Special Treats

Everyone loves food, but when it's free it suddenly becomes a thousand times more delicious. Perhaps it is the luxury of expending little more energy than the lifting of a fork, to fall into that deep ambrosial food coma. Perhaps it is because free food placates your inner penny-pinching ego, and the fullness of your wallet fills you with a sense of pride. Whichever way free food touches your soul and lifts your spirits, WashU has got you covered. In the past four months I have purchased groceries only twice. With a keen eye and honed scavenging skills, it is entirely possible to eat three meals a day, five days a week without spending a dime. During application season, the applicant breakfasts overflow with leftovers a plenty. If you tire of the applicant fare, each hospital department also hosts grand rounds once a week which offer, beyond engaging lectures, Einsteins Bagels and Coffee. Lunch is catered by various organizations hosting lunch talks at least four times a week; Addie’s Thai is served on at least two days. During application season, pizza is served every night in Olin, but if pizza isn’t your thing, between interprofessional events, galas, guest speakers, and leftovers from catered evening selective courses, there is plenty of food to go ‘round. Bottom line, you will not go hungry.

St. Louis has an odd abundance of regional-specific foods. Treats you can’t find anywhere else and delicacies you’ll crave when you leave. This list is certainly not inclusive, but let’s begin:

• Old Vienna Red Hot Riplets: These chips are only found here and might be the best kept secret. I am not exaggerating when I say they’re the best thing ever. They are spicy, but with a hint of sweet. Nothing pairs better with a Gioia’s hot salami sandwich (also really worth seeking out). Or with anything else.
• Gooey Butter Cake: This better known dessert delight is hard to describe, but imagine a really gooey, creamy yellow cake base topped with powdered sugar. Don’t question, just eat.
• Pork Steaks: This unique cut of meat can only be found here and can be cooked in a variety of ways. Makes a summer BBQ complete!
• Toasted Ravioli: A very well-known snack treat! Normal ravioli stuffed with meat or cheese and then deep fried and dipped in marinara sauce. Why this hasn’t swept the nation is something we St. Louisans can’t understand.
• St. Louis-style pizza, i.e. Imo’s: Made with a thin crust and Provel (our own type of cheese), St. Louis-style pizza can be found at Imo’s, the flagship producer, but other places make fancier versions too. This is the most polarizing of STL foods. It’s almost love it or hate it and this debate will incite loud arguments in public.
• STL barbeque: I hardly need to explain this. An entire type of rib is named for our city. This would take too many words to fully exalt, but rest assured there are innumerable BBQ joints, big and small, to keep you satiated.  
• Ted Drewes: Only voted the best ice cream in THE WORLD. Yes, the world. It’s actually frozen custard which can be churned into a concrete with customized toppings or one of their wonderful creations. You will hear all about Ted Drewes, so I’ll just leave it up to you to visit and be happy.