Munch

Right, no one panic, but we’re a month through the semester. This is a mighty stumbling block, where early morning lecture attendance falters and ‘recommended’ readings fade into obscurity. These are the days where you figure out exactly how long it takes to roll out of bed and into your lecture, squeezing out every second of sleep you can get. Or… I do, anyway. 

Making your lunch at home is, inevitably, sacrificed to efficiency. Hands down the thriftiest of meals, I don’t want to pay too much attention to packed lunches or otherwise I’ll be out of a job. So, for the mornings where there’s not even time to stick some bread together, here are my thoughts on some of the sandwiches you can get for lunch on Kelburn campus. 

Subway

What: 6-inch Sub of the Day. 

Price: $7.50

When: 7 days a week.

The packhorse of campus sandwiches, a sub is undeniable value. 

⭐⭐⭐

I’m going to be honest, I’ve got a vendetta with Subway. I’ve boycotted the store by the Easterfield entrance for years due to those rumours of bread legally classified as cake, and the beguiling fresh bread scent that’s pumped out the door every day. The garish green facade clinging to the grey stone of the building, as well as the crinkly wrapping in the library and then finding said wrapping on the ground later, has all made the franchise seem obnoxious and consumerist. 

But, a $7.50 sub is a $7.50 sub, and not to be disregarded. So, into the green den I went for Saturday’s ‘chicken strips’ Sub of the Day. 

For a flat fee, you do get a tasty sandwich, and you can easily maximise its value by loading up on the vegetable options. This does mean you end up with a saucy salad in a roll. Chicken strips? Nah, stripped of chicken. In and around the cucumber and spinach, a cube of soft meat would reveal itself, mainly for texture’s sake. There was an artificiality to the sandwich that I couldn’t shake, in both the meat and the sweetness of the sauce and the bread. A 6-inch sub was enough to tide me through an afternoon but definitely didn’t fill me as much as I’d expect it to. If it wasn’t for the price, I’d call this a once-in-long-while lunch. But if you can stick to your guns and stay away from any combos or extra cookies, I can’t begrudge this as a solid study-break lunch. 

Ramsey House

What: 2 toasties & a hot drink. 

Price: $5.00

When: 12:00 - 2:00pm; Thursdays & Fridays. 

A homemade lunch in the living room, just down from your lecture hall. 

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The Ramsey House chaplaincy is a winner on campus for offering not only the best value, but also the coziest space to enjoy it. Any day of the week, pop in for $2.00 bottomless filter coffee or tea and let your heart rate settle in their comfy living room and library space. They don’t skimp on those drinks, by the way, serving Common Good coffee and T2 tea, both of which are top-shelf stuff. I’ve spent many an afternoon here—alone or with friends, working on an essay or reading or doing nothing much at all—in the gentle quiet. 

But in the tail-end of the week, the smell of bubbling cheese summons droves to 8 Kelburn Parade. $5.00 gets you two toasties and a drink of choice here. They’re all vegetarian options—mostly relishes with cheese and some spinach—but it’s cheap and filling. On a big day, I’ll order three toasties (one each of the beetroot chutney, onion relish, and marmite)—a stack that will definitely see me through the day. Similarly to Subway, actually, most of these sandwiches err sweet with their condiment fillings, unless you don’t mind marmite. But they’re crispy, hot, and cheesy, which—on a blustery Wellington afternoon—can be a small miracle. 

The chaplaincy also offers free potluck dinners every second Friday, a worship session with lunch on Wednesdays, and confidential support for students and staff, regardless of faith. The staff and volunteers are lovely and always happy to help, whether it’s a bite to eat, a free refill, or a listening ear that you’re after. 

To be continued.