Cheesy eggs and tofu scramble: the importance of Usdan brunch
College students are notorious brunch seekers, especially on the weekends. It’s probably something to do with it being so customizable: it can be at 10am or 3pm, can involve pancakes or paninis, and comes with coffee or a thinly-veiled cocktail. And in an increasingly productivity-driven society, brunch is often the one time a week we can truly sit down and enjoy food and time with our friends without feeling guilty for using potential work hours. For students in Middletown, Connecticut, there may seem to be a dearth of brunch options. However, those willing to look a bit closer will realize that a classic brunch institution is waiting right at 45 Wyllys Ave on the second floor of the Usdan University Center.
First, the logistics: the Usdan marketplace is open 11am-2pm on Saturdays and Sundays, an ideal range within acceptable brunch hours; going at exactly 11:00 will likely result in a bit of a longer wait for some of your favorite treats. Upon entering, the first station you’ll see is Classics. True to its name, this is where you’ll find scrambled eggs (with or without cheese), home fries, sausage, bacon, and pancakes: all in all, a classic home-style brunch. If you’re looking for traditional brunch with a Wesleyan spin, then the vegan section may be the spot for you. The star of this lineup is the tofu scramble, which true to its name is simply tofu that has been mixed with various vegetables and cooked up much like an egg would be. If you look around you’ll find more stand-ins for brunch mainstays, such as tempeh bacon and gluten-free muffins.
To your left you’ll find the waffle area, where you can make your own waffle on one of four partially-functioning irons. Around the corner from the irons are an array of waffle toppings with explicit instructions to not put the toppings in the batter itself before cooking. Everyone ignores this to make chocolate chip waffles. This is an oft-overlooked option which means you will rarely face a line, but when you do it will likely be a doozy because of the small number of irons. Looking for a little adventure in your late-morning-early-afternoon meal? You’ve come to the right place.
If you’re looking for something a little more upscale you can try braving the omelette line. You can pick an exorbitant number of fillings that the lovely Bon Appetit staff will prepare into a delightful omelette that will make you feel healthy because you’ll be eating vegetables (maybe). The trick here is that the line will take longer than you think it will–the best move here is to convince your fellow diners to join you in having omelettes, because if you’re the only one in your party having one by the time you’re ready to eat everyone else will be ready to go.
Me? I like to start with at Classics, where I get cheesy eggs and sausage. Then I go to the vegan section for home fries; they’re exactly the same ones that are at Classics, but during my freshman year I started getting them from vegan because for some reason I thought they were of a higher quality and old habits die hard. I finish off with challah if they have it (a tragically infrequent occurrence) and a bagel if not, all washed down with apple juice and coffee. This is my menu every time I go to Usdan brunch, which has been at least once per weekend for the past five semesters.
None of the above culinary options may excite you, which is a fair reaction. What’s really special about Usdan brunch is the experience. Once you have your food and sit down with your squad, the real fun can begin: a recap of last night. Go to a really good party–or better yet, a really bad one? Send a regrettable text? See two people leaving Whey Station together, trying to be inconspicuous but you totally saw them? Learn something shocking that you promised not to tell? Even if the same people who are brunching together were all together last night, everyone can benefit from a retelling of the evening’s shenanigans.
What’s more, chances are high that tables around you will be engaging in similar conversations. Here you’ll partake in a quintessentially Wesleyan moment: knowing that you’re sharing an experience and a set of emotions with a group of people and having an unspoken understanding that you’ll never actually discuss it. But this is where your truest friendships will be forged: not in drunken conversations and houses on Fountain Ave on Friday nights, but in coffee cake and apple juice on Saturday mornings.
