Treat Yourself: Gulu Gulu Café

There is something to be said about living in a city like Salem while you are young. Even though our city doesn't attract huge concerts or host major sporting events, the unique atmosphere is undeniable.

Perhaps that is what makes the Gulu Gulu Café fit in so well in downtown Salem. This small, understated European style café is original and proud, much like the city it calls home.

The next time you've saved up some spare cash to go out and grab a few beers and some onion rings, reconsider heading down to Murphy's or Sidelines and instead venture over to the Gulu Gulu. The change in atmosphere alone is worth the trip, as it offers a casual coffeehouse feel that pulsates with creativity. From the local artwork to the live music, it's hard to feel uninspired at the Gulu.

The food and beer are inspiring as well. Instead of serving typical bar appetizers, the Gulu opts to serve fresh meats and cheeses with toasted Italian ciabatta. The tastes are full and bright, completely redefining the idea of appetizers. Rather than the greasy plates of fried food served in most Salem locations, these dishes really do tease the appetite and compliment the tastes of the beers.

In fact, the beer list is perhaps the most impressive part about the Gulu. With over 40 different beers (14 on tap) in 26 different styles, it is easy to throw yourself into the menu and willingly get lost in it. For any beer and food lover, this should absolutely be your next stop when you're ready to treat yourself to these passions.

Gulu Gulu Café
247 Essex Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-8882
http://www.gulu-gulu.com/

On-Campus Eats: Getting Creative

One of the major complaints I hear from students about on-campus food is how repetitive the meals can be. While this has some validity to it, the fault can not be entirely placed on Dining Services. Even though breakfast at the Lower Commons Dining Hall is almost always the same (scrambled eggs, sausage or bacon, tator tots), there are alternatives to simply piling it all on your plate and digging in. Likewise, the typical dinner of a chicken patty on a roll with lettuce, tomato and mayo can be much improved with some creativity. The key is simply realizing that not every dish has to be eaten the way it is usually served. There are ingredients all around you in that buffet setting, and they can all be used in a variety of ways.

A great example of this is what I like to call the Chartwell's Breakfast Sandwich. This masterpiece of a morning meal can be put together easily, and the ingredients are always available. A toasted bagel, scrambled eggs and either bacon or sausage can be combined into a delicious sandwich, much like the ones that people shell out cash for at the Dunkin Donuts or Burger King on campus. To add more taste to this creation, season it with salt and pepper, or add ketchup or hot sauce to your eggs. You can also try using a Cinnamon Raisin or Onion bagel instead of a Plain.

As far as the typical Chartwell's chicken patty sandwich goes, there are multiple ways to alter and improve this staple of the Salem State dining halls. One thing I've noticed in my time as a Hungry Viking is that people go crazy for buffalo chicken. Whenver Chartwell's prepares boneless buffalo chicken people devour it, begging for more. What these people don't realize is that this buffalo chicken taste can be replicated every night at the dining hall by asking for hot sauce from the employees behind the serving stations. They always have some delicious buffalo flavored hot sauce back there, and by either dripping some on a chicken patty or completely smothering it, you can make a pretty dynamite buffalo chicken sandwich.

The other key creation that features the chicken patty is the Chicken Parm Dish. Chartwell's serves trays of pasta every night with large batches of marinara sauce on the side. This typical dish can be transformed by taking a plate of pasta, topping it with a chicken patty, covering the patty in american cheese from the sandwich station and then covering the whole dish in piping hot marinara sauce. The result is an Italian classic that can be prepared on most nights in the Dining Hall.

Methods like this can really help to make the Chartwell's experience more interesting. One of the best feelings you'll ever get in a Dining Hall is when you realize that you can combine two dishes that are typically served seperately to create a much better meal than they would constitute on their own. Experiment, Vikings, and see what you can create in the Dining Hall. Comment on this post with any new ideas or creations that you come up with and help expand the Alternative Menu that is so key to enjoying life as an eater on campus.

Simple Recipes: Beef Enchiladas

"Wanna hit up the Dining Hall?" my roommate asked me at 12:15 on a Tuesday afternoon. Normally, this would be an easy decision for me: Prime lunch hours, a warm, free meal and a break from the endless stress of Finals Week at Salem State. However lately food hasn't been able to deliver what I really want out of it: comfort.

Ultimately, I decided to tag along for lunch, hoping to perhaps be inspired by a warm chocolate chip cookie or cup of tomato soup. Maybe the tastes of true comfort food would help me ditch the feeling of being too busy to enjoy the onset of the holiday season.

This wasn't the case at that particular lunch, however my desire to fulfill my need led me to Crosby's Market later that day. Working in a Mexican restaurant for nearly six years has seriously altered my idea of comfort food, and as a result, my instincts led me around the Market with this recipe in mind.

Beef Enchiladas

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. ground beef
1 medium size yellow onion
8 corn tortillas
2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese
2 8 oz. cans of red enchilada sauce
Side cup of sour cream (optional)

Materials:
Skillet
Nonstick pan
Chopping knife
Baking sheet with sides

Instructions:
First, chop onion and set aside.

Next, brown the ground beef in the skillet, draining off the drippings.
While browning beef, heat the tortillas in the nonstick pan.

Once beef is brown and tortillas are warm, fill each tortilla with beef, onion and Mexican cheese.

Roll up the tortillas and set close together in baking pan and pour sauce over top of enchiladas. Cover the enchiladas with the remaining cheese and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and serve hot.


The result was a delicious batch of Beef Enchiladas, reminding me of tired nights after long shifts at work when I would come home with an order of Agave's Enchiladas and sit down to watch T.V. with my sister. This was exactly what I had needed, warming me up and helping me let go of my recent bitterness towards food.

So, Vikings, if you're looking for some comfort food or anything of the sort during Finals week, try out this recipe and enjoy. Take a break from the books and try out some cooking to clear your head. Your sanity and health is just as important as your GPA.