Hi, my name is Liliana (or Lili, for short) and I'm a '26 from Hawaiʻi! On campus, I can be found performing with my dance troupe, going on walks with friends, and spending an excessive amount of time in Collis. I also love collectible stickers, ultra-specific playlists, free verse poetry, and iced tea. Excited to share my Dartmouth journey with you all! :-)
At Dartmouth, a popular sentence heard from students is: "Let's grab a meal sometime." At first glance, the phrasing of this sounds pretty awkward, but at a school where students are cycling on and off campus every term, asking each other to meals is common practice. I personally like to grab at least two or three meals a week with various friends! Though I'd be happy to eat anywhere (the company matters more!), I do have some favorite spots to eat on campus: the Hop, Collis, and Foco!
The Hop (Courtyard Cafe) is located in the Hopkins Center for the Arts. In my opinion, this is the prime spot on campus to get fried foods. The Hop is best known for its fries (twice fried and extra crispy), quesos (quesadillas with various fillings, like chicken tenders or steak), and bobs (breakfast burritos). You can also get salads at the Hop! My favorites are the chicken caesar, buffalo chicken, and southwest chicken - but I also really enjoy the create your own salad option. I especially enjoy getting food to-go from the Hop, then bringing it to the Green and eating with some friends. Now that the weather is warming up here in Hanover, Hop picnics on the Green are a staple in my life!
My incredibly healthy meal of mac-n-cheese and chicken tenders!
Collis (Collis Cafe) is a grab-and-go style eatery inside of the Collis Center for Student Involvement. Specializing in sushi, smoothies, salads, soups, sandwiches, and pasta – Collis also serves a daily lunch special and a weekly dinner special. The "Collis special," as students call it, is a cult classic on campus – we even have a GroupMe dedicated to sending images of the lunch special and soups available each day. I typically eat lunch at Collis in between my classes. My favorite day to come is Thursday, when Collis has a noodle bowl for lunch! Otherwise, Collis is a reliable spot for me to get my smoothie fix for breakfast or customizable sushi for dinner. This place is a jack of all trades.
The famed noodle bowl! This one has ginger pork. Collis cycles through chicken, ginger pork, sesame beef, and curry shrimp as its options!
Foco, short for food court and formally known as the Class of 1953 Commons, is our undergraduate all-you-can-eat dining hall, boasts every possible station imaginable…salad, soup, pizza, Kosher, vegetarian, stir-fry, dessert, and a killer spice rack, just to name a few. The first time I stepped in Foco, I was overwhelmed at the options available and the sheer number of students frequenting the building. Foco is certainly a social space, lined with huge round tables and long, Hogwarts-style tables to accommodate anyone and everyone. I don't eat here too often, but when I do, I enjoy sitting on "dark side" (old and wooden, as compared to "light side"'s modern design) with some friends. My most recent meal consisted of chicken nuggets, tabouli with some olive oil, noodles, and a grand finale of vanilla soft serve with sprinkles. At Foco, the meal possibilities are endless.
One of my Foco meals, featuring saffron rice, chicken, cucumbers with olive oil, and a side salad with sesame ginger dressing.
These three locations aren't the only available options at Dartmouth! Other popular places are the Fern, Novack, and Ramekin – all cafes serving sandwiches, wraps, pastries, drinks, and other snacks. Though I love these places, too, I find myself frequenting the Hop, Collis, and Foco most often – especially since they're close to my dorm.
Later today, I'll be grabbing a meal with some friends I haven't seen in a while!
As a Digital Media Student Director for Dartmouth's First-Generation Office, it is my role on campus to amplify first-gen voices, foster community, and create meaningful connections through creative outreach.
This fall, Dartmouth provided me with incredible opportunities to get involved in politics. I registered as a New Hampshire voter, joined civic organizations, canvassed, and more! Read on to follow my journey leading up to Election Day!
