By: Giancarlo Terrones 🇦🇷 🇵🇪
Sign for Yahentamitsi Dining Hall at Stadium Drive on Dec. 13, 2022. (Alexa Figueroa)`
College is a strange time in people's lives. You're transitioning from grade school to higher education. Many of us move away from close friends, move out of our parent's house and leave behind our pets when we begin our college journey.
However, for many Hispanic college students, we have to leave behind our mom or dad's famous cooking that we cherish and grew up on.
Thus comes the famous University of Maryland diner. Students can choose from a variety of foods at the diner, some of which occasionally provide a home-cooked meal that can either fulfill cravings or cause your stomach to become your worst enemy for the rest of the day.
As I stepped foot in the newly constructed Yahentamitsi Dining Hall, I had one goal in mind and that was to find Hispanic food that came close to ‘’la comida que prepara mi mamá,’’ or the food my mom makes.
After digging through all the burgers, pasta, and smoothie bars, I came across a nicely set-up taco bar with everything you can imagine a taco bar to have.
There were various salsas, guacamole, pico de gallo, and even chips available. However, one thing that caught my attention was the star of the taco bar. That was the honey citrus chicken carnitas and the choriqueso.
Taco bar at the Yahentamitsi Dining Hall on Dec. 2, 2022. (Giancarlo Terrones)
I was intrigued and curious about how it compared to mom's home cooking. I fixed myself up a plate and began to send my taste buds on a journey.
The honey citrus chicken was neither bad nor outstanding and it did not remind me of mom's cooking but it was tasty. There was just the right amount of spices combined with a touch of honey to bring a satisfying flavor.
The chicken was cooked perfectly, not too rubbery or undercooked and it combined nicely with the broth to provide a juicy texture. It could go great on a taco or as a nice meat option with rice and beans.
Overall, I'd have to give it 7.5 out of 10 testudos.
Then came time to try the choriqueso and I have to be honest it was not a great combination.
The chorizo was basically non-existent as the queso overpowered both in flavor and texture, every bite felt like a spoonful of plastic cheese and grease.
I gave it the benefit of the doubt and tried it in a taco, maybe it would taste better with other ingredients. Once again I was left disappointed as the same results came only this time the added ingredients allowed me to finish the taco without being disgusted. Overall, I’d have to give the choriqueso 4.5 out of 10 testudos.