As fall is with us, there is a question that begs to be answered: how do Villanova students satisfy their fall food fix? If you are anything like me, the moment the temperature drops below 70, you are immediately ready for pumpkin-spice everything. Pretzels, chocolate, coffee or french toast, you name it, and I want it pumpkin-ized. There is simply nothing better than jumping into bed after a brisk fall day, opening your computer to Gilmore Girls and pulling out the communal roommate selection of fall snacks. As a current freshman, I am still exploring the vast autumnal food and drink selections at Villanova, which is turning out to be a very delicious process.
Freshman Maggie Smith shares the love of everything that represents the fall months. As a native Minnesotan, she is eager to indulge in the spirit of the season by capitalizing off of all that Holy Grounds has to offer.
“I absolutely love fall,” Smith said. “So far, my favorite fall food on campus is the pumpkin muffin from Holy Grounds.”
As an avid coffee drinker, there is nothing I love more than a good fall-themed coffee. Hot or cold, I am a sucker for seasonal menu items. If you are looking for a midday pick-me-up, I would highly recommend the Holy Grounds in Falvey Library. It offers a range of drinks, from gingerbread pumpkin and apple cinnamon brown sugar lattes to pumpkin spice cold brews. Since the first Tuesday of September, I have begun every day with a large cold brew with two pumps of pumpkin spice syrup and a dash of cinnamon.
If coffee isn’t your thing, no worries. Freshman Sophia Vernacchio opts for another fall drink, one more reminiscent of her memories from home.
“In the fall, I like to drink apple cider a lot at home,” Vernacchio said. “I don’t have anywhere to buy it here, but I walked into Holy Grounds and saw [its] seasonal menu has cold and hot apple cider. It helps me get into the fall spirit.”
If one is willing to make the journey to Suburban Square, the magnificence of Trader Joe’s fall food selection awaits them. I would venture as far as to say it is the home of all things fall. Sophomore Nora Tiffen readily makes the trip to the local Trader Joe’s, as well as Target, stocking up on her favorite fall goodies.
“My favorite fall foods are butternut squash mac and cheese from Trader Joe’s and Target has really good pumpkin spice whip cream,” Tiffen said. “I keep it in my dorm fridge and just pour it in my mouth.”
Not everyone has to venture outside of the University to satisfy pumpkin cravings. If one is really lucky, like sophomore Jack Bryne, homemade fall treats are available via the graces of home.
“My favorite fall food is the pumpkin loaf my mom ships me to Villanova,” Bryne said. “Sometimes I get two [loaves], you know, if she’s feeling crazy.”
For those of us who aren’t fortunate to be picking up homemade baked goods from the Kennedy mailroom, befriending the likes of Bryne could exponentially improve one’s fall food experience at Villanova. Regardless of if you know any bakers prepared to ship food to Pennsylvania, there are plenty of options in or around campus that help students elevate their fall experience. Whether one takes a walk to Starbucks for a pumpkin cream cold brew, rides SEPTA to Trader Joe’s for pumpkin cranberry crisps, visits the nearest Holy Grounds for a muffin and apple cider or simply indulges in some autumnal dining hall soup, the fall spirit is everywhere. Get out and enjoy the treats, TV shows and, hopefully, the fall weather before it’s gone.
