January 30, 2003:
Q: I just want to say that the chinese rost pork that Commons served on Wednesday was awesome!! Did you guys make that, or did you bring in a chef? If Commons made that, do consider making it a regular item on the menu! Thank you for the great job that you guys do. Also...I haven't seen a response to the cream soda napkins yet--club membership 272 and counting....
A: Thanks for the kind words, we did indeed make the pork. Not sure about the napkin concerning Cream Soda, but will check into it.

January 29, 2003:
Q: I was just wondering when we would be getting the new salad dressings that we tasted a few months ago.
A: We are in the process of working with our Prime Vendor to get those dressings in. It takes about 4 to 6 weeks for the vendor to process the paperwork and set-up a delivery schedule for new products. You will be seeing them soon.

January 28, 2003:
Q: Hi ! I love your apple blitz but I missed the last time u served them ( which I believe was a long time ago) When is the next time they will be served? I am looking forward to them!!!!!! Thanx!
A: I have checked the menus and you are indeed correct that they are not served often. As a matter of fact they appear just once in the 5 week cycle. I'm having then added to the menu more often. Thanks for your note!

January 27, 2003:
Q: >I've ejoyed the sweet potato that's been on the menu recently; also, the hamsters are, as usual, superb. However, what's with the pizza? Granted, I haven't done an actual scientific survey, but every single one of my friends HATES the monday night pizza. The normal thin-crust pizza is excellent (good flavor varitey), but please, get rid of the monday night fare! I love Commons, except I dread pizza mondays!! I'm begging you!!!
A: It is gone.

January 23, 2003:
Q: Today's fries were awesome. A real change from the other two brands that always seem to be served. Thank you so much! I was excited and hope we have the waffle fries more often.
A: You are welcome!

January 23, 2003:
Q: Is there any way we could get fried ravioli on the menu? It was a big hit at my previous school.
A: I will check into the availability.

January 23, 2003:
Q: I was wondering if it is possible to have grilled cheeses sandwiches more often, or at least every friday afternoon?
A: I will look into it.

January 23, 2003:
Q: SMOOTHIE NIGHT = AMAZING
A: Glad you enjoyed it.

January 22, 2003:
Q: Thanks for having the pastrami today in the sandwich bar! Can we have it more often?
A: Thanks and can do.

January 22, 2003:
Q: I was thinking that the thin crust pizza is actually pretty good. also, could you try to always have feta cheese at the salad bar. please never have mashed potatoes without gravy, and try not to put all the stuff away before closing. finally, whats up with only allowing a certain # of chicken fingers. thats definitely not in the dining contract.
A: Thanks for your input on the pizza crust. As for the feta cheese, because we have so many requests of things on the the salad bar we have to rotate items. I will make sure that feta gets on more often, but it will not be out every day. You are correct about the chicken fingers. It is the policy of Dining Services to allow students as much as they would like, though however there is a standard number that the serves are instructed to begin with so as to minimize waste. As it has always been, should you like a larger serving you need only ask. Thanks for taking the time to write.

January 21, 2003:
Q: I really appreciate seeing the Den menu online... but it seems like it is frequently out of date (as it is right now.) Could you look into this? Thanks!
A: We have had a problem with the person who does our updating having a connection. It has been corrected and all will be updated.

January 21, 2003:
Q: Everyone knows the vegan sesame nuggets are a hit - with vegans and non-vegans alike. But what are the ingredients?
A: The ingredients are as follows: Water, soy protein concentrated, wheat gluten, torula yeast, cornmeal, breadcrumbs, sesame, onion powder, garlic powder, expeller pressed canola oil, natural spices, tapioca starch, bean flour, sesame seed, cellulose gum, carrageenan ( seaweed).

January 20, 2003:
Q: The sesame nuggets in the vegan bar are AMAZING...i'm not a vegan and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Can we have them more often?
A: Can do. Glad that you enjoyed them.

January 19, 2003:
Q: Two potato things: the sweet potatoes are always fabulous, and the ones in the marshmallow sauce were to die for. but i miss the potato salad that used to show up in the salad bar sporadically. with the eggs and everything..it was great. bring it back. i also echo the need for grilled chicken in the salad bar at dinner, and along with that grilled chicken ceasar salad for lunch even more often. those are incredible. thanks for a job well done.
A: I have forwarded your information to the cold kitchen, I love that potato salad also, and will have them incorporate.

January 19, 2003:
Q: 3 things: first, thank you so much for the abundance of sweet potato being served... its my very very favorite and having it at meal time just brightens my whole day! Second, I would like to second the chicken stuffed with brocolli comment - that stuff is very good... it was on the menu the other day but when i got to commons they were serving fried chicken instead - made me sad. and 3rd - is there any way that we could leave the waffles out all day or at least through lunch time? one of my favorite things to do for desert is to toast 2 ego waffles and put ice crea in between them like a sandwich - im not really up for it during breakfast, but i would love it a little later in the day if you could! Thats all - Thanks for doing such a wonderful job!!
A: We had added the broccoli stuffed chicken several more times on the cycle and waffles are no problem. Thanks, Christine

January 18, 2003:
Q: Hi-Your salad bar rocks!! However, there never seems to be little pieces of chopped up grilled chicken there any more at dinner. Could you please bring back the grilled chicken to the salad bar at dinner, and if it always "was" there, could you please refill the chicken for those who prefer to dine later in the evening? Thank you in advance!
A: We can surely make that happen. Thanks, Christine

January 16, 2003:
Q: I disagree with an earlier comment about the thin crust pizzas. I love the thin crusts! And everyone I've ever eaten with loves them too! Don't switch back!
A: Thanks for your comment. This is what I have been hearing. Thanks, Christine

January 13, 2003:
Q: I just wanted to say how much people appreciated and enjoyed the vegan sesame nuggets. It was great to see something new out there for the vegans and they were tasty for vegans and non-vegans alike. Also, the tofu-veggie stirfry at the marche station was great the other day because it had so much tofu. There was tofu today (fried) for lunch and I looked on the menu for dinner tonight and it says there is going to be seitan at the vegan bar. This is great! It's nice to have these sources of protein (besides beans) and it also great to have different types and in different forms (and not just the tofu at the salad bar). Thanks so much!!! Keep up the good work.
A: Thanks!

January 13, 2003:
Q: What happened to the Chicken filled with broccoli and cheese? That was the best, can you bring it back???
A: Would be happy to. I will bring this up in the menu committee meeting today.

January 13, 2003:
Q: Sweat potatoes are soooo good and they have been in commons a couple of times recently. I enjoy them so much. thank you!
A: Thanks, we are glad you did.

January 13, 2003:
Q: Rib sandwiches would make me want to spent 6 years at Bates.
A: Let me see what we can do to make you stay.

January 12, 2003:
Q: Why can't we see the menu online anymore? i like knowing what is up for the day before i go to commons...
A: This should be corrected today.

January 12, 2003:
Q: Hello, I was just wondering when you're planning to begin to post Commons daily menus online again? It's really nice to be able to check them from time to time so I'm sure we'd all be happy to see them return to the website. thanks!
A: This should be corrected today. Thanks

January 12, 2003:
Q: No burgers on friday night? Running out of garlic bread at 6:00? No excuses for no garlic bread. I don't understand that. Poor, poor, poor.
A: We did not serve burgers this Friday night as it was a special dinner with an international menu. The menu was changed as a way of showing our diversity- through food- and support of the Many and One rally that took place the next day. No need to worry, they will be back on Friday. As for the Garlic bread, you are exactly right. I have spoken with the purchaser . Thanks for taking the time to write Christine

January 10, 2003:
Q: Dear Commons: after writing many napkins about the dining hall pizza, many people have decided that you have missed the point. The masses are crying for the return of the pizza bar pizza that was served all of last year. We don't like the wafer-like, pita-type stuff. What is that? Similarly, the monday night thick crust is NOT the type that the hordes of sophomores like. That is also bad. You really need to get rid of the pita stuff and bring last year's pizza back.
A: This is very interesting because we have only received 1 negative napkin about the pizza crust and numerous in support. The pizza crust that we changed to is the same thickness as the one we had before, the only exception is that we are not rolling it ourselves. The decision to make this change was prompted by several concerns : the individuals sheeting the dough we encountering carpel tunnel issues, the vendor who suppled the dough balls was not reliable, because we lack storage there were problems with being able to proof the dough properly and lastly the dough ball vendor refused to comply with our request to package his product in an environmentally conscious way - which could have been easily done. I understand your concern and have spoken with the purchaser to see of he is able to find alternative crusts that we can bring in for testing. Hopefully one of these will elevate your concerns. As for the thick crust, I will pass your concerns on to the menu committee.

January 8, 2003:
Q: Thank you so much for not having monday night pizza. Thank you, thank you, thank you. On another note, where did the crab/scallop stuffed sole go? It's so good! It has to be the best fish served, and yet it hasn't been around lately. What happened?
Q: It is still on the menu.

January 8, 2003:
Q: I like the stuffed sole so much that I would like to get the recipe if I could. Thanks.
A: There is actually no recipe for this particular item as this is one of the very few we purchase prepared.