
What I Miss Most about DDS
Being gone from campus for a full year and now living off-campus, I am currently feeling some serious nostalgia for delicious food and amazing staff of Dartmouth Dining Services (DDS).
- No. 1
Foco Cookies
The Class of 1953 Commons, affectionately known as “Foco” (short for food court), is the main all-you-can-eat dining hall on campus. This wouldn’t be a post about food at Dartmouth if I failed to mention the infamous Foco cookie. Foco has perfected the art of the chocolate chip cookie–think crispy around the outside, soft and gooey middle, and an abundance of melty chocolate chunks. There seems to be a never ending stream coming out of the oven–and there has to be. They disappear as quickly as they come out. One of my favorite “hacks” is to scoop some ice cream into a mug and stick a warm cookie on top, so the ice cream gets all melty and you’re left with a mug of deliciousness.
- No. 2
Early Mornings in Foco
Generally, the Collis Student Center is known as the place to go for a quick breakfast. Collis is a bustling scene in the morning hours, as students weave in and out of lines, grabbing custom smoothies, coffee, pastries, and made-to-order eggs. While I appreciate the efficiency of a quick Collis breakfast, Foco is an underrated breakfast spot. If I have some extra time in the morning, or maybe an assignment to finish up before class, I’ll find a little nook and camp out with my custom omelet and everything bagel (Goose & Willie’s bagels are the best!!). I enjoy taking my time with breakfast and feeling the stillness of the early morning, before the start of a packed Dartmouth day.
- No. 3
Collis Pasta Line
Apart from breakfast, Collis is also known for more a-la-carte dinners, like sushi, stir-fry, and soups. The big dinner surge is around 6pm, and a line always forms for the pasta station. While waiting in line, you’re guaranteed to run into someone you know...whether it’s an old freshman floormate, or a partner for a group project in your class last term, I really miss the random encounters in Collis. It’s a simple, but strong reminder of one of the biggest things I love about Dartmouth–the bonds you form, however seemingly insignificant, are lasting.
- No. 4
Special Events
One benefit of Dartmouth’s rural location is that there is an abundance of farms in the surrounding Upper Valley. The annual Harvest Dinner features an amazing assortment of foods from local and regional farms–from cheese samplings, to freshly baked breads, this dinner is consistently a highlight of the fall term. Another special event that DDS puts on is the Native American Food Sovereignty Dinner which happens in May, during the annual Powwow. The Dartmouth Powwow is the second largest event of its kind in the Northeast. From Canadian Thanksgiving to a Halloween dinner, DDS finds creative ways to make the dining experience exciting!
- No. 5
Friendly Staff
Of course the food is delicious, but I think the thing I miss most about DDS is the staff. They really care about getting to know students–if you go to Collis consistently enough, they’ll know how you like your eggs! Having a quick chat with a DDS employee always brightens my day.