fresher than others. But whether you’re a freshman or senior (or even senior citizen) that fresh breeze welcomes you in further.
Before the pandemic, the Owl Cafe was a focal place for food and conversation. Since, food on campus has been scarce. Mainly limited to vending machines and the occasional microwave (if you can even find one.) But this year, the Owl Cafe has finally dusted off its counters, fired up the grills and opened its doors to students.
Sarah is a student with vibrant purple hair and a laid back demeanor says, “Well, I haven’t really been to the cafeteria since COVID ‘cause it was wack” she said, “But this is the first time i’ve actually been utilizing the cafeteria. It’s pretty nice, it’s very organized and very clean.”
Daniella is a student at Citrus who came off as charismatic and fun. I asked what her favorite item on the menu is. Without any hesitation the answer was chicken tenders. “They’re so good and for me, the food is cheap.” She said, “I don’t know, I be getting chicken tenders over 10 bucks and here they are like 9 bucks.”
The Spicy Chipotle Sandwich.
The melted pepper jack cheese oozed over the juicy grilled chicken, creating a satisfying cheese pull. The chipotle aioli added deep flavor and subtle heat. The aioli kept the bread moist but not soggy. It was a deeply comforting meal.
The BTLA
Crispy bacon, juicy tomato, lettuce, and of course the gem of California cuisine-the avocado. Stacked
between two perfectly toasted slices of sourdough bread.
The overall energy from students is that they’re excited to use this space again. Now that social distancing restrictions are suspended there is room for a social renaissance. From low prices to good food to good conversation, what else could a student need to get through the stress of college?
