Tuesday, November 20, 2007

University of Vermont Students Eat Prison Food

There is one silver-lining to our dining hall food. As far as I can tell we are not being fed prison food, but don't quote me on that. However, I have come to find Sodexho (a food distributor) also caters to both prisons and universities. One of the universities being University of Vermont.

Never

Never will I try eating at the dinner hall after everyone leaves for break. The reason -- no food. Really, almost none. I went in and had my choice of sandwich and something else so awful I dare not speak of it. I guess the dining halls start Thanksgiving break a day earlier than everyone else. The best part of the night, aside form the clear representation that no one cared, was the giant piece of green mold on the sandwich made before mine. When the kid pointed out this spore of bacteria on the edge of the crust the dining hall sandwich maker simply reached for another piece (from the same bag), examined it a few times and put it on top of the sandwich. Now that is attention to detail Haven.

Out of Cash?


You walk up to the vending machine at 1:00 a.m. after a night of cramming for exams. After peering through the glass examining each choice your eye spots a tasty treat. All of a sudden that bag of Rold Gold Pretzels looks better than anything you have ever seen in your entire life. Then you realize you are thirsty, and with that salt and carb overload you will also need a coke. Then something happens which shatters your dreams.You slip the card into the vending machine and the machine denys you. "Oh crap", you think to yourself, "I forgot I ran out of supercard money." No fear. If something like this happens to you go to myslice.syr.edu and hit Meal Plans. Once there, click on the amount you want to put into your account,and by the next day your card should be full and ready to go. As far as the Rold Gold's go, try bumming off the roommate until the transaction processes.

The Inn Complete






The Inn Complete: One of the worst names ever, still goes to one of the most interesting places to eat on campus. If south sounds like another universe that's because it is. After living there in Sophomore year I can vouch for that. But one gem that lies inside this barrack village is the red barn year Goldstein. When I first saw it I thought, shed for lawn mowers? It definitely looks like a place to store cattle not students.
The best part of "The Inn Complete" is the distance from campus. If you are looking a place to chill out and that wont remind you of Syracuse go to South. Plus, if you only have the bus services to get around this option works well for you. Just take the Slocum Heights Bus and walk from Goldstein to the giant red barn. Inside beer taps, good food, pool tables, a wood burning fire, and plushy seats are waiting your arrival. Pay with the super food card or cash.


Academic Year Hours:
Monday - Wednesday: 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Thursday: 6:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Friday: 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Open for Lunch!) and 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Saturday: 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Closed Sunday

Nite Bites

What? You mean Syracuse University provides late night offerings to students? I thought I was reading wrong, but according to the dining services brochure on-line t a service called "nite bites" exists. If you get the munchies between 4:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., and you refuse to walk to a dining hall because of the great distance separating you from them, you can call x-1709, and they deliver anything from the halls you desire right to your door. Plus, you can pay with your super food card instead of cash. I never knew this existed until now and I'm a senior.

foodservices.syr.edu/campus_delivery/ Here is the menu.

Faculty Center

There is one gourmet places on campus where students can use their super food cards. That place is the Faculty Center on University Place. The hours are limited, but the food quality is leaps and bounds above anything at the dining halls. It tastes home made -- believe it or not. If you are a kid (not a sweet faculty member) you can go between the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the weekdays. Weekends you have to fend for yourself because they are not open. So, go for the food, or as a great way to stalk that professor who have you a "B" on your last paper. You will find them on the first floor with the white linens and glass water goblets. Students are corralled upstairs, but the food is the same quality.

Go to gafc.syr.edu/pdf/menu.pdf for their full menu.

Personal Favorites:

Spinach Salad

Mediterranean Pasta Dish

Burgers

Sweet Potato Fries

Chicken Sandwich

Where can I find this?




Please someone tell me where one finds a cheese cake presentation like this at the dining halls? If this is why we won a 2007 dining hall award for "best presentation" I now get it.

"Christ, Not Another X-mas Tune"


I wonder if some people ever say those words exactly. While I am a strong advocate of Christmas as a quasi member of the catholic club I know that doesn't mean everyone else wants to hear my Christmas tunes. Now, I am not about to suggest we stop playing them. I think we can have diversity without stifling anyone’s Christmas cheer. But this morning the Christmas carols in the dining hall got me thinking. If you hate Christmas (how this is possible I have no idea), or if you just celebrate another holiday (Kwanza, or Hanukkah), do you get annoyed hearing the carols play all the way up to the big day?
Yet when I think about it I realize a fatal flaw. Are there any carols for Hanukah besides "Dradle,Dradle, Dradle" that the dining hall could play? Or what about Kwanza for that matter? Now excuse my ignorance if there are. I have no problem listening to anyone else’s tidings of good cheer. Hopefully Nancy Cantor will never get wind of the carols playing in Haven or I am sure she would pull a Grinch.

Fat Chance


Afraid of gaining the Freshman 400?

As promised I spent the morning investigating the issue of "nutrition" in dining hall food. What I was looking for in particular was information about which chemicals they pour into vats in the back, how many thousands of calories are in the friend haddock, and whether or not the ground meat is meat or black squirrel. Once I inquired to the manager of Haven she seemed very happy to help me with what I needed. She brought me to the back of the kitchen, past a few bricks of frozen packets of hash browns, and into her office. What a job that would be. Constantly smelling the same foods everyday, so strong I am convinced even she smelt of brussel sprouts. After I asked her for the nutritional information she told me to go check out the Internet, which I had all ready, and I informed none existed on-line. Then she picked up her phone, dialed a few numbers somewhere else, and told me a cook would be getting a hold of me soon. I doubt this. As helpful as she seemed I sensed they don't want me to know. Maybe that makes me a conspiracy theorist. I just feel that whatever those nutrition labels hold they would prefer I never know. If they did want me to know I imagine it would be on-line. And in the digital age it makes it even more surprising that I can't get any information there.

Further investigations will be conducted.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Award


If you are not aware, S.U.'s Dining Halls are award winning. In 2007 they went up againt 170 other college campuses and won. Really, I mean it. S.U. received the " Loyal E. Horton Dining Award" in the National Association of College & University Food Services. We received the highest awards in all categories of food preparation, presentation etc etc. Now, really? I am not out to bash our dining halls. That is not what I intended to do when I started this blog, but if we are coming in at number one I can only imagine what those poor kids at other campuses are being treated to. I have gone here long enough to know that the food here should not be receiving any accolades.

God Save You ALL.

Dining Halls Have Cultures?


This is an idea I have batted around for some time now, especially after going to a few dining halls this week. I remember in Freshman year (in the stone age) that Graham had a unique feel that Haven doesn't have, or Shaw, or Brockway. Graham Dining Hall always had BET on television in the mornings playing hip-hop music and rap during breakfast, lunch and dinner. At Haven it is more subdued. You can see ESPN or CNN while you munch on dinner, or listen to some soft rock station. Then there is Brockway. There isn't really anything to look at in Brockway, and all the tables are set up in a communal way. Kind of like in a Hofbrau House in Germany. Long tables are more inviting for big groups of friends, and the room feels less inviting than in other dining halls. At Shaw there are compartments, or places you can eat where you wont be seen by others. Which is nice if you have to eat by yourself, while also being a little sad. They all come with their own unique personalities, and it would be interesting to hear what people think is the best personality of them all.

Shaw Cheers and Jeers

Cheers to Shaw for

Cheers:

(1) Incredible Selection: Like Brockway they the a taco bar, regular entrees, Asian food section, stir fry, and sandwich maker all running at the same time (plus the grill).

(2) Weird Chairs. They have this bizarre plastic chair with an extra plastic part that holds your back. I am not sure if they help with posture, but they felt pretty good.

(3) Clean: I knew what I was getting. I could actually see people making the food, which was comforting.

(4) Little Rooms sectioned off with chairs and tables, plus a room with a big screen television.

(5) Cereal. They have everything.

Jeers:

(1) Fruit. Or lack there of. They had only apples and bananas. The apples were too ripe and the bananas weren't ripe enough.

(2) Out of Service: It seemed like a lot of the drink options and ice cream were Out of Service.

(3) Weird maze quality

Crowley Yogurt? Who?


http://www.crowleyfoods.com/products/products_yogurt.asp

I have no problem with a little local pride. That seems to be the thought behind replacing the old yogurt brands with the news ones we now see at the dining halls. Crowley has headquarters all over New York. But does the flavor match up to the old types? I would have to say, probably not, but there is one good thing about them. For one, the whole container (which are larger than the old containers) only have 100 calories.

The flavor names really kill me too:

Adirondack Raspberry -- can the Adirondacks even grow raspberries?
Pina Colada (Never seen this one ) We don't want to endorse any hedonistic behavior
Pineapple Cherry Luau -- comes with free grass skirts and leis
Strawberry Banana Burst
Blueberry Thrill
Plain --- now this is just sad. How about "Potent Plain"... that fits in with the other ones a bit better.

.

What I shaw

Tonight I decided to proceed on my way to another dining hall I haven't been to since I was a sophomore -- Shaw. I went there a while back with a "straight edge" bloke who touted their incredible selection of Vegan offerings to me. In my mind I had the whole dining hall, and its madness sorted out. But when I got there things were drastically different than what I recall. I suppose in the time since my last visit they decided to do a makeover, and so it took a little while just to acclimate myself to the new style. I will say one thing for all the options I hate the design of Shaw. What was this person thinking? Was there some sort of theory behind all these corridors and weird separate rooms that students would lose a few pounds looking for their dinners? I guess that would be an interesting approach to the obesity epidemic. Like rats in a maze looking for the prize piece of cheese. That is what Shaw feels like to me. That was a cheesy analogy. And that was a cheesier pun. Damn. Anyway, I did love the options. And after convincing my roommate to go along with me and not fall back on old Haven dining hall (our old faithful), she even admitted it would be worth coming to Shaw more often. It seems far away, but really it is an illusion I think.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Cheers and Jeers

After tonights adventure I have put together a few things everyone should get the nerve to try, or not to try.

Cheers: Vegetable Samosas (in vegan section)
Satan dish. I am not sure what that means. It was also in the Vegan section. I hope the name "satan" doesn't mean I will be regretting the decision to try this dish later.
Roasted Potatoes... they never get these wrong
Vegetable Lasagna: Also very good

Jeers: Coming from an italian, the egg noodles and marinara sauce are an awful mixture. Plus the sauce tasted like some sort of metal.
Yet again. What is going on with the water dispenser? The thing is still broken.
Angel Food Cake (by the time I got there it was all ready a bit dry and there was only one slice of strawberry on top.

Here is another good question for anyone with the answer. Why are the strawberries still good all the way through till Nov. This always gets me. I am glad they are tasty, but I am wondering where these things are coming from that they actually have flavor in the middle of winter.

Nutritional?

I am not sure where the nutritional information is supposed to be but it doesn't exist online. I have always been curious as to what exactly is in the all the dishes at the dining hall, from the ingredients to the calorie content. Tomorrow I will be investigating where this information can be found. That way everyone else can be well informed as to how much fat is in the homemade mac and cheese, or the spicy wings.

Menu Rejoinder

Well, I did see a lot of the menu, not everything, but most things. Maybe that is the thought process behind "dining hall menus" they are not bibles on what's to come, as much as they are a hint or a whisper.


Here is what I did see:

Dinner

Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Hamburger Sandwich
Hot Dog
Marinated Grilled Chicken Sand
Chicken Parmesan
Brown Rice, VG
Egg Noodles
French Fries, VG
White Rice
Italian Mixed Vegetables. All right. What makes these italian?
Angel Food Cake
Strawberries
Smartdogs
Vegan Burger
Vegetable Lasagna

Tonight's Menu

I am posting tonight's menu for two reasons. One, to see if anyone is interested in what is coming up tonight, and two to find out if they even follow the menu.


Dinner
Vegetable Soup
Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Hamburger Sandwich
Hot Dog
Marinated Grilled Chicken Sand
Braised Beef w/ Mushrooms
Chicken Parmesan
Brown Rice, VG
Egg Noodles
French Fries, VG
White Rice
Italian Mixed Vegetables
Angel Food Cake
Strawberries
Vegan Applesauce Cake
Falafel
Seitan Pepper Steak
Smartdogs
Vegan Burger
Vegan Parmesan
Vegetable Lasagna

Surprise

Yesterday, after catching the dining hall at that random hour between lunch and dinner when they don't serve food, my roommate and I decided to camp out and wait. In our waiting process she put together a sandwhich, while I sampled some of the Vegan offerings. After this particular meal I have decided that dining at dining halls is much like christmas... there is a surprise in every thing you eat. In my roommates case it was the mold on the bottom of her sub roll, and in my case it was the homemade chicken stew that looked excellent, but after putting one sip into my mouth I thought I was eating a whole McCormick container of oregano. UHH.... I can't wait to see what tonights dinner reveals.

Cheers: Vegan Chocolate Cake

Jeers: No working water. Now that is just mean Haven.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Dining Hall Survey

Since I am doing this blog on dining halls I hope something good might come of it. If I don't make so major changes to the dining halls I wont be totally dissapointed becaue than I guess I wouldn't have as much to complain about, but there is also something glorifying about inciting change. Today while perusing through my mymail account I happened upon an e-mail from the dining hall services. it essentially wants students to fill out surveys online about the various dining halls on campus, and if you fill one out you also get placed into the hat to win a free ipod. So, considering I am doing this blog I decided to go and make my opinion known to the higher ups. I would highly suggest you do the same thing, in the off chance that (a) someone reads them and cares and (b) you like free stuff.

http://www.nacufscustomersurvey.com/

If this wont work just look for the e-mail in your box today and it will direct you to the website.

Dining Hall Hours

Here is one thing I can't help but compain about. What is with the hours at haven? I know last year they use to be opened till 8:30, and starting this year they cut back to 7:30 on the weekdays and 6:30 on the weekends. Now, 6:30 is totally ridiculous. Most college students don't go to bed until 12- 2 a.m., so if we eat at 5:30 to 6:30 we have to look for healthy snacks (or a fourth meal) until we go to bed. Now, I assume if you are reading this you have been to Kimmel... one of the few places the school offers to students for late night munching. If you are looking for a post drunken hang out it is perfect.. you are unconscious enough to realize how many pieces of fried chicken you are shoving down your throat to care of the repercussions. But for someone like myself it means getting really creative late at night. Creative meaning... fruit, rice cakes, and any of the other limited offerings at Kimmel that wont clog your arteries and give you heart attack while you sleep.

I guess I just wish they would offer a healthy alternative late at night. A place where people who like good, while food could go. I am not here to ruin anyones good time. There are times even I like a greasy cheeseburger or a piece of cake, but I also don't want to make a lifestyle out of it.

Please dining hall.

No quiero taco bell.

I am afraid


So I realize these posts should not consist of bowel movements if I can avoid it, but after yesterday I feel a need to describe what occured. After trying out a few new things... brautwurst, white bean (with garlic and chili flakes), and a half a grill cheese sandwhich on wheat bread I was feeling good. I rarely go to lunch, so this was a fun new experience which I believe went well. While I wouldn't call anything I ate genuis I was actually rather satisfied with my choices. That is until I left the dining hall and went back to my room. Within about twenty minutes I was as sick as a dog. I will not expound on this any further.... I will put it this way.... it was like having a colonospocy I never signed up for.

Beware.. stay far away from the white beans in the vegan section and the brautwurst....

Just thought you might want to know.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Dominique Q&A

If you are a regular at Haven dining hall you would know Dominique – card swiper extraordinaire and of S.U.'s stand-out personalities in the dining hall scene. Although Dominique works everyday of his life with a mental handicap, he always makes sure to ask you how your day is, and he always remembers if you get take-out boxes and who you are. There have been many times when I have not been to the dining hall in a few days that he has asked where I have been and told me I was missed.


Here are a few things you might not know about this diligent card-swiper.

Q: What is your least favorite part of the job?

A: If the machine breaks down. I have to write everything down, and it slows the line down, and people start to get upset. I also hate having to clean upstairs, I like it a lot better down here (down here being where the card swiper is)

Q:Have you lived in Syracuse your whole life?

A: Yes, and I have worked at the dining halls for 5 years.

Q: What is your favorite dining hall food?

A: I am full-blooded Italian, so I like the spaghetti and meatballs, and the Pizza. If I saw Mexican food though I wont touch it. I don’t like it. I also don't like the vegan section. When kids were younger they ate meat and now they don't. I don't get it.


At one point during the interview, after we were in deep discussion over the vegans at S.U. Dominique asks three girls if they are vegan. One of them admits to being one in the past, but she missed cheese burgers and decided to quit. Dominique looks at her with an exasperated expression and then looks back at me as if to say, "see, I don't get why they go vegan."


Q: Why do you hate working upstairs?

A: Because I hate whenever kids leave their newspapers on the tables, and I have to pick them up. That makes me pissed off.

Q: Have you worked at any other dining halls?

A: No, I only like this one because everyone knows me here. In 2009 we are all moving to the new dining hall and they are turning haven into a student lounge, or something. I am not sure of that.

Q: What do you like to do after work?

A: I like going to Carousel mall. I don't spend my money though and less I see something I really want. Sometimes I see students there and I hang out with them for a little bit, but we are not supposed to do this, so usually I obey those ruled. But if I see them in the mall I am not going to go one way and they the other. I don't know why they wont less us hang out with the students because they are so much fun.

At another point during the interview he reprimands a guy for not letting his female friend get her card swiped first.

Themed Meal Alert

Themed Meals are awesome. Last night at haven they had one... what the theme was though, I have no idea. Some would think it was in anticipation of Thanksgiving since they had pumpkin pie and yams.. and other seasonal fall dishes, but than there was samosas. Now, I love samosas, in fact, I had four of them, but what the hell are samosas doing at a fall themed dinner? I didn't see turkey either. Maybe this weird amalgamation is part of Cantor's nauseating mission for diversity and political correctness. Last I checked everyone can celebrate Thanksgiving without feeling left out. Christmas is one thing, because if you are Jewish, or Indian, or Asian you may not follow the catholic traditions of "Christmas," and I don't want to impose any christian holidays on anyone... even though I am an atheist and love christmas, but Thanksgiving is for everyone. It is the celebration of being an American... that is what most people think it symbolizes. Aside from the whole historical bastardization of the holiday (think of the slaughtered indians). Aside from all that, Thanksgiving is great. It means gorging yourself with food, drinking, and falling asleep at 8:00 p.m. once the effects of the tryptophan sets in.

I guess I am not really complaining because the fondu appeared again. (also weird mix) with the other dishes. I wonder what things looked like at Brockway. All I guess I realize theme nights don't mean a theme, they mean one night I enjoy eating at the dining hall.

Haven: Hell :: Heaven: Brockway


In the world of dining halls Brockway is the Garden of Eden near the third circle of hell. Yesterday for the first time I ventured down toward the S.U. ghetto to put all these claims of greatness to the test. Like the story Faust I trvaled deeper and deeper until, when I thought I could plunge no further into the S.U. abyss, I reached the oasis -- Brockway dining hall. The first time I entered the hall the sheer force of the room blew my mind. The ceilings are high, unlike in Haven where they feel like they are going to fall on top of you... there are illuminated signs denoting each section of their culinary delights. I felt like I had stumbled upon the meeting of some exclusive club or cult I am not allowed to join... pretty much the same way I feel whenever I awkwardly bump into Nancy Cantor and her posse.

Just so all you Haven people know you are getting screwed. They have about four more selections of everything they serve at Haven. So, if you have grapes, pears, and strawberries at Haven... at Brockway they have all those plus sliced pineapple wedges, blueberries, mandarin oranges. I would assume vegans would have to live in brewster-boland as freshman because it is the only dining hall with more than one entree avaiable. I tried two of five they had at Brockway, including the lo mein with tofu, the garbanzo bean curry. Plus, they have five different types pizzas in their Sabarro section, a stir fry section, asian food section, and the regular dining hall meal section.

I will definitely be venturing down their more often.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The Dunkin' Donuts Muffins


For anyone who would like to know the sad truth. Dunkin' Donuts muffins will fill half you dietary needs in caloric intake in just one muffin. Just wanted everyone out there to think twice before grabbing one at the dining hall in the morning.

Here is why we gain so much weight at school

Blueberry: So healthy because it is a fruit muffin, right?
I guess if you consider 470 calories healthy. And 26 percent of your total fat for the day.

Coffee Cake: 580 calories and 30 percent or your total fat for the day.

Chocolate Chip: 630 calories Oh, this one is 40 percent of your total fat for the day, 38 percent of which is saturated fat.

Pumpkin Muffin: 560 calories

Here is the link to the bakery section to check out the other culprits.

https://www.dunkindonuts.com/aboutus/nutrition/ProductList.aspx?category=Bakery

Dining Hall Laxatives?

I wanted to do a blog on something everyone discusses in detail at every meal, or post meal. It's the question: Are there laxatives in the food? If you asked me I would say... very possible. I remember certain freshmans telling me with total confidence... that their friend, who knew someone else who worked at the dining hall, saw the capsules of ExLax they store in the back. These myths seem to stick to the subconscious of every dining hall goer, just the way all the cheese and ice cream sticks to their ribs. Which is why I want to investigate them further. This week I will try talking to someone in food administration or the chefs who work in the back.

There is also one other rumor, which I believe to be a lesser rumor. Yes, even in the rumor world, there are some things that seem far more far fetched than other things. The rumor being that they sprinkle some sort of carb. powder, or something of the kind, into the sald bar so anorexic chicks gain weight.

I hope to ask some chefs at the dining halls to get their opinion on these rumors. And why they think they have been generated. Lets hope I have the answers come tonight or tomorrow.

Good Morning


Today I decided while chomping away on my cereal in the aptly named "toilet bowl" (haven dining hall) named so, because if you look at the building from afar the dormitory looks like the head of the toilet with a bowl (the dining center), that I should do some cheers and jeers. yes, cheers. There are some redeeming qualities to every dining hall. Sometimes it's not even the food. For example, this morning they were pumping some sweet jams "working my way back to you babe" by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. What a name, right? I also want to cheer attempts by the dining hall to serve cereals you could normally get in the special dietary section of the grocery store. The stuff that has less than 400 calories in one bowl. Now I can get cereals like Kashi puffs (a less sweet version of Sugar Smacks) and "Barbaras Bakery" cereals like "Shredded Spoonfulls"(another less sweet version of Life).

This morning's jeers would go to two things I tried for the first time; a breakfast biscuit and a breakfast burriot. Let me explain something beforehand. I usually eat three different things in the dining hall... cereal in the morning, with a cup of coffee, and salad and grilled chicken at dinner. This is not because I want to join a sorority or anything, it's because I am deathly afraid of dining hall food. They must put laxitives in their food, I am convinced. That, and I hate fried foods. My mom has dealt with food allergies for the last 8 years or so, and I can't imagine what someone like her would do in a dining hall to survive.

Jeer #1: Lack of supplements for those with celiac disease, lactose intolerance, and all other forms of food allergies: I can say with confidence that what they provide is not enough for these people. My boyfriend came out the other week, and as someone with lactose intolerance, it was impossible to find him a balanced meal.

Jeer #2: The Mexican food: This is the saddest of them all for me. As a San Diegan I can't handle this taco bell version they accept for quality mexican food here. And what's worse is people on the east coast love this stuff. They pack the taco bar at night. This morning I tried the breakfast burrito at haven, and it took every ounce of civility in me not to spit the piece out across the room. American cheese? Explain this to me. American cheese in mexican food?

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

The jig is up

All right Syracuse University I have a bone to pick. So, this last weekend was the ever so glorious "Paren't Weekend" The most wonderful time of the year when, part from Newhouse III going up and Chief Justic John Roberts visiting campus, the whole campus acts like they care. A ceremonious celebration akin to times during the holiday season when you clean the basebaords of your house with a toothbrush and bleach because distant realtives X,Y and Z are coming. Although, I guess in the case of Parent's Weekend we are really celebrating "lets pretend your kids are getting a better deal than they really are day."

So what does alll this diatribe have to do with the dining halls? Well, in truth it was the very event that got me thinking about how either or good or bad we have got it here as students. I guess to some level I understand the importance of doing a little house cleaning before the bank comes to town, but when I saw what happened to Haven over the weekend I also thought, man if they only knew what the real food is like.

What did I see this weekend that got me so stirred up? Well, for one fondue.... Cheese fondue with fruit and sliced backery bread for one, way better bagels (the non generic types they usually have), a wealth of new donuts. That is just the the beginning of the camelot feast. They also had hot coffee... the kind that tastes fresh because it was just brewed, and to go with the coffee, some transportable paper cups. And then there was the decor. Naturally the place was decked out with table cloths.

So, why dining hall? Why do you do this to me? Why do you taunt and tease me with all these new foods that you have in your ability to supply year round?