With the semester nearing its close by the day, some problems seem to matter much less than others. There’s the two-week-old laundry that’s been piling up, there’s that date you’ve been meaning to go on with that girl in your psychology class and there are those texts you haven’t answered from your friends and family in an attempt to completely lock in during these dire times.
However, even in this time of stress and intense studying, you may find yourself with a much different problem — an abundance of PLUS Swipes. The whole semester you were telling yourself, “I’m gonna spend these sparingly and make the most out of them.” Until there's a week and a half left of school, and you have too many to spend. I, too, found myself in this conundrum last fall and just one thing came to mind: I would have to try them all. I would make the most of this problem.
I decided I would hit my three main spots first. Subway was as good as it can be, but for a South Campus man like myself, it holds a special place in my heart. Bojangles and Chick-fil-A were perfect as they always are. There is no going wrong with the big three. A spicy chicken sandwich from Chick, a three-piece supreme box from Bojo and that ever so lovely six-inch sub from Subway; they all get the job done.
Upon discovering these next few meals, I found I was blissfully ignorant to the world of flavors surrounding me on the bottom floor of Lenoir Dining Hall. Bandido's Mexican Cafe, Alpine Bagel, Bento Sushi and Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken fall right below the renowned big three for me. All offering such vastly different tastes, but all so equivalently necessary, all so amazing in their own sense.
It was then that I knew I was so lost in the mainstream of UNC eateries, as I believe many are in our tight-knit community. I had no idea the diversity of flavor that existed in places like Mediterranean Deli or CholaNad. The tastiness of a tikka masala bowl and the beautiful pasta sides of a three-item sampler — cuisine that was so startlingly new to me but so profound in its impression.
As my finals week was coming to an end, I started to feel successful in my hike through the endless opportunities my mountain of PLUS Swipes had to offer. I could think of no better ending than a fresh and savory cone of ice cream from The Scoop or even a juicy and sweet Freez from La Farm Bakery. Nothing better to make me feel better about missing out on that distant 4.0.
For my last day in the lovely Chapel Hill last semester, I traveled to the safe confines of Chase Dining Hall and enjoyed a soothing caramel coffee from Port City Java alongside some snacks that I had gathered from the Rams Market right below. Though I was so glad to have finally conquered the food landscape of UNC, it felt bittersweet.
If I could do it again I would. This semester I do not have nearly as many PLUS Swipes or nearly as much time to do that again. So I would offer this piece of amateur food critic wisdom to my peers in Chapel Hill: try everything. When you get some extra time alone, when you’re having a busy work day or when you’re simply just enjoying the sometimes beautiful weather of our college town, go somewhere different. Though it can be easy to do and even eat the comfortable things, some of our best experiences come from stepping out of habit and simply trying something new.
