How To Dining Hall

By: Natalia Wurst ‘21 

Even though dining hall food is currently the most unappreciated aspect of my college experience, I know it will quickly turn into the metaphorical “one that got away” the minute I have to cook anything more complicated than pasta. Multiple sources have confirmed this fact.

That being said, if you’re a freshman, or even a sophomore/junior/(senior?) with a meal plan, it’s perfectly valid to be sick of months or even years of the same old, same old. No one is denying that this a first world problem, but the struggle is a struggle nonetheless.

The following are some ways to spice up your dining hall life. Disclaimer: even though I went through great lengths and heavy roasting from friends to take these pictures (“Natalia, what the heck are you doing, it’s E V K”), they definitely don’t do the food enough justice, so just trust that my recommendations taste better than they look.

I will never stop raving about EVK’s breakfast to every possible person I know. My favorite thing ever to wait in line for is the omelet bar, which is sometimes a burrito bar, and sometimes an Eggs Benedict bar (but only on Fridays). If you’re not feeling any of the above, you can also specially request some scrambled eggs with any of the veggies your heart desires. In my opinion, they’re fresher than what’s on the other side of the omelet bar (a scary place I dare not venture). The following two pictures are of the omelet and scrambled egg version of the same meal, followed by an Eggs Benedict hiding under some cheese. 

Some people aren’t and will never be egg people, and if that’s you, then I would highly recommend trying the cereal bar instead (but going a little crazy with it). Instead of just plain cheerios, picture this: plain cheerios with coconut and almonds. I can feel your mind exploding through the screen at this point and I don’t blame you.

On the other side of the haven that is EVK breakfast are fruit smoothies in shot glasses that change color every day (the smoothies, not the shot glasses). There’s also yogurt, which you could add granola and five different types of berries to if you want to be extra boujee.

2. Lunch

Parkside definitely takes the cake for most-satisfying-yet-most-likely-to-cause-freshman-15 out of all three. They’re never lacking in the fried foods department, with top-notch grilled cheeses, hamburgers, and curly fries (I use “top-notch” relatively). Their fries are probably my biggest guilty pleasure.

They also make it temptingly easy to create your own milkshakes, with a soft-serve machine and rainbow sprinkles placed conveniently beside the milk dispenser. This is the ultimate “treat yo’ self” concoction, and I never regret indulging in it.

For those wrinkling noses at the thought of ingesting that much grease, there’s a pretty mean caesar salad that’s without fail always at the salad bar.  

3. Dinner

The most aesthetic meals I eat nowadays come straight from McCarthy dining hall. (But maybe that’s just because I’m cheap and refuse to eat any non-dining hall food basically ever). This is the place to be if you’re craving something well-balanced complete with quinoa, chia seeds, edamames, shredded carrot, some fancy type of fish, and/or some fancy type of meat. The picture below is from the time they had teriyaki chicken that made my heart burst because I could marry teriyaki chicken.

They also make crepes on the daily, and at this point, that’s probably not much of a surprise. They are delicious and give you the freedom to play as much as you want with different levels of health–ranging from strictly berries to strictly chocolate chips and processed whipped cream (you do you).

I hope this gave you more of an inkling to explore your options! I’m clearly most obsessed with breakfast out of these categories, but I’m trying hard not to discriminate.

Much love!

-Nat

Trojans 360 is USC’s official student-run blog. Content created by students, for students.

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