Miranda Writes

One of the most frequently asked questions on my tours is “How’s the food?” Now, I’m sure at Hopkins, people have a variety of answers to that question, but here’s my take on the food options at Hopkins, from a vegetarian.

The goals/the rules: No fish, no meat. Can’t just live on pizza and fries (à la CTY kids I saw last summer). Need enough protein (my mother has taught me well!). Variety is nice too.

Location #1: FFC

Highlights include:

• Vegetarian action station. An action station means that there’s a theme (like quesadillas), but you choose which ingredients you want, and they make it for you right there).
• Panini press. Now they have awesome Panini bread every day, so you can make really good sandwiches.
• Salad bar. I don’t consider salads full meals, but some people do, and they tell me that it has a wonderful selection. They have several types of lettuce, and LOTS of toppings, including things like hummus that you can use elsewhere!
• Meatless Monday specials. On Monday, they do fun specials like vegetable pizza or eggplant parmesan.
• Better labeling. They’re doing a much better job this semester with labeling food as vegetarian.
• Omelet station in the mornings. They’re delicious, and Ms. Montoya (who makes them) is a wonderful person.
• The potato leek soup and the Mediterranean pasta.  They’re amazing, and deserve their own bullet point.

Other thoughts: I’ve gotten to appreciate the FFC more and more. They’re added lots of things to the menu I really enjoy, and

Location #2: Levering

Highlights include:

• Veggie burgers, mozzarella sticks, and sweet potato fries!
• Eggplant parm at the sandwich place
• A salad place
• Awesome vegetable calzones
• Sushi
• Pura Vida just started selling these hummus and pretzel chip cups, which I’m in love with.

Other thoughts: I’m personally not a huge fan of Levering, but manyMANYmany other people would disagree. There are about five different stations in Levering, so chances are you’ll find something.

Location #3: Nolan’s

Highlights include:

• Smoothies. Upperclassmen can use a meal swipe for these, which makes them cooler.
• Omelet station. One of the main reasons this is awesome is because super nice people always work there, and they usually have tater tots.
• Salad bar (see FFC and salad bar)
• ONION RINGS. These are rare, but they’re amazing. I may or may not have gotten a full meal swipe’s worth of these and fried okra last time they had them.

Other thoughts: Nolan’s is only open for dinner, and the menu is relatively fixed. However, if you live in Charles Commons, you can wear your slippers to dinner!

Location #4: Charles St. Market/Einstein’s

Highlights include:

• Bagels. All of them.
• Sushi
• Hummus and pita chips
• Lots of good frozen entrees
• Lots of vegan things…if you’re vegan and looking for things like vegan cheese, you’ll find them here.
• Cereal by the pound

Other thoughts: Everyone always manages to find things to buy at CharMar…it’s why freshmen run out of dining dollars so quickly!

Location #5: Charles Village

Highlights include:

• Tamber’s. It’s got American AND Indian vegetarian food and it’s all delicious.
• Uni Mini. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned their mozzarella sticks. They also have things like falafel and egg and cheese sandwiches.
• Chipotle. Did you know guacamole is included in the vegetarian burrito?
• Subway. New accomplishment: eating the foot long veggie patty sandwich!
• Carma’s. Local little café with lots of good food.
• One World. It’s all vegetarian (and some is vegan)!
• Niwana. Delicious Japanese and Korean food.
• Silk Road. It’s technicall on campus, but it doesn’t take dining dollars, so it’s being included here. It’s got Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean food, and it’s all very affordable.

Overall thoughts

It’s definitely more difficult than at home if you have any sort of eating limitation (be it religious, lifestyle choice, medical, allergy, what have you). However, after over a year and a half of living on primarily meal swipes and dining dollars, I’ve gotten much more creative, and more appreciative. The FFC has a Panini press, a toaster, and a microwave – it’s easy to make things like quesadillas, hot sandwiches, and personalized pasta. The salad bar has lots of things to add on – even if the pasta action station doesn’t have a lot for vegetarians, I can still add things like chickpeas, carrots, broccoli, peas, and cheese from the salad bar.  So, in conclusion, yes, there are limitations. Yes, you certainly won’t have all the options you had at home. But will you starve? No. Will you get more creative? Yes. Do I just eat pizza and French fries every day? Absolutely not!

On our own vegetarian cooking last Passover!

And if you want something adorable and funny, watch this video!