It's tough to be a foodie at college. Late-night delivery and midday paninis don't exactly cultivate a refined palate.
But it's okay; if you know what you're getting on campus and what you can expect, you won't often be let down. We Jumbos have it pretty good - there are lots of options and the quality is, if nothing else, consistent. As long as we're not comparing the flank steak at Dewick to the cuts at Capital Grille, we have every right to be content with our dining options.
There are, however, a few things that students should not settle for on campus. It's not a matter of what campus isn't providing us, but what else there is to be found in area restaurants, bars, and cafés.
Here is the first installment of what I think all true foodies should make it their business to seek out in Boston:
The perfect java fix. If you're not a fan of espresso, you can stop reading now and not come back until you've learned to love coffee. The art of caffeine consumption is worthy of an entire column, but for now I'll stick to the basics. A great coffeeshop gives you a whole new reason to wander off the Hill, and can be a haven from school for just a few hours without breaking your bank.
Not all cafés are created equal, so if you have preconceptions about the coffeeshop "type," think again. Whether you want steady music and lots of people-watching or a cozy corner to disappear into, you'll be able to find it - even if not on the first try.
Finding your favorite drink on the menu and getting recommendations from a knowledgeable barista can renew your interest in coffee. Maybe you'll learn that what you've wanted all along isn't a latte, it's a Macchiato.
The perfect slice. Here's where I scandalize half of Tufts: it probably isn't (or wasn't ever) on Points. Most delivery pizzas look like an oil slick by the time you get them, and you're lucky if they get at least one of the toppings right.
Whether you like crispy crusts or deep dish styles, it's worth a trip into a pizzeria to enjoy your pizza hot off the tray - not soggy and stuck to a cardboard box. A classic Margherita pizza is best fresh - tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, the colors of the Italian flag.
I know the Boston Ave. pizza gauntlet is an easy fallback, but do yourself a favor sometime and think outside the box. The Orange Line and the North End aren't that far.
The perfect scoop. Sorry, soft-serve fro-yo fans. Those machines are dulling your ice cream senses. And I'm pretty sure the lactose-free options are slim for intolerant Jumbos - which is not the case at some of Boston's finer ice cream shops.
There's no sense in waiting until Sundae Night, where you wait in a line for 20 minutes only to find all the good flavors are gone and, with a look at the uninspiring topping selection, settle for just a sugar cone. Not when Emack & Bolio's has waffle cones dunked in chocolate and rolled in Fruity Pebbles.
Aren't you glad you know that now? I feel a bit bad for leaving the coffee-haters in the dark, now. But not too bad. They probably hate ice cream too.
The best part about all of this? There is no perfect java fix/slice/scoop. The fun is in finding one you identify with, and in patronizing the dining establishment you want to support.
Then, of course, you get to argue with your friends to see who's right, and lots of field work and sampling is required.
Kate Peck is a senior majoring in English. She can be reached at katherine.peck@tufts.edu.
