What were they thinking? With budget cuts abound, someone in DDS must have a spending hangover. Imagine the cost in employee hours of someone having to update the graphics each day plus the original cost of purchasing the screen and installing it with tens of feet of cable. It is not like a whiteboard could have served the same purpose...
Tonight's dinner was a disappointment. The tilapia was watery and bland, making one regretful of the decision to choose it as a second dinner, especially when Homeplate featured sirloin steak. The accompanying green beans were standard faire, neither taking away nor adding to the meal as a whole. The mashed potatoes were the one bright spot of the combination featuring a smooth texture and delicate flavoring. The potatoes leave a sanguine sense of the future of FoCo spuds.
A FoCo grill classic! The JoYo is a chicken cheese steak with ranch, hot sauce, cheese, and veggies. It is a tad spicy for those who do not care for spice, a bit fattening for those who do not care for fat, and a little large for those that do not care for big things in their mouth. However, this iconic sandwich is probably the most cited of the grill's "secret menu". Most importantly, as my dear friend C. Plank points out, "...it's not even that good compared to like a regular cheese steak but the grill guys think you're so much more legit. And isn't that what really matters?" Yes indeed, Plank, yes indeed.
With its blend of three cheeses and three meats, The Muffalato is pure decadence. But its hefty ingredient list and artisan bread will stretch your DBA, making The Muffalato one of FoCo's most pricey sandwiches. Certainly only the finest of FoCo patrons can be spied on campus indulging in its carnal pleasure. The origin of the sandwich can likely be traced to the muffuletta of New Orleans, perhaps to a southern belle who took a short term position behind the FoCo sandwich station (see here for more information). When the fortune from your fraternity memoir comes through, and you are depressed because your significant other let you go for a freshman, give The Muffalato a ride through your alimentary canal.
No, it is not the name of a great MC or porn star - rather it is the name of an exquisite blending of two opposing titans of flavor. The Master Blaster, another item from the FoCo grill's "secret menu", consists of a breaded chicken filet doused in teriyaki and buffalo sauce all on texas toast. The combination of the two varied flavors makes The Master Blaster a sandwich not for the faint of heart. Yet, there is something strangely alluring about its strength and vigor even for those who only infrequently partake in grill consumption. Give The Master Blaster a chance, if not for its flavor then at least for its novelty.
Now, we leave the realm of the healthy and enter that of the indulgent. The Quadzilla is part of the grill's "secret menu". It consists of four hamburger patties stacked vertically on a single bun. Its principal advantage over the HOP's Big Bad Burger is a decrease in preparation time due to the use of four individual patties. While this dish may be artery clogging and even a little perverse, it sometimes serves as the perfect antidote to the unfortunate night time antics that many at the college find themselves participating in. The carefully trained FoCo eye will have noticed that within the past couple of years the FoCo grill has started using thicker, more juicy patties for its burgers, making an '09 Quadzilla much more substantial than its '06 brethren.
You may consider the term 'healthy cheese steak' a bit of an oxymoron. Yet, FoCo delivers! The key is the removal of the fatty cheese as well as the carbohydrate filled bread. What one is then left with is pure protein and those essential veggies. Opt for chicken instead of steak to seal the deal. There is still plenty of taste to go around.
My dinner companion and I decided to try the Caramelized Black Pepper Chicken with Jasmine Rice and Garlic Tort at FoCo tonight. While the texture was smooth, and the aroma pleasing, the garlic flavor was fairly sharp to one's sensibilities. The jasmine rice had a hint of jasmine but a general sentiment near that of Japanese sticky rice. In sum the plate was satisfactory but not one to write home about.
The Carnival, is a sensual sandwich which will be covered in a future post. Although not listed on the FoCo sandwich board, it is a special every few weeks and if asked for, the attendants will understand your bidding. In this photo you shall spy a similar, healthier cousin of The Carnival from the FoCo sandwich station. What really gives The Carnival its kick is the combination of avocado and dijon mustard - which sounds exotic but must be tried to be understood. This wrap does away with The Carnival's bacon and substitutes the ham for healthier baked turkey. However that essential kick from the dijon/avocado combination is still present. Unfortunately the attendant wrapped the concoction a wee bit stout making its consumption more difficult than should be.
Feast your eyes on the juicy tidbit that is The Rachel. A FoCo special every week or so, although available on the FoCo "secret menu" (more about that in later posts!), The Rachel is a delight sure to entice even the casual FoCo attendee. The Rachel is a derivative of the much lauded FoCo Grill reuben which is a staple of The College diet. Essentially a reuben filled with a turkey derived meat, The Rachel is perfect for a quick snack or as the core of a full FoCo dinner. Enjoy!
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