It was just one of those days where I couldn’t decide where to eat or what to eat and the more my frustration grew, so did the grumbling noises in my stomach. The campus centers are usually places to wander in last minute for a grab-and-go type of meal. The dining hall usually is too mysterious for me, especially the unknown meats sitting in a puddle of some sort of oil and I can’t possibly buy take-out that makes me feel 10 pounds heavier after eating it.
What about C-Town? But that would require me passing through one of the sketchiest parts of George Street, only to be disappointed by the lack of variety in produce, and let me tell you, the produce isn’t that great. The bag of apples I once bought had what felt like an inch of a wax coating to enhance its shelf life. Imagine taking candle wax and dripping it onto an apple and that’s exactly what these apples looked like! Anyway, after that C-Town experience, I never stepped foot in there again.
So now what? Where to eat to satisfy my hunger? As I was pondering deeply in class, my friend suggested the George Street Co-Op, which is a vegan, vegetarian and organic market that is quite hidden and not necessarily on George Street. I was completely taken aback that such a market actually exists due to the excessive amount of student complaints regarding lack of fresh produce and natural (whatever that means) foods on Rutgers grounds. Students thought that such markets were only accessible through driving and whatnot. Well, fresh produce, pre-made breakfast, lunch and dinners and bulk foods exist in this little Co-Op right after New Street and Livingston Ave. Like I said, not really on George Street, but still relatively close to Cook Campus and College Avenue.
Ever check out that farmers market on George St. right next to the church? The apples, grape fruits, oranges and any other type of produce are the size of my face and personally, I don’t think that’s normal… But don’t worry, the organic produce in the Co-Op look pretty normal to me, and certainly don’t appear to have candle wax poured on them. The first time I stepped into the market, I thought I entered into a pot-smoking hippie wonderland (no offense to any Co-Op members). For all of you environmental nerds, this place tries to be environmentally friendly and tries to promote “green” ways of shopping. I bring re-useable bags and containers all the time!
What I truly like about this little market is how different it is than the rest of New Brunswick. At times, I feel so incredibly secluded and sheltered in this peaceful, free-spirited place that I forget that the sketchy areas are right outside. And don’t get me started on the colorfully painted stairs and walls that lead up to the little coffee shop called Namaste Café. All in all, this place is awesome and definitely has great food that can satisfy the mind, the body and more importantly, the stomach.
Selen Altiok
Photo by Paroma Guha