Photos by Cindy Cui / Photo Editor

By Gregory Lee, Contributor

Whether it be from the crowded lines at the MUSC Tim Hortons or to the pasta place inside Centro, hungry students are everywhere, looking for ways to satisfy their hunger on campus. 

McMaster Hospitality Services, which operates most eateries on campus, state that they aim to provide high quality food service, variety and value. Eating on campus a few times will show that in reality, these expectations are not always met.

Food at universities is notorious for being unhealthy. It is usually stereotyped as deep fried, greasy, frozen and/or unhealthy, which are all true statements. A quick look at the menu at many of the campus eateries shows that they’re mainly burgers, wraps and fries that are almost always frozen and low-quality in terms of taste — mediocre at best. 

Normally I wouldn’t have a problem with frozen deep-fried food but the fact that campus food is also notoriously expensive as well doesn’t help. For example, a slice of pepperoni pizza at the MUSC Pizza Pizza costs significantly more than a slice at any other Pizza Pizza location. A Mac Burger at Centro costs around $8.95 for the burger itself, plus an extra $2.99 for a combo, which includes a drink and fries. An order of onion rings which normally contains 5-7 rings will set you back around $4.

What really puts the prices of on-campus food into perspective is when it's compared to other locations off campus which offer better value for your money compared to the on-campus eateries. It’s worse for people who live on residence as the meal plans offered by Mac Hospitality are mandatory if you want to live on residence with few exceptions.

Although the meals plans allow students to save tax when buying food on campus, they still cost students at least $3000 upfront for even the lighter meal plans. 

It gets worse when Mac Hospitality takes away exactly half of the non-refundable portion of your meal plan in the beginning of the year for overhead costs, giving you a 50 per cent discount on all food. This discount is only for first year and disappears after the school year ends. The truth is, many students will not finish the non-refundable portion of their meal plan before first year ends. They will either have to go on spending sprees to finish their plans or cut their losses and use the money next school year, even if it technically means losing half of your money.

Health wise, the food on campus doesn’t fare well either. University eating is characterized by fears over the “freshman 15” and uncontrollable weight gain. While the freshman 15 is little more than just a myth, the health concerns of campus food are not. 

A quick look at the nutrition facts of campus food will be enough to give any health-conscious individual a heart attack. Calories, unhealthy fats, sodium, carbohydrates and bad cholesterol are high for most, if not all dishes. In addition, the foods on campus are often low in key nutrients such as fibre, protein and vitamins. The campus eateries do have their healthier options such as salad bars or select food from Bridges, but healthy options are almost always lacking on the menus around campus. 

Let’s not forget the fact that food options for vegetarians and vegans are limited on campus. While we do have Bridges serving vegetarian and vegan options, other eateries on campus are often lacking in vegetarian and vegan options. Halal and kosher options are also limited and just recently, McMaster Hospitality stopped offering halal beef burgers at their eateries.

The food at Mac is definitely not the worst, but it can be greatly improved upon both health-wise and cost-wise. The introduction of the new $5-dollar daily meals is a step in the right direction for food accessibility at Mac and the menu at the campus eateries is always changing. Hopefully, Mac continues to make improvements to the food on campus so that one day, it can be accessible for all.

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Photos from Sam Mills.

By: Andrew Mrozowski

I come from a small town outside of the greater Toronto area where I couldn’t be open about who I truly am.  There were no spaces that were created by people like me, no rainbow flags, no queer party nights – nothing. When I decided to move to Hamilton for school, I knew that with coming to a large city, I would be exposed to a different aspect of the LGBTQ2S+ community and be amongst people with whom I could be my true self.

Fast forward to two years later, I have found spaces in Hamilton where I could be myself and thrive in my own self-discovery, social life and the committed relationship I’m in.  I have realized that although Hamilton might not have a designated “gay village”, there are spots that have made me feel welcomed.

At first glance, these spaces may appear “ordinary”, but through my interactions and experiences I’ve found that these spaces greet you with a sense of community, set the scene for fond memories and ultimately aid personal growth. I want to share these spaces with people who might feel like they are out of their element in this city. I know it has helped me a lot during this past year and hopefully it will help you find what you are looking for.

 

I’d Like to Buy A Vowel - HAMBRGR (49 King William Street and 207 Ottawa Street North):

A popular locally-sourced restaurant in Hamilton, HAMBRGR boasts a wide-selection of burgers and craft beers in an industrialized atmosphere. This was not my first time at HAMBRGR, and although my date and I had to wait thirty minutes to be seated, we knew the food was well worth it. Our waiter was really friendly, giving us his enthusiastic recommendations on the extensive menu. Through his charismatic attitude, he made us feel very welcome and even tried his best to charm us.

This experience is one of my first and favourite memories with my boyfriend. I felt like the space allowed me to be my true self without having to worry about how others would perceive me and my sexuality. There was no shade thrown my way that night. If I’m not comfortable in my own skin, then I can’t enjoy my time because my mind is so preoccupied worrying about everything and everyone around me. I can confidently say that I enjoyed my night at HAMBRGR because I was able to leave all the worry behind. In this queer-friendly space, I was able to focus on what was most important to me; starting a new relationship.

 

Building Something New - Crumbled (339 Barton Street East):

Through writing for the Silhouette, I’ve been able to meet a lot of interesting people in Hamilton and I’ve made quite a few friends. I recently befriended Dom Pugliese, who is the the owner of Crumbled. At Crumbled, Pugliese creates deconstructed cake in a cup with unconventional flavours such as lemon meringue, cookie dough and snickers. I have found myself going to Crumbled at least once every two weeks and spending at least an hour talking to Dom and indulging on his decadent cake.

When I first approached Crumbled, I had no idea that it would be queer-friendly. When I went inside and starting talking to Pugliese, he filled the space with inclusivity. Pugliese and I have lost track of time talking about everything from his business, to our personal lives and swapping little anecdotes. At Crumbled and with Pugliese, I was able to destress by getting lost in our conversations and forgetting the responsibilities that constantly dominate my life for a little while.

Pugliese and other owners in the heart of Barton Village are working towards making Hamilton a more queer-friendly city and inclusive for all. Through Crumbled, Pugliese is making an effort to add to the city’s overall queerness, and he has realized that you do not need to open up a designated space to still be welcoming to all. I always look forward to my visits to the Barton Village because I know that I have a good friend there waiting to chat over a unique bowl of cake.

 

My Daily Grind - Emerald Coffee Co. (340 Barton Street East) & Redchurch Cafe and Gallery (68 King Street East):

As a student and part-time barista, I will be the first to say that I am addicted to caffeine. I am constantly on the hunt for great lattes in environments that are both aesthetically pleasing and welcoming. During this last year, I have found myself constantly going to two cafes that fit my criteria.

Redchurch Cafe not only serves coffee but also baked goods, food and alcohol. I was first introduced to this space on the night of Halloween, when the space was transformed to host live music and cocktails. I attended the party with my boyfriend and felt that I didn’t need to hide the fact that we were dating because everyone, from the staff to other attendees, had such a care-free and welcoming attitude. I was able enjoy the party without stressing about our safety. These warm and inviting feelings carried over to when I would go to the cafe during the day to study.

Typically flying a pride flag outside, I would probably say that Emerald Coffee Co. is the only definitive queer coffee shop in the city, most likely thanks to the owner, Phil Green. Much like the other business owners on Barton Street East, Green is dedicated to ensuring that the queer community has a place to feel welcomed and supported. He feels that Barton Village will most likely be Hamilton’s next gay village. Emerald Coffee Co. is the perfect place to get some work done in a welcoming environment with great all-natural lattes, drip coffee, and cold-brew on tap. I love coming here because I really enjoy the quality you can get and I’m all for supporting queer business owners.

 

“We’re Here, We’re Queer, You’re Welcome” – Adam and Steve:

This party planning duo is ensuring that Hamilton’s queer community always has a safe and fun space to party the night away. Adam George and Steve Hilliard have thrown massive queer parties to reunite a community that has been disconnected in recent years. They’ve also hosted former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants and local drag queens. Adam and Steve’s parties are one of the closest thing the queer community can get to a designated queer space in Hamilton. Since meeting the duo, they have shown me that Hamilton’s gay culture does exist. I used to think that the only way I could express myself and find acceptable is by going to Toronto’s gay village, but thanks to people like Adam and Steve, queer-culture is being normalized again in Hamilton. Thank you Adam and Steve for giving me a space where I can be truly myself, unapologetically.

 

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The Ship - 4 out of 5

Order: The Hawaiian ($15.00)

I was skeptical about the deliciousness of pineapple on a burger; however, this one pleasantly surprised me. The sweet and sour flavour of the pineapple, on top of cheddar, bacon, and ranch, added another dimension to the burger. At times, the pineapple was a bit overwhelming if it was a bite without a lot of other toppings, but for the most part, this burger satisfied my craving. Honourary mention also goes to The Ship for the best fries on this list.

Curbside Burger - 2 out of 5

Order: Greek Burger ($9.00)

As one of the few food trucks at the homecoming expo, it’s understandable that the vendor was overwhelmed. That doesn’t really account for the one hour wait time and the lack of tomatoes on my mediocre burger. The bun had potential, but wasn’t toasted and was too big for the patty. The patty itself was too charred and on the tough side. The ingredients for a good burger were present, but the execution was subpar given how much time they had to prepare the burger.

Delirious Burgers - 3 out of 5

Order: Cheeseburger with sauteed mushroom ($6.80)

Hidden in the corner of Westdale, this micro-diner offers the best bang for your buck. There’s something deeply satisfying about a well done traditional burger with a fresh classic bun. There weren’t enough sautéed mushrooms and the wait time was long considering my friends and I were the only people there. Though not the best burger by any means, the nice atmosphere and friendly cashier made the experience quite enjoyable.

Chuck's - 3.5 stars out of 5

Order: Chipotle & Cheddar ($14.00)

The gourmet burger bar features different kinds of meat with intricate chef-inspired toppings. The Chipotle & Cheddar is an angus beef burger stuffed with chipotle peppers and cheddar, and topped with Vindaloo mayo, Chipotle mustard, cucumber, sprouts & pea tenders. The Vindaloo gave the burger dimension, but ultimately, the beef wasn’t as good as it had been in my previous visits. Overall, the surprising combination of vegetables mixed with a little bit of a sweet-spicy tang to it made it worth the while.

The Works - 4.5 stars out of 5

Order: Hot Magma ($14.90)

Despite being a chain, The Works has the charm of a local staple. The Jackson Square location boasts a temporary menu, here until Oct. 5. The menu called “Get Stuff ’d” features a variety of stuffed burgers including “Hot Magma” with jalapeños, banana peppers, and chipotle stuffed inside a beef burger topped with cream cheese, banana peppers, green onions, sriracha mayo, and an onion ring. The spicy kick isn’t overwhelming and everything in this burger is just perfect.

Pinks - 3.5 stars out 5

Order: Double cheeseburger with double cheese ($8.50)

When Pinks opened last year, it quickly became a Mac staple due to its proximity to campus and
its diner vibe. While the burger was cooked well, with the cheese between the patties melted to gooey perfection, the burger overall lacked a punch. Pink sauce (thankfully not actually pink), is a nice touch, but its subtle flavour is easily overwhelmed if your burger also has toppings with strong flavours like jalapenos.

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