Among the array of changes that have taken place at CSB/SJU, the most intimate have been the facelifts and food shifts at both campuses’ dining services. A student head count is a good indicator of which facility is winning the battle.
Not surprisingly, the Gorecki Empire has enticed our taste buds since its inception in 2008, turning McGlynn’s into a ghost town and monopolizing all the railroads. A rivalry between the Ref. and Gorecki is well under-way, but how did we get into this pickle?
As some of us remember in the recesses of our first year, there was a dungeon of a dining hall called “The Café” at St. Ben’s. It boasted several themed rooms, a big screen television and a shortage of food. It felt like a mile off campus and it lost to the Ref. down the board.
As St. Ben’s was going through its mid-life identity crisis, its initiative to regain Bennies was food — a bounty of vegetables, bright colors and cleanliness. It turned out that everything Johnnies craved was sitting in Gorecki. We could see an economic shift as the Link carried Johnnies away from Sagatagan to eat.
The Ref. started seeing empty tables and vengeance overcame. It was inclined to make some “big changes” and made renovations to appear superior once again. Somehow, this change only catered to the vain. The main ingredient it missed in the process was improving the food. If anything, after the renovation, it seemed like the few original options were merely spaced out. The Ref. still lacks a selection of fruit and a comparable salad bar.
Recently, the Ref. has surprised and exceeded my expectations that have usually fallen short at Gorecki. It established the “hot American” grilled sandwich that has spread in popularity on the grassroots level. Combine this with the authentic potato chips and you have an award-winning meal. After further research, empirical evidence shows that they only serve it two days a week. Foiled!
It seems as though Gorecki has cooked its competition, but the Ref. is showing signs of hope (the blessed return of green tea). Nevertheless, it has been a roller coaster ride as St. John’s and St. Ben’s fight for our stomachs. Let’s hope amid the chaos and tasty treats, no one gets puked on.
This is the opinion of David Johnson, an SJU senior.