Food at any college isn’t perfect, since it will never be like the food you’re used to eating at home.
However, I’ve come to appreciate food served by Glar and other places on campus over the past four years. Cooking is hard and it takes time, as I quickly learned when I finally had housing with a kitchen last year. Harder classes, increased leadership responsibilities, and a part-time job at the writing center over the past two years have made me come to love the convenience of being able to eat at Glar.
About two weeks from now, I’ll be a college graduate, and in the past couple of weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on my experiences at McDaniel and what I like and love about this school. For now, let me leave you with a list of what I’ll miss food-wise.
Chicken Tender Thursday: Glar at its finest
1. Chicken tenders
Most McDaniel students will agree that the best time of the week to eat at Glar is Chicken Tender Thursday, when the main meal of the day is chicken tenders. Glar chicken tenders are some of the tastiest I’ve ever had, and I’ll miss the weekly ritual of eating them with other chicken tender fanatics.
2. Glar cookies
Not a day goes by that Glar doesn’t serve cookies at the dessert bar. My favorites are the M&Ms cookies, which are basically standard chocolate chip cookies with M&Ms in them. They’re good in Glar’s soft serve frozen yogurt or, if you’re looking for a smaller dessert, on their own
3. Chicken pot pie
Glar’s chicken pot pie isn’t pot pie in the traditional sense — because it’s made to feed the masses, it’s basically all of the chicken pot pie fillings with a biscuit on top instead of pie crust. It’s excellent comfort food and something I’ll have to learn how to make when I’m cooking for myself.
4. Hot open-faced turkey
Another staple of Glar comfort food. The sandwich station always has a hot meat option, and at least three times a week, it’s roast turkey. While it’s good in cold sandwiches, it’s even better when eaten with just bread and the addition of gravy.
5. The waffle maker
Glar has one of those commercial waffle irons that you’d find at a hotel that serves continental breakfast. Waffles at Glar aren’t just for breakfast either — waffle batter is on hand during all meals of the day, and on some days, it comes in flavors like strawberry or blueberry. On rare days, the waffle batter is pumpkin or chocolate. There’s plenty of toppings to choose from too, like cherries, strawberries, whipped topping, cinnamon sugar, and of course, syrup.
6. Pub fries
McDaniel’s other main eating spot on campus is the Pub, where you can get standard fried cooked-to-order fare. In spite of what its name implies, no alcohol is served there, but the French fries they serve are really good. Because this is Maryland, there’s always a big container of Old Bay on hand, so my fries never go unseasoned.
7. Lattes
Fortunately, I’ll be able to get lattes just about anywhere, but once I move back in with my parents, I’ll either have to drive to get them or make sub-par experimental versions with my Keurig. On campus, however, I’ve had the luxury of being able to walk a short distance to have someone do a much better job of making lattes for me.
