Cafe V and The Village

If you haven't been by Cafe V, The Bus Stop by the Village or the Village Coffee house there is a new nicely trimmed walk through garden. Being water wise the "garden" is made of colored rocks, nicely shaped planters filled with San Diego native plants. The walk through provided a nice path for Village residents to Cafe V and ERC students a nice walk to the Village Place and Market. Not to mention replacing a construction workspace with a picturesque view.

Here is a photo from a Cafe V window:

Angela =]

Good Luck on Finals!

Dinner Out

So I don't often get away from the nearest restaurants here on campus, the two closest to me are Foodworx and Canyon Vista. But there are times when I feel that I really want to "go out and eat". Most people would assume I want to leave campus, this is not true. I find it quite like going out when I visit Cafe V. It takes either a decent walk or a bus ride to get to that side of campus, not to mention it is completely different than Foodworx. I love sushi and here I can get fresh sushi, there is a giant salad bar, soup/chili, a grill, a full scale meal, and pizza/pasta.

The food at Cafe V is a lot like going out for me. But I think this would be the same for you but at different locations. I suggest that you break your habits and get out, try a new place. For example if you mainly eat at Canyon Vista try Goody's, if your at Plaza try Cafe V, if your at OVT try Foodworx, I think you will find the experience rewarding.

Produce Patch Keeps Gettin Better!!

Hey hungry Tritons!

The patio of Cafe V was the setting for Farm 2 U today.
Nancy Filtz, Retail Manager of the UCSD Place and Markets, came out with yet another gorgeous display of local and organic produce. Woohoo!The samples keep getting better and better! Today there were three beautiful glass dispensers filled with incredible naturally infused waters.
To the left was pineapple water with orange slices, in the middle was water infused with cucumber and mint leaves, and finally (my favorite) cantaloupe water to the right.
They were the most delicious natural flavor combinations when paired with ice cold water!

The Villagers are familiar with these Chico bags, but for those of you who don't live in the transfer housing, these bags are awesome! They are made from several recycled plastic water bottles (7 I believe).
They're cool because they collapse into themselves to fit into a little bag (seen here), and can be pulled out to the size of a book bag. They come equipped with a carabiner, so you can hook the bag onto your key chain. Yep, HDH hooks it up!

Gotta love samples....slices of organic grapefruits, oranges, and lemons were free to try.
I sampled the Pink Lady Apples because I had never heard of them before. They were amazingly crisp and sweet!
Nancy was being the gracious host that she is, by offering to cut up some lemons for me to try. She's the greatest!
Check out how the setting sun highlights the broccoli.......so fresh and so green green. : )

The freshly picked local flowers were bursting with color. I was told the organic strawberries to the left were selling fast!
I sampled the free hummus that complimented the three different pita chip samples, which all can be found in your local Place and Market on campus. The pita chip variety consisting of cinnamon and sugar, cilantro and jalapeno, and garlic were all incredible!
Dining dollars go a long way at these farmer's markets because you get incredibly fresh produce, and the comfort of knowing you're contributing to fair-trade practices in support of local farmers.
These venues provide a chance to come hang out, and enjoy the beautiful weather we've been having. Today we had the privilege of experiencing the incredible sunset on the Cafe V patio.
Come out next Wed. the 24th to Foodworx Place and Market (3:30-6:30pm), where you can expect more Farm 2 U treats.

Housing and Dining truly loves to see UCSD students and the surrounding community happy and thriving! Keep up the great work HDH!

Wishing you health and happiness Tritons. : )

~Hilary

Tritons love Farm 2 U fresh and local produce !!!

Wow! Who'd-a-thunk-it........that people love easy access to fresh and local produce. : )

Honestly students are consistently making it out to the farmer's market that now travels to dining halls all over campus. Every Wednesday Tritons!

Today the place to be was Roger's Place and Market.
Look at this beautiful fruit!
There was an awesome mix of colorful carrots. I sampled one of the purple ones to find it was surprisingly sweet. Yes there are samples people!I had to get some avocados again because they were so creamy last time. Yum.

That's broccoli at the end of the table.

The white carrots were not as flavorful as I'd hoped, but they were really good with some fesh salsa that I got in Roger's. No joke. They make a great substitute for chips! They're crunchy, so I challenge you to try it. : )

The fresh lettuce was impressively beautiful.....and yes, I'm raving about lettuce. It's at a whole other level when it's organic.

They had bags of fresh greens that could easily make a few salads. The Produce Patch hooked students up with free samples of Naked juice too. Other samples included chocolate, coffee, and yummy protein bars.

Jess and I both went crazy for the organic apples, mainly because of their size. If this apple was directly in front of her face, it would take up most of it!

The natural size variety of the apples was noticable, which differs from the carbon copies of fruit you get at the chain supermarkets.

Right at 3:30, when the market starts, there was a line of happy customers forming to purchase their goods.

Jess was checking out the locally cut flowers. Some of which I actually bought for my boyfriend for Valentine's day. : )

HEADS UP: Next Wed. Feb 17th, Farm 2 U will be on the patio at Cafe V (3:30-6:30pm)!!

THEY ACCEPT DINING DOLLARS!! IT'S A WIN-WIN GUYS!

live in love

*Hilary*

Make Up For Break

So how much weight did you gain this holiday? Feeling guilty? Don't. If your going to loose weight, or just want to eat healthy for a change (don't act like it won't be a change). Do it with our dietitian, Becky.

She will be out on Library Walk Friday the 22nd with the Econauts and at CAfe V on Thursday the 28th.

Or email her at rmcdivitt@ucsd.edu

Until then check out this video that shows you how to proportion your plate in order to be healthy!

Rush EKO with the EcoNauts, and look out for traveling Farmer's Markets!

Hey everyone!

Want to get involved with the "green" scene on campus? Come out to "Rush EKO" for a week of events happening in January. We will keep you posted!

If you would like to help contribute to the success of the event, please donate your empty plastic water bottles to the EcoNauts! You can drop them off in designated cardboard boxes at The Village laundry mats.

The Villagers do their laundry at "The Launderette" in building 1 and "The Washboard" in building 3.

Thanks guys!! : )

FYI: If you haven't been to any of the farmer's markets on campus, awesome news!

The market is coming to you!!

It'll be a traveling caravan around campus every Wednesday.

Next Wednesday, Jan. 20th, the "farm 2 U" Farmer's Market will take place at The Village transfer housing on campus from 3:00-6:30pm.

It's an event that truly caters to students because you can use your UCSD Dining Dollars at the market! Just another way you can use those meal points to enjoy the fresher things in life. : )

Here are some iconic images of The Village, in case you havn't been there yet, and don't know what to look for.

The Village is North of ERC and Cafe V. So head over to check out some deliciously fresh goodies!

Have a great week, and be good to yourself!

*Hilary* : )

Have a New Year's Resolution to eat healthy? UCSD hooks you up!

Yumm....The great thing about being back at UCSD is the food! Am I right people? Honestly I eat better while I'm at school than I do at home over break.

Why? Well it's all provided for you on campus. The selection of healthy and vegetarian options gets better everyday in my opinion.

Today was no exception. I checked out the Dining Events Calendar before I headed out to eat lunch.

Wednesdays are jam packed with good stuff!

At OVT they were celebrating Waffle Cone Wednesdays, and a Fajita Station that happens on the first and third Wednesday of January.

I strolled over to Cafe V with my roomie to see what they were working with. The first item to catch my eye was a delicious-lookin' Chile Relleno.

A chile relleno is like a lunch omlette because it's made with eggs. This meal got a UCSD upgrade because it's made with the cage-free eggs that are used campus wide. : )

The roasted chile inside was paired with onions, tomatoes, cheese, and herbs. Sooo good! 

I went ahead and got a side of veggies too. It was a meal that I hope is a repeat sometime soon.

F.Y.I Tritons.....
Every Wednesday this month is Fine Dining Dinner at Cafe V, and Fine Dining Lunch at Plaza in Revelle.

You've got the hook up! Enjoy : )

*Hilary*

Rainy Days

So finals have started, and even the sky cries... which just makes us students even more miserable, not to mention cold and wet.

Yet, one of the great comforts to cold weather is warm drinks, cozy chairs and hot food.

Warm, good drinks:

Mexican Mocha: cinnamon, steamed milk, chocolate, and Espresso

Hammerhead: espresso and coffee

Hot Chocolate: classic chocolate and milk/water

Cozy Chairs:

My favorite chair to curl up on is in Canyon Vista, it also has a nice sized coffee table for plates, papers and such.

Roger's has a nice couch and a big screen TV.

Hot Food:

Soup! The best is tied with Foodworx and Cafe V, the second best is at Plaza.

Pasta! The best is at OVT, and the Cafe V.

Angela Cooper =]

Yay for Vegan Options!

So today I cruised into Cafe Ventanas looking for something healthy and balanced on the lunch menu. Cafe V definitely delivered with their delicious-looking Vegan Grilled Portobello Ratatouille option.

It was only $4.95, and looked pretty hearty. I added a side of rice, which showcased the beautiful display of peppers, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, and tomatoes that covered the Portobello mushroom underneath.

Being that I was out to lunch with my fellow EcoNaut, Jessica, I told her how good the dish was. She decided to try it out herself! There was no doubt that the meal had an incredibly fresh and tangy flavor that complimented the herb seasoning, but I was eager to hear whether it was up to par from the ultimate Vegan herself.














Jess did give the Portobello and veggie dish the official Vegan stamp of approval!














An additional side, such as rice or tortillas, really made the Ratatoullie a legitimate tummy-filler. It was so rich in flavor that I would recommend it to anyone interested in an all-around-fantastic meal. :)

Great job Cafe V! Keep those awesome veg dishes coming!

Choose to replenish your body with food that keeps it going, not junk that slows it down. Dining Services makes it easy!

Stay happy and healthy : )

~Hilary *Compost Queen*

I gotta EAT! Find out HOW to know WHERE to go and WHEN.

In between studying, you gotta eat!

I'm sure many of you already know the hours your favorite Dining Services (DS) restaurants are open-- in fact, you might even plan your day around these hours to ensure you have a chance to grab a meal.

In case you didn't know... Dining hours change during holiday breaks. Some even change during Finals week!
One of my favorite dining halls is Cafe Ventanas in ERC. The location is close to where I live (The Village), so it's super convenient. If you don't happen to live near there, but want to check out Cafe Ventanas one of these days, their regular hours are:

• M-F: 7am to 9pm

• Sat-Sun: 10am to 9pm

But the hours change on these holidays:

Veteran's Day:

• 11/11: 10am - 9pm

Thanksgiving Break:

• 11/25: 7am - 1:30pm
• 11/26-11/28: Closed
• 11/29: 5pm - 9pm

Winter Break:

• 12/12: 7am - 1:30pm
• 12/13-1/2: Closed
• 1/3: 12pm - 9pm

I called Cafe Ventanas at 858-534-0567 to ask if the hours are different during Finals week. I spoke with the manager, Daniel, who assured me they keep their regular hours, but will be closed the last Saturday of finals.

The dining hall managers are super cool people that are there to help you guys. So take advantage of the opportunity to voice your opinion to them, or just to let them know what an awesome job their doing! : )

It's beneficial to be as aware of dining hours as you are of library hours.

Curious to see who the other managers are? You can find their pics, contact info, and the hours of operation for the other 10 or so dining halls and markets on campus by visiting:
http://hdh.ucsd.edu/diningservices/hours.asp

Hang in there guys! More than halfway through fall quarter, and you're doing great!

~Hilary *Compost Queen*

Good Places to Study!

Happy Fall everyone!

As the beautiful colors are appearing and trees are shedding their leaves, it's common to run into some kind of pumpkin-carving event on campus. I recommend you take in the season by trying some vegan "Phenomenal Pumpkin Cookies" made by Alternative Baking Company. They sell them at most of the market places around campus. I hope the smell of cinammon is here to stay for a while.

I want to share with you all the wonderful Dining spots where I go to study, take in the environment, and eat a nice meal.

One of my absolute favorites is on the outside patios of OVT, where I can look at the beautiful horizon. It is relatively quiet up there if you come in before 7pm. (I've noticed that is when most people start to flow in). But it's still fine! Just put in some headphones, pull out a jacket, and watch the sun set into the ocean as you do your studies.

My other favorite place to study and take in the environment is at Cafe Ventanas. The seats outside give you a clear view of the sky overlooking a field of grass. It is a nice place to observe other students. If you are in the homework mood, just pop in some headphones or study to the sound of quiet chatter. It's an overall peaceful place to be.

Cafe V is also a great place to get great food. Take a look at the daily specials that will be there for you to enjoy on the day before Halloween. I'm sure you can find something you would love to sink your teeth into!

October 30

Café Ventanas Livewell Lunch Special Oven Baked Coconut Chicken Sides: Pineapple Craisin Rice Pilaf and Steamed Broccoli w/Almonds Livewell Lunch Special Vegetarian Rolled Tacos Sides: Brown Rice and Black Beans Lunch Special Carnitas and Tortillas Sides: Rice and Beans All Day Specialty Soup Clam Chowder and Cheddar Cauliflower All Day Specialty Pasta Smoked Ham and Pea Carbonara w/Wheat Pasta Dinner Special Orange Chicken Sides: Herb Roasted Red Potatoes

And remember, this is just what is going on at Cafe Ventanas today. Check out the link to see what delicious goodies will be available at the other Dining locations near you.

http://hdh.ucsd.edu/diningservices/menu/dailyspecials.aspx

May your Halloween be satisfyingly safe!

In best regards,

Jessica B.

Happy People = Happy Food

Dining, it’s a special thing, it is that food we consume to allow us to get through the classes we signed up for, but is there more than food involved in dining? Yes! Well at least I have decided that. After having eaten at the different dining locations here on campus, I’ve noticed that if the people who work there, the people making my food, and serving me, are happy, then I am happy. If I am happy then everything becomes better, the food seems great, and I go back. The best locations for happy workers are easily Foodworx, and OVT. Canyon Vista is not too bad, and neither is Café V. Earl’s people are helpful if you ask but they do not go out of their way to serve you.

Another plus to Foodworx, so far the best I’ve seen in selection as a Place and Market.

On a negative note, all place and markets are expensive. Sometimes I don’t have the time, or what feels like the energy to walk to a dining facility like Café V or Canyon Vista, therefore I try to keep some food at my place, but the prices are ridiculous. My dining points aren’t monopoly money, they are real, every point transfers to a real dollar I expect the prices to be fair to that.

Enjoy,

Angela