Grilled Cheese

So, not to lie, but I've never been a big fan of grilled cheese. The other day I was getting a burger at the Grill Zone, and my friend Will got grilled cheese. After he was done he told me that this station made a pretty darn good grilled cheese sandwich, and I didn't think much of it...but tonight, for a change of pace, I decided to try their grilled cheese. And it was delicious. I can't say that I've enjoyed too many restaurants' grilled cheese sandwiches, but I loved what I ate tonight. They use standard American cheese, but what made it so appealing was their bread. Their toast tasted like that from Whataburger, which is quite appealing. Its soft, but with a little bit crunchier exterior. Along with the grilled cheese sandwich I had a bottle of water, which was a great compliment to wash down the very flavorful sandwich. And, the coffee which I had, from Coates, was quite good as well...with two Sweet n' Lows and some skim milk. I had this so I can stay up and study, yet the food is hearty enough to hold me over til I go to bed. I must say, for anyone who isn't a huge fan of grilled cheese, try Grill Zone's.

Grill Works...a little bit

Today I had a nice American meal from Grill Works. Grill Works is the burger bar up at Coates. The reason I chose to eat there today is because generally around 12:30 PM, when I get out of my class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, there is a monstrous line in Coates for the sandwich bar and I generally don't eat the school's pizza. My favorite item at Grill Works is the turkey burger with bacon and pepperjack cheese. I prefer a turkey burger compared to the standard Angus burger because it is leaner, healthier meat (leaner meaning it contains less fat.) The reason I choose pepperjack cheese is not only because I like a spicier meal, but I like to mock my sandwiches after those from Whataburger. In my favorite Whataburger burgers they include pepperjack and bacon, the two things which I make sure are on mine. In addition to pepperjack and bacon, at Whataburger I get jalapenos on my burger, therefore I do the same at Grill Zone. After they are done cooking my burger, I bring it over to the condiment bar. From there I include lettuce, red onions, pickles and ketchup. If I feel hungry enough I'll also make second order...of mozzarella sticks. Mozzarella sticks, here at least, are only good with marinara sauce. Because this is not what one would call a particularly light meal, I prefer water with this because water doesn't have too overwhelming of a flavor and doesn't fill you up like a soda or Gatorade would.

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Sandwich Bar at Coates

Ever have a class that ends under half an hour after Mabee dining hall closes? Today was one of those circumstances and it's always frustrating especially since Mabee has a much more appealing food selection. Another negative aspect about today was that when I woke up I faintly heard my roommate saying "...well I either have strep or mono, they'll find out tomorrow." Whenever I feel like there is the possibility that I will become sick, or whenever I start feeling under the weather, I make sure I wash my hands consistently, get good sleep, but most importantly I eat healthy. I woke up feeling pretty crappy so I decided to make a nutritious sandwich up at Coates. I like to think I have perfected making a sandwich given the ingredients the school has up at the Commons. I ALWAYS start my sandwich with focaccia bread. Focaccia is similar to the Italian herbs and cheese bread which they have at Subway's (the bread that is shown in the slideshow at the bottom of the page.) I choose turkey as my primary meat (sometimes I'll feel adventurous and order bacon, too) and more than likely mozzarella as my dairy, ALWAYS TOASTED. Because I believe most places do not know how to prepare/serve lettuce well on sandwiches, I prefer spinach. Spinach is also a great source of iron, calcium and other nutrients such as vitamin A and C. Along with spinach, alfalfa sprouts are another good vegetable to include in the sandwich. Alfalfa sprouts are a great source of fiber (as dehydrated alfalfa is used as a dietary supplement in the pill form,) as well as they generally contain a good amount of protein, hence the reason they are a great source of energy for livestock. I also include red onions and bell peppers. For my dressing, I'll generally go with either pesto and pesto mayo, or dijon mustard and spicy radish dressing. The price of this sandwich is exactly $6.18, similar to what you would pay at Subway or Quiznos, but because meal plan/Tiger Bucks is essentially monopoly money that a student's parents generally pay for, it's more economically advantageous to buy a sandwich up at Coates. A good snack to have with a sandwich like this is Doritos Baked Sour Cream & Cheddar chips. To stay healthy, I also recommend drinking water with an Airborne. Airborne is an effervescent that you put into a water and it turns it into a mildly carbonated, lightly fruity beverage which includes 1667% of one's daily vitamin C need. This copious amount of vitamin C is good for supporting a healthy immune system.
Overall I would give this meal an 8/10 due to its consistency in providing a hearty, tasty, nutritious meal.

Not Quite Taco Taco, But It'll Do

This morning I had an early breakfast because I pulled an all-nighter reviewing for a test (what a student I am.) Because I usually don't get up at the butt crack of dawn, I don't find myself getting to Mabee too often for breakfast. I went around 8 AM today which is really pleasant time to go because the dining hall is quiet and there are no lines. Plus, if you are a sports enthusiast like myself you can get prime seating to watch ESPN on the flat screen. In the morning you can get breakfast at a select few areas, including Home Zone, the bakery good area, the do-it-yourself fruit parfait section, the cold fruit shelf or, if you feel so inclined, you can buy pre-made sushi. I decided to go to the Home Zone. This bar has a wide array of breakfast selections one can make, and aside from the pancakes and french toast you cannot order, the selection is similar to that of any breakfast joint. The possibilities range from sausage and eggs, to biscuits and gravy and for those who are not familiar with San Antonio, of course...breakfast tacos. I decided to get breakfast tacos, which can be filled with anything from bacon to beans to salsa. The types of tacos I get are generally the same, but with different meats each time. In one I will get chorizo, which is a sausage smoked with chili powder and dried smoked red peppers. Another taco will include sausage and egg, and the third taco will have migas. Migas, which literally means "crumbs," is a mixed dish which includes egg, tortilla bits, onions, tomatoes, peppers, cheese and chorizo. I also add refried beans and cheese into all three tacos. As a Mexican dish and a breakfast taco essential, I get salsa as well. A good drink to have with breakfast is the Odwalla orange juice. It is freshly squeezed with 100% juice and an ample amount of Vitamin C to support a healthy immune system. Granted the juice is $3.19, but it's a hell of a lot better than the generic Minute Maid orange juice which tastes like complete concentrate. This is approximately a $7 to $8 meal.

Eating Tip: If you are planning on eating at either Mabee or Coates, grab some napkins while you're at the utensil bar. I've realized that both these dining facilities have removed many of the table-top napkin dispensers for reasons I don't know. Whatever the reason, it is obnoxious to have to get up in the middle of a meal when you spill something or get some food sauce on your hands/face. If you take the initiative to grab some napkins right near the check out line you will never have to leave your personal dining dōjō.