Culinary Policy

Will:

10/24/11

Last week I strolled up to Richmond with some other Hampden-Sydney students to meet with alumni in the area. We met with one alumni over lunch down at the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank and had to snap a picture when he excused himself from the table. The meal was absolutely delicious:

Now eating at the FED is not for the light hearted. First I had to fight my way through the occupy richmond group protesting outside (I guess they are franchising their movement). Then you have to be screened in the security area which is outfitted with bullet proof glass and has its own resident rottweiler.

After finally making it to the lobby, it was quick elevator ride to the 23rd floor where the table was set and ready to go. Although not pictured the view from the 23rd floor of the FED has you looking directly over BB&T Capital Markets. I found this to be incredibly ironic that the employees at the FED have such oversight of banks even at lunch.

The meal itself left me simply craving more. I ate off the buffet and had perfectly buttered green beans, garlic mash potatoes, marinated pasta, juicy watermelon, and a mini beef filet. Now I am not a huge fan of government oversight and regulation, but I do think the Federal Reserve System should add a third mandate and try and take on regulating the restaurant industry.

Lunch at the TI

10/20/11

Will:

So last week I swiped my card to head down to the moans...and like most days everything there was awful. This day was particularly terrible to the point where I had to go to the TI. I am sure the Armark makes a killing off lazy kids like me that pay twice for lunch, once with the card and then decide to go to the TI.

I headed down to the TI and took a look at their ridiculous menu. For the past 3 months the oven has been broken. I even asked about the oven and they told me it was off at building and grounds being fixed. Thats right B&G fixes the TI ovens when they break, they don't hire a technician to come in, they just send it to the same guys that paint over mold.

Looking at what was left on the menu it becomes apparent very quickly that almost all the different meals are nothing more than chicken tenders wrapped up in different tortilla shells and mixed with different sauces. In fact I am almost sure the majority of the menu was just someone drunk in the kitchen with a ton of chicken tenders making up different names for dishes.

This being said I noticed that the lunch special was a turkey sandwich, bowl of mac and cheese and a softdrink all for 5 bucks:

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the turkey sandwich was made with actual carved turkey and not just old deli meat. Also the bread was of unusually high quality. Even though the mac and cheese left much to be desired, I would call the overall meal a success. And don't worry all you guys that have left the hill, the high quality service with a smile attitude is still completely nonexistent down in the TI!