<p>Are there any cooking support groups around? Or do most people on here seem to surrender much too easily to the high prices of the Crossroads and the Corner, especially if they stay over break?</p>
<p>If there isn't one around, I think those of us who are cooks here should band together and form one. Plus there would be economy of scale. I'm not cooking for a family, nor am I making a permanent home here, but I've accumulated a sizeable mass of cooking implements in an effort to make up for my dorm kitchen's inadequateness nevertheless. Over the course of my semester here, I've accumulated: masala curry powder, coconut milk, a 9 inch springform pan, an apparently super-advanced basting brush from Bed and Bath, various seasonings and spices, pandan extract .... you get the picture. And fresh ingredients like ginger, garlic, herbs, etc. are all more efficiently used if pooled collectively. And oh, there's economy of scale in making (and then selling/distributing amongst ourselves) collective chicken stock. Or buying jasmine rice at $.60 to $.80 a pound by sharing and dividing the 25 pound bags you get from the Asian market off 1417 Emmet rather than being ripped off at Harris Teeter at $1.50 to $3.00 dollars a pound. (The price savings per pound are even higher with Basmati.) </p>
<p>And then, we'd also have support and encouragement and we'd get to exchange experimentive tips and fun tidbits we learnt over the semester like how toasting involves tautomerisation and an acid-catalysed reaction between a reducing sugar and an amino acid. Plus, there's nothing more important than being able to come up with your own southern-fried chicken whenever the dining halls are closed or whenever they are being lousy.</p>
<p>I suppose those involved in Greek life wouldn't join such a thing since their house and all would probably be sufficiently-equipped and all their brothers/sisters would help cook. But what about those who didn't rush?? :(</p>
<p>Those of us in old dorms don’t have anything to offer due to lack of space. I’m counting the days til I can lose the cafeteria plan and cook for myself. I can eat well for the $3700.00 I had to spend on meal plans.</p>
<p>amen vistany. The dining plan is ridiculous. And even the cheapest plan next year (50 per semester) would cost like $9.50 per meal. Mmm no thanks. There will be enough first years next year to mooch off of. I swipe my 2/3/4th year friends in and they cook me dinner. It works out well. </p>
<p>Gals, if you want, you could start a cooking club/interest group. Go to the SAC in Newcomb. Also, check out the link below. I suggest you find someone who will have a nice kitchen next year and see how they would feel about hosting such an event (perhaps a bi-monthly event?). The Grandmarc has really nice kitchens, maybe ask to put some posters up there.</p>
<p>What a great idea db. I must have hundreds of unused meals on my card. Better to give the meals away than waste them. Trading bland, shriveled up food for a home cooked meal is pure genius.</p>
<p>A cooking club at GM would be great. I’d be interested. Do the GM kitchens come fully equipped or do you need to bring your own pots, dishes etc.?</p>
<p>Is the meal plan at UVA really that bad in taste, or is there just no variety? I’m a prospective student, btw, and for me food is a pretty high priority in colleges.</p>
<p>vist I’m pretty sure you have to bring your own. But I’m not sure; I never questioned the pots and pans at my friends’ places. </p>
<p>caltech, it’s really not that bad lol. We’re a little spoiled so we complain. The main dining hall for first years is called O’Hill and it’s good. The vegetarian options are good, and there’s a stir fry station where you can add your own vegetables/meat to your stir fry; the chef will make it for you. In the morning, they have really, really good omlets. And the pizza is better than some places where you order out; I like dining hall pizza better than Ledo’s (if you’ve been there.) There’s also a sub station (like a subway/quiznos type deal) and if nothing looks good to you, you can always get a freshly made sandwich. A lot of students get their food from the dining hall; in general, it’s fresh, hot/cold (depending on what you want), and pretty good. The best way to get a feel for the food is to eat at one of the dining halls. Eat at O’hill since you’ll be eating there the most as a first year. Dinner is the best time. </p>
<p>You can click on the locations to see other menus. Also, gals doesn’t live in first year housing (i.e. Old and New dorms.) he lives in the IRC, which is a residential college that has kitchens. In general, you won’t have a kitchen as a first year unless you live in a res college.</p>
<p>Thanks db123, that was really informative. I checked out the site, and the meal plans look good, although the prices are a bit outrageous. I haven’t visited UVA yet, I’m thinking about visiting during spring break. Thanks again, and sorry to the OP for kinda hijacking this thread.</p>
<p>Some days O’Hill is really good, especially the time they brought out the coconuts and served mangoes, shrimp, fried seafood and various tropical dishes (around the end of February). They make awesome fried chicken, but they’re really bad at grilling chicken (unmarinated especially!). You can always make your own waffles, add whipped cream, fruit and ice cream … but sometimes you’re looking for some meat and you tire of eating overcooked grilled meats (which is sometimes the only meat they serve for dinner, excluding salad bar meats, soup meats and so forth). They also majorly fail at cooking rice. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, it is a joy to eat there sometimes. Just not worth the cost. Especially 6.50 per breakfast. (And I’m not talking about dinner yet.) Cooking by yourself you can make splended curried onion-cilantro scramnled eggs served with jasmine rice and hot oatmeal for less than 2 dollars’ worth of groceries. ;)</p>
I swipe my 2/3/4th year friends in and they cook me dinner. It works out well. </p>
The main dining hall for first years is called O’Hill and it’s good. The vegetarian options are good, and there’s a stir fry station where you can add your own vegetables/meat to your stir fry; the chef will make it for you. In the morning, they have really, really good omlets. And the pizza is better than some places where you order out; I like dining hall pizza better than Ledo’s (if you’ve been there.) There’s also a sub station (like a subway/quiznos type deal) and if nothing looks good to you, you can always get a freshly made sandwich. A lot of students get their food from the dining hall; in general, it’s fresh, hot/cold (depending on what you want), and pretty good. The best way to get a feel for the food is to eat at one of the dining halls. Eat at O’hill since you’ll be eating there the most as a first year. Dinner is the best time. </p>