If you have used or are currently using a dining plan at MU, you know how easy it is to get sick of the food. But what if I told you that I used my swipes to eat St. Louis-style ribs and smoked salmon?
Last Thursday, MU Campus Dining Services hosted one of its Culinary Discovery Series events. The theme for this five-course meal was the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things.”
The event was led by Chef Eric Cartwright. Attendees were shown how each course was made as Cartwright prepared the meal.
This event was exclusive to people with dining plans and cost four meal swipes to attend. And it was worth it.
Each course had a name that was based off a scene from “Stranger Things.” Before we ate, we watched the scene the name was taken from.
The night started out with Coca-Cola glazed ribs, which I thoroughly enjoyed even though I tend to avoid meat.
My personal favorite, which came next, was called “Leggo my Eggo.” If you watch the show, you probably know that one of the main characters, Eleven, loves her waffles. You may assume this would mean a plain waffle on a plate with some syrup on the side, but this was not the case.
Cartwright decided to do something a little different, serving smoked salmon and crème fraiche with a potato waffle on top. The salmon was excellent in flavor and much-appreciated considering the dining halls don’t usually serve smoked salmon.
The third item on the menu was a spin on a casserole. We were served creamed gnocchi with tuna confit. This was a runner-up to my personal favorite of the night. The flavor again was excellent, and it was oh-so-creamy.
For the main course, we were served buttermilk fried chicken with braised greens and a biscuit. Now, I’m not a huge fried chicken person, but it had good flavor. My personal favorite part of the dish was the biscuit because I love anything related to bread and carbs. It may have been the fluffiest biscuit I have ever eaten.
I know you’ve been waiting for me to talk about dessert. Let me tell you: It was worth the wait to eat the rich deliciousness that was chocolate mousse. And it wasn’t just any chocolate mousse; it was chocolate mousse with brownie crumbles and peanut butter crunch. It was extremely rich, and I wasn’t able to eat all of it, but the bites I did take were amazing.
I went home feeling very full but also pleasantly surprised. Who thought that my dining hall swipes could get me real, quality food?
The next Culinary Discovery Series will be held Feb. 21, but the theme has yet to be announced. If this article made you want to enjoy the mouthwatering food I just described, be on the lookout on Campus Dining Services’ website. Reservations fill up fast.
_Edited by Claire Colby | ccolby@themaneater.com_