The Most Delicious Meal I Ever Served in College

Eating at college dining halls can be a mixed experience. Some days, you wonder if you were better off bringing your own meals. But there have also been those rare occasions where the dining hall exceeded all expectations and served up a meal that you will never forget. For me, that iconic dish was a duck paté that I savored almost a decade later.

Fine Dining at Bowdoin College

In my undergraduate days at Bowdoin, the dining services were the best in the US. The Thanksgiving and holiday dinners were especially legendary, with people lining up even before the doors opened. However, the most memorable meal didn’t come during one of these special occasions. I had come to the Super Snack area around 11 PM on a regular weekend night, where I discovered a unique dish that has become one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten.

The Forbidden Duck Paté

“Super Snacks” was the name given to these late-night dining options. One night, one of my friends, who was working in the kitchen, beckoned me over to the culinary delight. There, I found a duck paté sitting in a dish. It had been served to donors earlier that day and then was passed over in favor of traditional American favorites like nachos and salsa by the guests. This was an injustice that I was happy to rectify. That paté was, without a doubt, one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted. It melted in my mouth, and the flavor was nothing short of delightful. It’s almost impossible to describe the taste in words.

Nearly a decade later, I still fondly remember that meal. The culinary skills of the cook who served it went beyond expectations, and the welcoming staff made sure even the vegetarian students like me had options.

A Vegetarian’s Haven

During my time at another small state college, I was the only vegetarian on campus. However, the head cook there had big dreams to cater to all students’ tastes. He always made sure I had more than just a simple salad bar to choose from. He was a fantastic cook, and one of the best meals I had during that time was a pizza that simply blew me away.

The Pizza That Changed My Mind

There was a weekly pizza night, and each week he would experiment with different recipes for me. One night, he replaced the traditional tomato sauce with ranch dressing, and then he topped it with several different kinds of fancy cheeses and an assortment of vegetables. It was over 10 years ago, but that pizza remains the best pizza I have ever had, and I have tried countless others since then.

This pizza was a game-changer for me. It didn’t just satisfy my taste buds; it also made me realize how diverse and creative one can be with traditional Italian dishes. The cook’s innovative approach to making veggie pizza was something that still resonates with me today.

These memories remind me why I cherished my college dining hall experiences. They were more than just meals; they were moments that brought people together and offered unforgettable flavors. Whether it was the duck paté or the ranch-dressing-topped pizza, these meals were truly special.