<p>Hi everyone!
I’ve heard wonderful things regarding the food at PA, so I was wondering if anyone would mind sharing their favorite food at PA. Feel free to pick more than one!</p>
<p>Cheers,
Piccalacha</p>
<p>I’m a real sucker for the omelets from the “Eggs Your Way” station on the second floor. Essentially, you choose some ingredients from the cold bar (I always get ham, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and pour a little hot sauce on top for good measure), pass your bowl to a chef at the egg station, and instruct him or her on how you would like your omelet or scramble done: whole egg or egg whites, with cheddar or American cheese. He or she will start a new omelet and package up your ingredients in the omelet. After the chef is done making my omelet in front of me, I take my omelet and pour on a little more hot sauce! Great way to start the day.</p>
<p>I’m also a sucker for Commons swordfish. It’s not served too often, but it’s an occasion when it is - mmm, plank swordfish… It’s served on the second floor in small servings, but no one is stopping you from getting up a getting more after your first (and second… and third…) serving.</p>
<p>Commons “Boca Burgers” are always in high demand, too. Served about four times a month (twice at dinner and twice at lunch) they’re hamburgers once again grilled in front of you as you watch! Kids are ravenous for them so Commons chefs grill a ton, and the result is that you can smell the delicious, home-grilled burger smell from far outside of the building. They’re simple, delicious and, of course, served with home-made French fries that taste much like the ones in McDonalds 
You serve yourself so portions are virtually unlimited and you are also free to add whatever types of cheeses, salads, and condiments you like to your burgers. They’re worth waiting in line for.</p>
<p>I eat more vegetables than meats, though, and I’m very well-served at Commons. The downstairs salad bar is about a mile long and stocked with all the veggies you’d expect, plus great additions like flax seeds, dried cranberries, black olives, baby corn… Too much to list. Additionally, Commons stocks about eight different types of salad dressing, including everything from low-fat Thousand Island to raspberry vinaigrette. I often add tuna to my salad, too. The options are endless but consistently healthful and delicious :)</p>
<p>Stir fry. Get some.</p>
<p>oh my gosh! That sounds amazing. What do you all do for snacks? do you buy a box of muesli bars or something and have them between classes?</p>
<p>You’ll find most kids just stop at Commons if they get hungry between classes - they have fruit easily accessible as well as bagels, breads, and other “grab 'n go” foods. For snacks, there is also the Den, where students can buy everything from cereal bars to burgers.</p>
<p>Are students allowed to eat in classrooms? might be an odd question =p but teachers are quite lax about this here and sometimes kids come in with their lunch ;)</p>
<p>Do they serve coffee in commons? If so, do they serve it only at breakfast/brunch or all day?</p>
<p>Hey, Craysian!</p>
<p>That really depends on the teacher, though most I’ve encountered are willing to live with students bringing in closed-top beverages and food in paper cups, usually cereal without milk. When it’s a squeeze to fit in breakfast, I’ve found that my teachers don’t at all mind if I quietly munch on some oat bran from a paper coffee cup. A full meal, though… I’ve never seen that happen. I don’t think any teacher here would take kindly to that.</p>
<p>Hey, Piccalacha!</p>
<p>Coffee is, indeed, served in Commons. There are several options. Students can opt for the self-serve coffee in the servery spaces on both the first and second floors, or they can approach the beautiful, pristine, executive cappuccino/espresso machine in lower left. It’s behind the bar, so students must instruct Milady, the server, to make the coffee of choice. I’m a bit of a double espresso addict… An important part of my morning! However, coffee is served all day long, including during dinner. The machine, though, is switched off for dinner, so students must revert to the self-serve. This is actually not a bad option at all as the coffee options change with the season. During the later part of fall, pumpkin spice brew appeared, and lately it’s been organic vanilla. There is also decaf in a variety of flavors.</p>
<p>However, I’d say the real strength of the self-serve coffee areas is the selection of tea bags that are put out for student use. My personal favorite is the “Wide Awake” chai with spices, but there is everything from plain green tea to orange zest. These teas, too, are available all day.</p>
<p>Keep your questions coming - I hope you’re psyched up to revisit!</p>
<p>Yours,</p>
<p>TomTheCat, PA '11</p>
<p>How do you pay for food? Does tuition cover it?</p>
<p>Hey, yellowstone15!</p>
<p>Food is covered through tuition, so you can eat as much or as little as you want in Commons without carrying money or a card around. The Den, which is a student center that includes a store, serves fast food (like burgers and pizza) which is not covered through tuition. Students can pay for this food with cash, debit card, or BlueCard, the Phillips Academy student ID which is also used as a library card and debit card in several locations downtown like CVS.</p>
<p>The debit capabilities of the BlueCard are characterized by the two different accounts that each BlueCard is linked to: Blue Bucks and Bookstore Funds. Parents can deposit money into either account or both. The Blue Buck account works with the Den, off-campus locations, as well as the Andover Bookstore. The Bookstore Funds account only works with purchases from the Andover Bookstore. This is a handy way for parents to ensure that money intended for books is, indeed, spent on books.</p>
<p>Do you ever get cultural/ethnic food? Like authentic Chinese food (aka not “szechuan” or orange chicken), Korean japchae noodles or kimbop, or Japanese omurice?</p>
<p>& if not, are there authentic restaurants in town, or a stove to cook yourself?</p>
<p>Thank you TomTheCat!</p>
<p>How often do they serve Sushi?</p>
<p>Hey, Zenxan!</p>
<p>Not sure I can help you there… I’m not too familiar with the specific types of ethnic food served. However, I can tell you that during Asian Arts week Commons is laden with Asian food of all types and description. In terms of authentic restaurants, there used to be a great place called Yama, but it closed this year 
Now you’ll have to make do with “Golden Chopsticks,” a carryout affectionately (or not so affectionately) referred to as “G-Chop.” I wouldn’t advise eating that stuff though, you won’t poop for days</p>
<p>Hey, Invent!</p>
<p>Sushi is served about once a month from the first floor servery. It’s made and rolled in front of students in line and ginger, wasabi, and soy sauce is available from the same line. I’ve found the sushi is usually pretty light on the fish, which is too bad, but I guess you’ll be well-served if you prefer vegetable sushi…</p>