Disastrous Dining: Great Wall Chinese

Hello, there! At the beginning of this blog, I promised to be your go-to-girl for on campus dining, your information source about the best places to eat in Bowling Green. I want to save you the hassle of finding a good spot to dine by putting my meal time on the line, trying new things, and reporting back. For the sake of positivity, I've been staying away from writing bad reviews. I'd rather point out awesome places, instead of preaching against bad ones. Students, in addition to tight budgets, are also pressed for time. Why waste valuable resources by complaining? Sometimes, however, the public deserves to know the worst out there. Welcome to my first negative review on the Starving Student.

Last weekend, I ate dinner with friends Anna and Sarah. Looking for some late night, cheap Chinese, we settled on the Great Wall on Campbell Lane. Although we knew this place to be a bit of a dive, we hoped we would luck into copious amounts of excellent, fattening food, typical to hole-in-the-wall Chinese places. I'm sorry to say that we were dead wrong.

Upon first walking into the Great Wall, we were blinded by harsh, florescent light bulbs, almost blank walls, and the smell of stale frying grease. We stuck it out, hoping to be happily surprised when our food arrived. I ordered a small portion of chicken fried rice and some crab rangoon, figuring that these commonly found "Chinese" staples would be safe. This was not the case. The fried rice lacked veggies and the chicken had the texture imaginably comparable to human brains, it was even grey. The crab was practically bathing on the plate, in the grease in which it was cooked.

The whole meal was under $6.00, although made considerably more expensive by the 75 cent individual beverages (aka 12 ounce soda cans). Even though this is considered a good price for the amount of food served, I urge you to use the following mantra: "quality, not quantity." Please, please take my advice. When it comes to Great Wall Chinese, save your money and stay home.

Good Coffee and Company: Lunch at Spencer's Coffee House

This week, I journeyed into the heart of downtown Bowling Green, with friends Allie and Justin, in search of a good afternoon meal and a good cup of coffee. All I have to say is, "Seek and ye shall find." Spencer's, just off Bowling Green's central square, offers both, along with a great atmosphere.

Once my friends and I made it through the impressively immense

threshold (the door is outrageously heavy, consider yourself warned), we were greeted by Spencer's pleasant staff in a chill, laid-back space perfect for studying or intimate conversations. I ordered a half of the "Californian" sandwich and an iced café Americano, Allie got a grilled cheese and a blackberry Italian cream soda, and Justin settled on a Cookies'n'Cream milkshake. After putting in our orders, we made our way to one of the two outdoor tables to people watch and soak up the afternoon sun.

My sandwich, a turkey on sourdough with alfa alfa sprouts, lettuce, avocado and dijon dressing, was awesome. Unlike on-campus cafés, every ingredient was fresh and assembled on the spot. My coffee was also delicious. Allie was all smiles with her meal as well. The only set back from a perfect dining experience was Justin's too well-blended (the cookies were pulvarized!) milkshake. Aside from this minor dark spot, we had a beautiful, wonderful time at Spencer's Coffee House.

The best part? The price. It's completely and totally possible to have a sandwich and a coffee for under $6.00, which is definitely comparable to what you'd pay at any of the WKU coffee shops, or the local coffee chains. It's also just over the hill from campus, which is a nice stroll, bike trip, car or bus ride away. So, I dare you to go on your own journey to Spencer's. You owe it to yourself to escape from school with fabulous food, great coffee, and inviting ambiance. Enjoy!

Old Friends, New Friends, and Great Food: My Night at Verdi Restaurant and Bar

Hello, there! Spring is in the air, so go outside and enjoy the warm weather. While you're out, you might want to check out Verdi Restaurant and Bar. This is a great little place, located on East Main Street, just off Bowling Green's scenic downtown square. I was lucky enough to venture there with my amazing photographer friend, Allie Clarke, and was able to set up an interview with Verdi's owner, Mirza, for the next night at dinner-time sharp.

This place has all a picky eater could ask for: great ambiance, great food at varying prices, and great service. Needless to say, I was very impressed. Take a look at the video below, I know you'll be sold.

If you loved these fabulous photos, be sure to check out Allie's blog at http://allieclarkephoto.blogspot.com. Make sure to stop by and see Mirza and the rest of the staff at Verdi Restaurant and Bar. They'll be happy to see you! Enjoy.

A Night at the Lodge: Montana Grille

Hi, there! Tonight, I had the pleasure of visiting yet another local eatery, the Montana Grille. Located at 1740 Scottsville Road, this place definitely stands out. It looks like a rustic hunting lodge transplanted into the middle of a suburban strip mall, you really can't miss it. After hearing great things about their burgers and ribs I invited fellow cheeseburger enthusiast, and good friend, Josh.

The first thing you notice upon entering the Grille is the comforting and appetizing smell of a wood burning stove. This, combined with the dimly lit, wood paneled interior instantly made you forget about the hustle and bustle of the concrete world outside. We were seated immediately and given drinks and delicious cornbread appropriately named "Fire-bread." Even for those like me who don't particularly enjoy cornbread, I would suggest trying this stuff. The combination of the sweet bread, occasionally laced with hot pepper, is definitely one of a kind.

For the main course, Josh ordered "The Dude's Cheeseburger" and I got the "Tomato Basil Alfredo" for the sake of variety. My dish was good, no complaints there. The sauce was delicious, and the rotisserie chicken on top was a nice, flavorful touch. It wasn't until I tried Josh's burger that I realized what I was missing. Although Montana Grille, trying to be more marketable to their patrons, provides varying dishes to suit every palate, their specialty is definitely their grilled items. The cheeseburger, which was nearly perfect in every way, is definitely worth a return trip.

Josh and I were able to leave the restaurant about $30 poorer, between the two of us. The fair is kind of pricey for the average college student, so I would save this place for a more special occasion. Overall, I'd recommend the Montana Grille to anyone who enjoys a cozy, lodge-like dining experience and has a little bit of extra dough in their wallet. Thanks!

Podcast: Interview with Ashley

This week, I interviewed my good friend, and WKU freshman, Ashley about the on-campus dining challenges she faces as a vegetarian. Listen to learn more about Ashley and her college eating woes, and her suggestions on how to improve Western's dining facilities by making them more veggie-friendly.

Feel free to share your thoughts, comments, and experiences below. Thanks!

Spring Again: The Ides of March at Mariah's

Hi, there! Sorry for the long absence, but spring break was last week. During my time off, I was able to find some much needed relaxation time. Unfortunately, whilst partaking in all of this overdue down time, I failed to update. No need to fear, because I'm back with a new restaurant review.

Tonight, I wandered into downtown Bowling Green with my lovely roommate Ashley to dine at Mariah's. Located on the corner of State and 8th street, in Bowling Green's oldest brick house, this place is a short drive, or walk (come on, WKU students are used to walking), from campus. Upon parking easily and walking through the entry way, we were immediately seated. This quick service might be account of us arriving on a Monday night, not exactly peak restaurant hours, but both hostess and waiter were courteous and attentive.

For dinner, I ordered a half turkey club with potato soup and Ashley ate a Gardenburger with a sweet potato. After eating deliciously hot rolls, we both enjoyed our entrees. As for my turkey club, I have to say that the bread was the best part. The light, warm flatbread outshone the thinly sliced flavorful turkey and even the subtle spice and olive oil dressing. The soup, although it could have been a little warmer (I'm a picky eater, my apologies), was honestly some of the best potato soup I'd ever had. Ashley agreed.

We were both very impressed with the renovations and the ambiance set within this historic building. It seems that the best elements of the old (i.e. the molding around the doorways and windows) were preserved, alongside the modern features including the open floor plan and colorful mural. I'd recommend this place for the college student looking for a nice, moderately priced dining experience. I was able to come away only $12 dollars lighter, though I shied away from the more expensive items on the menu. Give this place a shot, you owe it to yourself.

Dorm Cooking Adventures

So, I know that this blog has mainly been about eating out and around campus. It's true that most college students get the majority of their meals in the cafeteria, other on campus dining centers, or somewhere off campus on the go, but what about those who cook for themselves? On campus? I have to admit, for a self-proclaimed foodie who loves to cook, I've always avoided doing so. Not having a set of pots and pans and the like (what college student has room to store such things), or the money to buy all of my ingredients, I saw the idea of cooking for myself as a splendid one, yet hopelessly unattainable. Once I started brainstorming ideas for "The Starving Student," it became all too apparent that, at sometime, I would have to put my skills and patience to the test and ask the question: Can a college student successfully cook a full meal in a dorm kitchen? This week, I took on this query and have returned with an answer.

My task: Guacamole and chips, Chicken Fajitas, and Bananas in Caramel Sauce

The place: your average residence-hall kitchen.

It all started with a trip to the Kroger on Campbell Lane where I purchased my ingredients. I was able to get out of there for around $40, which is a steep price I know. Although, I did opt for organic poultry and more authentic ethnic ingredients, such as the tortilla shells and black beans. Upon returning to the dorm, I unloaded my four bags of groceries along with the pots and pans coaxed away from my father (bless him) over the weekend. My cooking experience is documented in the photo slide show featured in this entry. The photos were taken by both myself and my roommate.

Phase 1: Guacamole! Possibly the most fun part of the whole adventure. My roommate, the lovely Ashley, and I made the guac the real way, with our hands.

Phase 2: Chopping the veggies. I did the guacamole and veggie chopping in the room, not wanting to monopolize the kitchen any more than necessary. Note to self: chop onions in a more ventilated area next time.

Phase 3: Putting everything together. At this point, we wandered into the kitchen and began cooking the rice, chicken, and vegetables. Ashley took the photos from here on out, as I was busy monitoring all the range top and oven.

Phase 4: Good eatin's.

Phase 5: Dessert. Bananas in Caramel Sauce: trust me, you do NOT want to know how much butter we used here.

Overall, the cooking adventure was a success! It is possible to cook a full meal in a residence hall kitchen. I actually had some fun, and it was nice to get a break from on campus dining. I would not, however, recommend this for most meals as it is a hassle, and pretty darn expensive. If you'd like to know more about the recipes or ingredients used, feel free to email me at anna.anderson931@wku.edu. Thanks!