Every OP student knows that our school lunches are top tier and delicious, but given the high standard placed on the food from its earned fame, what do OP students think are the best and worst school lunches? To answer this question, I surveyed a total of fourteen members of various classes. The overwhelming majority of those surveyed said that General Tso’s chicken was the best lunch offered at OP, with pepper steak coming in at a close second. The survey also showed that students enjoy the OP pizza and hot dogs. As for the least picked and most despised lunches among OP students, a clear majority agree that the Cuban panini is by far the worst lunch offered at OP, having a three‑vote lead over the second least favorite, lo mein. A freshman said thatthe Cuban panini was his least favorite lunch and joked that the item should be illegal.
Personally, I think the fried ravioli beats any OP lunch offered, but they have not been served for years. Sophomore Dev Malhotra agreed with me and, during a conversation, noted that they need to be brought back to the menu. For my favorite OP lunch that is consistently offered, I would have to agree with those who say General Tso’s chicken, but as for the worst, for me it is the baked chicken.
But these lunches do not have to be the worst or least ordered. Students can make them better and improve them in specific ways that make them more appetizing. To prove this, whenever they were available, I ordered whatever foods were considered the worst and put my own twist on them. For the Cuban panini, I took out much of the ham and filled it with barbecue chips to add crunch and flair, which actually improved its flavor and made it a
pleasant lunch. For the lo mein, I did the same thing. I would get a chip, grab some noodles, and then place another chip on top to make a
sandwich. To my surprise, this made the lo mein one of my favorites of that week.
I have been doing this with my lunches for years, but only the ones I liked. Trying this with lunches I wouldn’t usually reach for showed
me that with a bag of chips and some salt, you can make anything not just edible but enjoyable. Many
of my friends who sit at my lunch table have tried similar techniques and agree that it makes everything taste so much better. The lasting idea of this article should be that whether students love or hate certain lunches, one thing is clear: with a little creativity, even the worst meal can turn in
to something worth eating. So the next time lunch looks questionable, remember the golden rule of OP dining: chips fix everything. Thank you to the amazing lunch staff at OP, who consistently give us delicious lunches and make the school day a little better.
(photos by Christian O’Keefe)
