During my freshman year of college, I must admit, I scoffed at the idea of going to Rosetta's Kitchenette. The vegan dining establishment on my campus just didn't seem like the place for me. Not only am I not vegan or vegetarian, but it's tucked away on a hill next to the gym far from the rest of campus. I thought I was just fine with eating burgers and chicken tenders from Highsmith.
I'll forever be grateful to my friends for dragging me to Rosetta's for the first time. Standing in line to order, I was hesitant. I looked over the menu and saw nothing that I recognized as food. There's nothing wrong with vegan food, but I had never been to a vegan restaurant in my life and the options were overwhelming.
What's vegannaise?
Does coconut curry taste like a spicy coconut?
And what the hell are veggie burgers made out of?
My friend noticed my discomfort and suggested I get something a little less daunting for a carnivore who's never been exposed to vegan cuisine: a bagel. I was relieved. Finally, something I knew was edible! Then she told me to get it with herb walnut sauce and avocado on top. I had never heard of an herb sauce of a walnut sauce, much less an herb walnut sauce. I pictured chopped up walnuts and rosemary or thyme made into a paste, so I was surprised when I got my bagel and saw a salmon colored sauce peeking out from underneath my avocado slices.
My first bite of that everything bagel with herb walnut sauce and avocado was a defining moment in my life. I didn't know love until I tasted that bagel. Their bagels are soft and fluffy, never overcooked or burnt. The herb walnut sauce is an earthy, slightly sweet spread that I could drink straight out of the jar if given the opportunity. And the avocado, which I think tastes like cardboard on its own, just enhances it all.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of my sophomore year was dominated by trips to Rosetta's for lunch. I used up all my meal swipes on those bagels, and when I ran out of swipes, I started to use my declining balance. I sprinted from my class the seconded it ended at 12:15 to beat the lunch rush and whined about them being closed on the weekend. Rosetta's turned from that vegan place on campus I avoided to my favorite place to eat and hang out with my friends.
I've gotten other things from Rosetta's these past few semesters. I've learned that vegannaise is a tasty vegan version of mayonnaise and though I still don't know what the veggie burgers are made of, I know they're delicious. But on rough afternoons when I'm cramming for a test and I need some food to get my brain to stop stalling, I always come crawling back to the ole faithful:
An everything bagel with herb walnut sauce and avocado.
