This past semester, there has been a noticeable increase in "Scratch prepared foods" and an increase in the quality of such foods in our cafeteria. While I haven't been able to review them all, all of the newer or revamped food items that I have tried have been very good. If you haven't been to the cafeteria this year because of the quality of the food, I encourage you to try it again.
Starting off with the milk, it tasted fine and was cold but not frozen. Although I am biased, as I do not like milk with any meal, it is certainly not a good pairing with this meal. Nor is the juice, I think it would be better to just opt for water. Unlike the milk, the salad did go well with the chana masala. The salad was very good, and was cold when i got it. The tomatoes and baby carrots were nice with the salad. This was unlike the oddly small amount of shredded carrot and red cabbage which added nothing. If it was being added to use up the last bit of it that would go to waste, I think that is fine. The salad was good and very fresh, but a little bland if you don't put salad dressing on it because the cafeteria dressing isn't good.
Before I review the chana masala, I want to provide context as to how I am reviewing this. I am reviewing this in comparison to other cafeteria foods, not restaurant or homemade quality food. Additionally, I know that this dish is not the most faithful recreation of traditional chana masala, but I am reviewing it as if I did not know what it was, not reviewing it for what it is called. With that out of the way, I did like the chana masala and it was very aromatic, and I could see the coriander, fennel seeds and cilantro in it. The chickpeas were pretty well cooked, but they could be a little softer next time, and they definitely lacked spice. Overall, I think the meal had plenty of spice for a cafeteria menu item but the chickpeas not having enough spice really kept it from going the next level. Also holding it back were the tomatoes which were a little too sour. The brown rice, which is nontraditional but probably chosen for health, was a little under cooked but was still good. The meal could also have been spicier or had more spice on the side, but it was better when you mixed it all around, which was very necessary for this meal. The cilantro gave a nice and citrus flavor, but overall the chana masala could have had more flavor overall and more flavor distinction. However, for cafeteria food it was very good. I really liked this meal and it was filling, warm and certainly healthy.
Overall, the milk was 5/10 since it was fine but didn't go with this meal. The salad was an 8.7/10 since it was very fresh and tasty but needed some good dressing. The chana masala was a 9.8/10 (for a cafeteria item and ignoring some of its departures for the "correct" preparation), but could have used some more spice on the chickpeas. Overall, I would rate this meal a 9.5/10, but don't take the milk or any juice with this meal.
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