Editor's note: This post is by JP McBride, a fellow Silliman senior. He is majoring in history and minoring in Rock Band (jk).
Hello you future kings/queens of New Haven, you soon-to-be royalty of Connecticut,
As you will soon find out, the dining halls don't always serve the most desirable lunches. Yes, Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas are fantastic, grass-fed burgers are cool too, and yes, mashed sweet potatoes are the hotness. However, sometimes the dining hall in not in the mood to serve its best entrees. Or maybe you just want to try something different at lunchtime because you're on Science Hill between a class and a lab meeting.
When this happens, the food carts are the way to go! Every day, vendors from all kinds of restaurants descend upon Yale to capitalize on the hungry Elis scurrying this way and that to get to class. There are several Thai carts, Japanese carts, Italian carts, Indian carts, Mexican carts, a Greek cart, and of course, the notorious Cupcake Truck, which is the undisputed champion.
There are too many Thai carts to name. And while they are all pretty proficient in dishing out Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, and some form of short-order Grilled Chicken, a few stand out above the rest.
Thai Awesome: This is the perfect Thai cart to start with. Not only does it have the sickest name ever, it is also a great value for your money. You get about a pound of Garlic Chicken, Druken Noodles, and Chicken Massaman Curry for about a dollar less than at the other Thai carts. As bonus, the shopkeep is a mix of Santa Claus and Mother Theresa (in geniality, not looks) and is always happy to engage in friendly banter. Caution - the mountain of food you will undoubtedly receive makes it impossible to finish lunch in one sitting. However, if you're a constant snacker, the prodigious portions allow you to nibble all day.
Thai Sweet Sticky Rice: I'm not sure what this cart is actually called. All I know is it has a very beat up and faded sign that says Sweet Sticky Rice. This is definitely a very good Thai cart - the delicious Lemongrass Grilled Chicken is always grilled fresh, and you can get extra for about a dollar more. They also have the best drunken noodles on Science Hill, and the proprietors are cheerful and generous with their portions.
Thai House: Meh, it's good too, but you should really go to the others.
Giacomo's: This cart provides quality sandwiches and other options for Yalies who want food that comes without chopsticks. They grill all of their sandwiches right there on the spot. My personal favorite is the footlong Shaved Steak with white American cheese. There are also breakfast sandwiches and cookies, if you're into that sort of thing for lunch.
There are several Indian carts out and about during the school year. However, right now it is pretty cold and most of them have left, which is a shame because when it's 15 degrees out, I could use some hot spicy food! Also, I don't remember all of their names, so I'll go with the only one who is still there.
Mugholi Foods: I think this one is the best of the Indian carts anyway. Of course, they've got the standard Chicken Tikka Masala, as well as a variety of curried dishes. They offer Pakistani and Middle Eastern fare too, such as the Kebab Roll, Vegi Roll, and a variety of couscous-laced options.
Ali Baba: Fantasically delicious and greasy enough to make stone walls transparent, especially the Gyro Sandwich/Platter. Their most popular dish is the Lemon Chicken Platter, which is like a rockin' symposium in your mouth. Additionally, free toppings/sides can be heaped on your meal including but by no means limited to: golden raisins, bab ganoush, and a scrumptious potato-carrot-bean dish. My only beef with Ali Baba is that unlike most of the other carts, the portions are average at best. I needs my Lemon Chicken, baby!
The Cupcake Truck: This is by far the best venue in town, and maybe in the entire Northeast. First off, it is run by possibly the nicest/coolest young couple ever, Todd and Marsha. They both had actual jobs a year ago, then Marsha decided to quit working a 9-to-5 and start baking/selling her fabulously delicious cupcakes.
The flavors include Sweet Potato, Lemon, Coconut, Caramel, and the Cadillac of all pastries, Red Velvet. If somehow you've gone 18-19 years of life and haven't heard of or tried Red Velvet anything, then you need to go to your nearest supermarket, soul food restaurant, or (strangely) P.F. Chang's and try some.
Cupcakers can also add a variety of toppings to their culinary masterpiece. I'm more of a cupcake purist, but if you're into Oreo crumbles, toasted walnuts, sprinkles, fleur de sol, or gold flakes on your cupcakes, then have at it.
But where TCC really shines is the frosting. Now I'm a simple man, so I rock the Red Velvet (or Sweet Potato, or Hummingbird, or Lemon, but most likely all 4) with Vanilla. I go home, lock the door, and devour those cupcakes like they've got the antidote to...something.
However, a lot of people eat the cupcakes normally, and choose from all of their delicious, habit-forming frostings like White Chocolate Cream Ccheese, Chocolate Ganache, Marshmallow, and Salted Caramel. Get there early though. People line up for these cupcakes like the junkies from American Gangster. If you're not on top of your game, you could have 20-40 minutes until your first euphoric bite!
Editor's note #2: I would also like to add my recommendations for the La Carreterra cart, especially their giant burritos! For even more cart variety, take a field trip down to the medical school, where you will also find options such as Vietnamese, Ethiopian, and a classic kettle corn cart for snacking.
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