Week One: Introduction and Central Market

I have what some may consider an unhealthy obsession with food.  I know exactly what you’re thinking and no, I am not a calorie counting fiend who measures every ounce gained or lost on a daily basis. Quite the opposite in fact, I rarely step on a scale. My relationship with food is one of love and comfort. We each have that one type of food that can lift us out of any bad mood no matter how despicable it may be.

I find it intriguing that food has the ability to inspire such strong emotions in people. I’ve discovered in college that perhaps the most common emotion inspired by the food here is nostalgia. Sorry TCU, but the Brown Lupton University Union cafeteria just doesn’t always cut it. I’ve witnessed many a student gazing morosely at a bland turkey sandwich or grease coated piece of pizza and wishing that they were at home eating mom’s spaghetti and meatballs. Aside from the often sub-par variety of dishes, getting food at the BLUU often leaves me feeling like part of a herd of thousands of lions that are all fighting over one single zebra carcass. If you are willing to brave the fifteen minute wait for a salad, chances are favorable that all of the lettuce will be gone by the time you get to the front of the line. Sadly, the frequent lack of decent food in the BLUU is what inspired me to choose this topic for my blog.

For as long as I can remember, I have been in charge of baking birthday cakes and cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my family. Cooking is a source of entertainment and relaxation for me. During a stressful week I can almost always be found in the kitchen baking some kind of calorie-dense source of deliciousness. It is my goal to reveal my favorite recipes and restaurants to help the average college student eat healthy and delicious food without breaking the bank.

Just this evening I went on an eating adventure with my friends to Central Market. Although its reputation calls to mind all of its expensive specialty grocery items, it is a little known fact that purchasing a single meal at Central Market is not only delicious but also inexpensive if you know what to look for.          

Thanks to Central Market, tonight I enjoyed a plate of sushi and a vegetarian egg roll for ten dollars. Not too shabby for a celebration dinner after the first week of classes. The options are limitless- they have a prepared food section with everything from a sandwich and salad bar to crab cakes and salmon. They also offer a variety of fresh soups, which is what makes it one of my favorite places to grab lunch. A small bowl of soup goes for about $3.00. I guess you can call me an unofficial “foodie,” which is the term that Central Market has coined for their employees who love all things food and want to share their knowledge with others. Their website (centralmarket.com) talks a lot more about what they have to offer. So next time you are looking for a place with some variety where you can sit down and eat a good hot meal, Central Market is a great option, especially if you are looking for a break from the collegiate cafeteria routine.

Happy eating!