Lunchroom Legends: My top 5 trays of Glory

FEAST. Students share their full lunch table of pork carnitas before they dig in. At VHS, we have a variety of delicious meals made by our amazing lunch staff. Photo courtesy of Stella Nackos. 

After four long class periods, all I can think about is the unsettling growl in my stomach. However, there is still hope. As the minutes slowly count down, a little angel comes and taps my shoulder, saving me from despair. That angel’s name is “School Lunch.” No matter how difficult the school day becomes, knowing that I get to enjoy an amazing school lunch carries me through my first four periods. At VHS, we have a variety of delicious, nutritional meals offered to us each and every day. Although each week's lineup is unique, I would like to share my top five lunches that I believe are truly breathtaking. 

Earning fifth in this competitive match is coconut lentil curry. The delicious coconut twist gives the curry the most complex flavor palette. This masterpiece is served with bandama bread, perfect for dipping. When winter hits, coconut curry is the perfect lunch to warm you up and save you from your seasonal depression. When talking to my peers I have found that this dish is a favorite for many students at VHS.

Up next is chicken shawarma. The chicken is tender, covered in amazing spices, and served with warm, fluffy naan bread on the side. Keeping that homemade reputation up, both the hummus and the tzatziki sauce are made at the school, creating the most immaculate combination. We recently had chicken shawarma for lunch and the students could not stop raving about it.

I have placed what I would consider a staple lunch at third. Pesto pasta: simple yet delicious. Our pesto pasta is so special because our chefs carefully prepare the pesto from scratch. Our lunch staff works extremely hard in order to provide our school with healthy non-processed meals. The pesto pasta is creamy and always comes with a side of bread, leaving me full and satiated by the end of lunch. I can confidently say that pesto pasta will never miss.

Coming in at number two, we have barbeque pulled pork sliders. Although this is a rare occurrence on the VHS menu, it never disappoints. The pork sliders consist of the most tender and juicy barbeque pork on a simple hamburger bun. This dish is also completed with the signature pickled onions. Of course every lunch comes with fresh fruit or vegetables, making each meal whole. Every year I forget about pulled pork sliders, but when they come around they are always a surprising crowd pleaser. 

Finally, a lunch that I think is extremely underrated but is my personal favorite: Super Nachos. It’s right in the name; these nachos are super. They start with a simple base of tortilla chips, cheese, and ground beef, but where the real magic happens is at the toppings bar. I always load my bowl with some of the fresh shredded lettuce followed by the bean and corn salsa. I would argue that no good meal is ever complete without the sauces, so I top my bowl with classic sour cream and salsa. I must request silence for this finale. The single ingredient that makes this dish complete… pickled onions. The pickled onions always keep me on my toes by adding a crunchy, salty, and slightly tangy touch. It would be easy to assume that the best thing about super nachos is simply their taste, but it is the fact that they bring my peers together that is so memorable. When I sit down at my lunch table on super nacho day, I only see smiles. Super nachos will forever be in my heart. 

These five are only a few of the life-changing lunches offered at VHS. I would like to give an honorable mention to chicken enchiladas, pork carnitas, and lemon-chicken pasta, that came so close in the running. No matter what your personal favorite lunch is, knowing that it is made with fresh foods and at VHS is such a gift. Always remember to thank our lunch staff for working so hard to make our school day a little better.