Sriracha shots, anyone?

A wise friend once told me that hunger is the best sauce. While I can’t disagree, as a college student I’ve discovered that it’s particularly helpful to keep some other sauces handy to spice up our Cup Of Noodles dorm room delicacies. The proper application of sauces is the easiest way to keep our taste buds guessing without breaking the bank, and they also usually last FOREVER (my ketchup expires in 2014, huh?). Whether they’re stashed in a pantry, kitchen, sock drawer, or kept in your backpack always ready for action, check out BlogDH’s own list of the top ten sauces to keep stocked in your dorm room after the jump. [Read more →]

“A cold drip dark roast with farm fresh milk and 2 equals for sweetness.”

These days, people are Instagramming their food almost as often as they are, well, eating it. I dare you to go out to any kind of restaurant, be it Al Forno or East Side Pockets, and not see at least one person pull out his/her smart phone during the meal to snap a pic of whatever food is on his/her plate. You might overhear such exclamations as, “Oh my god, this grilled chicken looks so much better in black and white,” or even, “Dude, just look how dank this burrito looks through the Toaster filter. SO DANK!”

Though food Instagrams have the potential to take a disastrous turn for the worst, two Brown students are hoping to provide us with some original nom-worthy shots… and some comedy, too. Rattygram is the newest Instagram brainchild of two Brown sophomores who snap pics under the pseudonyms of Alfred and Harrison. A feed of “semi-daily delicacies hand-picked by Harrison and Afred,” Rattygram is a depository of gastronomic images that showcases these two roomies’ escapades at the Ratty, and of course, at CFF, during which they gain some edible and artistic inspiration. I decided to sit down with them to better understand the origins of Rattygram. Learn what gets this pair’s culinary juices flowing after the jump.

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Stumbling into the Blue Room Tuesday morning, half asleep and desperate for coffee, I happened to run into Aaron Fitzsenry, Brown’s culinary manager of retail dining. You know him; he’s that smiling guy in the white chef’s coat that often greets you from behind the alluring display of butter rum muffins and blueberry scones. With experience in the fine dining and hotel businesses, Aaron’s definitely someone we can trust with our taste buds, and he’s proven this time and time again since assuming his role at Brown just over a year ago. He’s responsible for bringing us so many items we’ve grown to love, from Kabob and Curry in the Blue Room, to risotto in the Gate, and even gourmet tacos in Jo’s.

We got to chatting a little bit about food here at Brown, a frequent topic of conversation for me, and specifically what kinds of things the Blue Room offers that we as students might not be aware of. Yes, the Blue Room Lowdown. Some (hopefully) enlightening tips to satisfy your culinary cravings after the jump. (We know, we’ve changed your world.)

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October is now upon us. You know what that means: it’s officially time to take advantage of the pumpkin-flavored beverages, food, and activities ubiquitous during the best month of the year. Make the pumpkin a staple in your daily routine this fall.

Start your morning off with a Starbucks pumpkin latte or a pumpkin spice chai at Tealuxe. On the topic of pumpkin beverages, Woodchuck makes pumpkin cider, and the Alehouse has pumpkin infused beers this month, for those over 21.

If you’re right on campus, try a pumpkin muffin at the Blue Room. Even if you’re off meal plan, they’re worth using real money for—they’re one of the reasons fall at Brown is awesome.

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There is no doubt anymore that the year is more than well underway. Shopping period is officially over, work is starting to become unignorable, and midterms are on the horizon. With this increasing demand for my productive attention, it’s natural that my mind finds more time to drift to non-academic matters, namely, my grumbling stomach.

It’s in this realm of thought that I recently discovered the unique position I’m in this year, that being what I like to call “Meal Plan Limbo.” My personal definition of this condition is as follows: “The state of being actively enrolled in an annual Brown University meal plan while simultaneously having access to a personal kitchen. Often associated with distaste for university dining options as well as irritation caused by a lack of sufficient time or supplies to cook every meal. See: culinary confusion, gastronomic frustration.”

While this circumstance may cause the occasional bout of anxiety, it has also effectively gotten my culinary juices flowing. With limited access to groceries, four roommates, and food that disappears in a half a second, I’ve been forced to get pretty crafty in my snack and meal choices. Here are some of the desperate, unusual, but delicious—I promise—combinations that my roommates and I have devised in the past few days. Whether they’re enjoyed at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m. is up to you—it’s all about how adventurous you’re feeling with your taste buds. Check them out after the jump. [Read more →]

As Americans, we are convinced that the best things in life are free. MasterCard believes everything but four to five select items are priceless. Jenny from the Block has informed us that her “Love Don’t Cost a Thing.” And just by being a U.S. citizen, you, too, can have several enumerated rights at your disposal. Unfortunately, Hallmark, Zales and almost every American restaurant (yes, even White Castle) have crafted their first quarter marketing campaigns to suggest otherwise.

Forget true love, a successful Valentine’s Day is contingent on one thing: your wallet. For the broke college student, however, this poses a problem. Despite all our cleverness and ‘potential,’ our bank accounts have little…or nothing…or overdraft notices to show for it. Luckily, we do have one critical advantage over the average adult: Bear Bucks, points and meal credits. Our principles for impromptu, edible Valentine’s Day gifts on Meal Plan after the jump.

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Yes. You read that right. Today is World Nutella Day. So whether you are in need of some Super Bowl snacks or just want to drown your sorrows in the fact that you only have 9 days to find a man before Valentine’s Day, this holiday is for you. We would like to share some delicious recipes with you to celebrate this most miraculous of days.

Ever had a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich courtesy of the V-Dub PB&J bar? Amazing. Especially if you put bananas on it. Nothing could make that better, right? Wrong. Here is the best combination of PB&N – peanut butter and nutella cookies!

For the baking challenged among us (myself included), we have Nutella croissants. All you need to do is put a spoonful of Nutella in some pre-made dough, roll them up, and put them in the oven! More ideas after the jump! [Read more →]

Last-minute centerpiece?

Ah football, that most American of traditions. And what Easter is for Christians, what Yom Kippur is for Jews, what Festivus is for the rest of us, the Super Bowl is for America. On this high holiday of American athleticism (and capitalism at its best), it’s imperative that we be GIANTLY PATRIOTIC by insulting each other, throwing temper tantrums over missed field goals, betting irresponsible amounts of money, and glutting ourselves on Mexican food. (Makes sense, right?) And what could be more Amurrican than New York vs. Boston? A showdown between the two in the heartland (say, Indiana…in a stadium named after an oil company). We all know that New England clam chowder trumps its Manhattan (or, to be accurate, Jersey) counterpart, but that barely scratches the surface of classic Super Bowl food. Below, our ideas for snacks you can make — be it off meal plan or completely BuDS-sourced.

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Nom.

Hi again Browntown! It’s strange how quickly time flies. Those 5 weeks spent eating home cooking (or, in my case, that semester spent eating every crumb of food in Paris) flash before our eyes, and before we know it, we’re back in PVD to fend for ourselves whenever mealtime rolls around.

Luckily, Providence Restaurant Week is here to rescue us from the ennui of ramen and the Ratty. This year, Travel + Leisure named Providence the #2 food city in the country (second only to my hometown, New Orleans), and over 80 restaurants are coming out in full force to drive the point home for this citywide food hurrah.

Participating restaurants are offering three-course lunches for $14.95 and three-course dinners for $29.95, plus some of them are offering 2-for-1 deals. ”Restaurant Week” is a bit of a misnomer (the whole deal actually lasts a fortnight), but it ends soon – January 28 – so don’t delay! Scramble now to take advantage of it before this opportunity, like your winter break and this hilarious snow, melts away. Check out the official website for menus, a full list of participating restaurants, and more information.

Read more for some ideas to get the ball rolling: [Read more →]

Assortment is key. Don't forget the flowers for a much-needed breath of life.

Thank God warm weather finally showed up, just in time for the first wave of pre-reading period freakouts. While many of us prepare to pack our bags, stick to our guns, and camp out in our carrel of choice, let’s be real: that’ll get depressing reeeal fast, and bummed-out-ness is no suitable mood for cranking out that 15-pager that you saved for the night before. Luckily, food is here to help (isn’t it always?). Library snackage is an easy enough way to lure people into being your friend and serves as a nice treat to punctuate the monotony of the exam cram. After the jump, some ideas for stocking your very own cornucopia.

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