News-Letter

The Mega Wrap at Megabytes

Sure, biting into a Mega Wrap creates fears of obesity lurking just around the corner, but the taste is worth it.

Eating a Mega Wrap every day would probably be disastrous for your health, with its layers upon layers of chicken, dressing and cheese, but it is undoubtedly a pleasure that should be occasionally savored.

The Mega Wrap is the perfect selection for students that have just studied all day or returned from a grueling series of classes, with no desires other than to fill their bodies with delicious, fattening chicken. If you keep the consumption to a minimum and never "Mega Size" your meal, ignore the guilt and dig in.

- William Parschalk

The T.B.M at Xando's

For the vegetarian, a great sandwich is hard to find. Options are generally limited to substandard veggies and condiments on mediocre bread. Most food joints assume that simply removing the meat from a sandwich makes it a good vegetarian option.

Though most of us in America connect "Italian sandwich" with meat - salami, prosciutto, pancetta - Italian cuisine offers an amazing variety of vegetarian panini. With combinations like ricotta and roasted peppers, artichoke and fontina cheese, or eggplant and provolone, Italian panini are the best choice for the gourmet vegetarian. The most classic, and arguably the best, combination is tomato and mozzarella - and you don't need to go to Little Italy to sample it.

Nearby Xando's offers a spectacular modern twist on the classic. The T.B.M. has tomato, basil, fresh mozzarella and a vinaigrette on focaccia bread. As an added bonus, they sometimes serve it slightly warm.

- Julianna Finelli

The Portobello Pita at Waverly Farmer's Market

The line at the Woodland Mushroom Company stand may be long, but it's worth the wait to get a savory bite of this fungus-lover's dream. This made-to-order pita sandwich contains mushrooms that are expertly grilled while you watch and drool in anticipation.

Feta cheese, lettuce, mixed greens and a special salt seasoning add to the delicious mushrooms, completing the pita pocket. For the particularly adventurous, a dash of hot sauce adds extra flair to the overall flavor of the sandwich.

Once it's all put together, the pita is so stuffed with fillings that eating the sandwich while browsing the Farmer's Market is a difficult if not impossible feat.

Luckily, the sandwich can be ordered to go and retains its warmth well in an aluminum foil wrapping and paper bag. In the privacy of your own home, you can let mushroom juice drip down your chin or be more refined and break out the utensils.

Now that the spring weather is approaching, a mid-Saturday morning leisurely stroll to the Farmer's Market for grocery shopping and browsing can be topped off with this delicious and nutritious lunch.

- Melissa Artnak

The Chicken Parm at Uni Mini

It's more than just a cliché 3 a.m. sandwich. The Uni Mini Chicken Parm always goes down like the best drunken sandwich, the best hungover sandwich, the best anytime you damn feel like it sandwich in the world.

As I was told before the first time I ordered one, "It's fried chicken, cheese and tomato sauce - of course it's wonderfully delicious." Sure, Sbarro and Baltimore's numerous crappy Italian delivery places conspire to destroy the mélange, but the boys at Uni Mini know how to do it just right.

When the little aluminum package of cheese, tomato and bread is toasted, you can see your chicken swimming in grease, and you know you're getting a little piece of Charles Village's fried heaven.

This college classic may not be the best sandwich in Charm City, but it's quintessential Hopkins fare that's wonderfully delicious. Give one a try.

- Francesca Hansen

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