[Elephant from Mars]

EDIT: Unfortunately, I missed my A-levels offer (long story) and so I won't be going to Trinity after all. Thanks anyway for your help, and I hope it's useful to future vegetarians, hopefully ones with better luck than me An elephant

Hi!

I'm holding an offer to study at Trinity College in Cambridge but as a vegetarian, I'm a little concerned about finding decent food.

At my interview I ate in the hall (albeit once only) and the vegetarian dish was just some mushy vegetable slop, so I'm scared that the hall food, although priced reasonably, will not be healthy/varied/tasty enough to be eaten all year round (especially since you'd expect the interview period to reflect the best food on offer, right?).

Eating every day in restaurants would be unsustainable, for obvious financial and health reasons, and the same applies to ready-made microwavable supermarket meals.

Self-catering as a vegetarian is not greatly appealing, since kitchens (and therefore fridges and pans) would be shared with non-vegetarians.

So, can anybody offer advice, encouragement or experiences of life as a vegetarian, either in specifically at Trinity or generally at Cambridge?

Thanks very much in advance!

An elephant

[Helenia]

You are right that, in general, canteen food for vegetarians can be rather...uninspired. There may be some colleges which are a little better than others, but in general there will only be one vegetarian option in the canteen, and they're not always that healthy. Vegetarian options in formal hall may well be a bit better, as you'd expect, but you won't be eating in formal hall every day.

At Trinity, I think your cooking facilities will vary depending on which bit of accommodation you live in, but I expect that you will have to do some self-catering. It is odd that you view this as less appealing, as all the veggies I knew at uni self-catered more than the meat-eaters, if anything. If you really don't want people using your pans, even if they wash them afterwards, you'll just have to keep them in your room (not ideal). If you can't cope with your food being in the same place as meat is kept (assuming it's hygienically wrapped/contained) then, erm, you might be a bit stuck, unless Trinity allow mini-fridges, which I'm not sure about. It sounds like you're writing off meat-eaters as some kind of disgusting creatures and that the mere presence of meat will contaminate your food - it won't. People will be completely tolerant of you being a vegetarian, but will be less keen on your disgust for their eating habits, so I suggest you tone that down a bit!

I'm a meat-eater but my flatmate for the last 3 years of uni was vegetarian, and we managed fine together.

[-Matt-]

Hi, I'm a vegetarian albeit at Jesus so I can't any specific advice about Trinity.

In my experience at Jesus the vegetarian dishes have generally been of good quality and quite varied and the other colleges I've eaten standard (rather than formal) hall at have also had decent enough vegetarian food. To give you an idea of the sort of food you might expect I've copied the current evening meal vegetarian options for this week at Jesus below.

Dinner menu

Green Thai Quorn Stir Fry
Red Pepper and Onion Enchiladas
Vegetarian Sausages with Onion Gravy
Mac and Cheese
Chickpea and Aubergine Balti
Warm Pea, Mint and Feta Cheese Quiche

That being said I've only rarely eaten in hall since first year, and even then not that frequently, as I prefer to cook for myself or with housemates as it's quite a lot cheaper and you obviously get to choose what you eat! I personally don't have a problem sharing utensils which have been used for cooking meat so I've never had a problem with self-catering. However you should be able to keep your own pans and utensils separate - providing you put them away in a cupboard after using them I don't think anyone would go looking in your cupboard for them particularly if you explained to the people on your staircase what you reason for wanting to keep things separate was.

[*Liana*]

(Original post by Elephant from Mars)
Hi!

I'm holding an offer to study at Trinity College in Cambridge but as a vegetarian, I'm a little concerned about finding decent food.

At my interview I ate in the hall (albeit once only) and the vegetarian dish was just some mushy vegetable slop, so I'm scared that the hall food, although priced reasonably, will not be healthy/varied/tasty enough to be eaten all year round (especially since you'd expect the interview period to reflect the best food on offer, right?).

Eating every day in restaurants would be unsustainable, for obvious financial and health reasons, and the same applies to ready-made microwavable supermarket meals.

Self-catering as a vegetarian is not greatly appealing, since kitchens (and therefore fridges and pans) would be shared with non-vegetarians.

So, can anybody offer advice, encouragement or experiences of life as a vegetarian, either in specifically at Trinity or generally at Cambridge?

Thanks very much in advance!

An elephant

Trinity is not renowned for its vegetarian or special diet food, unfortunately. There will be some things that you like but you will have to learn which things in hall are good and which are not! However they do not put on special food for interviewees, so don't think that that was the best you are ever going to get.

Re kitchens: Trinity has quite good kitchens compared to other colleges. Except for first year, where it is a bit of a lottery whether you get an oven or not, you will definitely be able to choose accommodation with a kitchen suitable for cooking proper meals - oven, hob, etc - for your remaining years. Pots and pans are not provided so you will have to bring your own anyway - if you do not want other people to use them, speak to your kitchen-mates or don't leave them lying around in the kitchen (you will usually not be living too far from your kitchen to do this). There is also the option of choosing a double room where you share a kitchen with another veggie. Finally about fridges - you are in shared accommodation, so you may have to just put up with your food sharing the fridge with meat. Put it in boxes or something if you are worried about this. If you are lucky you may be able to obtain a college small fridge to put in your room - you can request this from accommodation (but they may not give it to you without a better reason than vegetarianism, as there are lots of veggies and not many fridges) but if you choose a room that happens to already contain a fridge chances are you can keep it. I am not sure whether you are allowed to bring your own fridge... I think one of my friends might have had one.

ETA: I would echo Helenia's sentiments about perhaps being less antagonistic towards meat-eaters!

[TheHaylio]

(Original post by *Liana*)
Trinity is not renowned for its vegetarian or special diet food, unfortunately. There will be some things that you like but you will have to learn which things in hall are good and which are not! However they do not put on special food for interviewees, so don't think that that was the best you are ever going to get.

Re kitchens: Trinity has quite good kitchens compared to other colleges. Except for first year, where it is a bit of a lottery whether you get an oven or not, you will definitely be able to choose accommodation with a kitchen suitable for cooking proper meals - oven, hob, etc - for your remaining years. Pots and pans are not provided so you will have to bring your own anyway - if you do not want other people to use them, speak to your kitchen-mates or don't leave them lying around in the kitchen (you will usually not be living too far from your kitchen to do this). There is also the option of choosing a double room where you share a kitchen with another veggie. Finally about fridges - you are in shared accommodation, so you may have to just put up with your food sharing the fridge with meat. Put it in boxes or something if you are worried about this. If you are lucky you may be able to obtain a college small fridge to put in your room - you can request this from accommodation (but they may not give it to you without a better reason than vegetarianism, as there are lots of veggies and not many fridges) but if you choose a room that happens to already contain a fridge chances are you can keep it. I am not sure whether you are allowed to bring your own fridge... I think one of my friends might have had one.

ETA: I would echo Helenia's sentiments about perhaps being less antagonistic towards meat-eaters!

Hi- i was wondering if you could help!

I'm kind of in the same situation as the OP, i am a vegetarian so would really like to self-cater a lot- also because i really enjoy cooking!

For me, sharing a kitchen with meat eaters is not an issue at all. What colleges have decent kitchens? I really ideally would love an oven!

Any help at all would be appreciated

[gethsemane342]

(Original post by TheHaylio)
Hi- i was wondering if you could help!

I'm kind of in the same situation as the OP, i am a vegetarian so would really like to self-cater a lot- also because i really enjoy cooking!

For me, sharing a kitchen with meat eaters is not an issue at all. What colleges have decent kitchens? I really ideally would love an oven!

Any help at all would be appreciated

Murray Edwards apparently have great cooking facilities. I think they have ovens.

Don't apply to Christ's. Cooking facilities are hobs and/or (mostly) a microwave. No ovens.

[TheHaylio]

(Original post by gethsemane342)
Murray Edwards apparently have great cooking facilities. I think they have ovens.

Don't apply to Christ's. Cooking facilities are hobs and/or (mostly) a microwave. No ovens.

Thank you for that- unfortunatley i'm not looking at single-sex colleges but it's useful to know about Christs!

[Mrs Cullen]

(Original post by TheHaylio)
Hi- i was wondering if you could help!

I'm kind of in the same situation as the OP, i am a vegetarian so would really like to self-cater a lot- also because i really enjoy cooking!

For me, sharing a kitchen with meat eaters is not an issue at all. What colleges have decent kitchens? I really ideally would love an oven!

Any help at all would be appreciated

Girton is awesome for cooking facilities, if you're not put off by the 10 minute cycle into town

[TheHaylio]

(Original post by Mrs Cullen)
Girton is awesome for cooking facilities, if you're not put off by the 10 minute cycle into town

I'm not put off by that- but does it not damage the social side? Being that far away?

[the bear]

The great Indian mathematician Ramanujan died due to the unsuitable food at Cambridge

[Mrs Cullen]

(Original post by TheHaylio)
I'm not put off by that- but does it not damage the social side? Being that far away?

On the contrary, I'd say that Girton is one of the friendliest and closest-knit colleges of all, because we tend to socialise a lot more together as a college - simply because we are a bit further out. In terms of socialising with people from other colleges, it's true that you have to make slightly more effort (e.g. in comparison to other colleges that are across the road from each other), but there's nothing stopping you from cycling in to see people. Just the same as at every college, you'll meet people from other colleges from your course, and from any extra-curricular activities you do, so Girton is really no different in this respect other than you have to cycle a bit further!

Also, Girton has an accommodation annexe closer in town where the majority of second years and some third years live - it's on the road backing on to the Sidgwick site, so great for arts students. You can choose to live there if you'd prefer to be closer to town. Incidentally, it has the same, if not better cooking facilities than the main college, and the on-site cafeteria there does AMAZING food.

In case you're interested, the cooking facilities are roughly like this: one kitchen per corridor (about 16 people) with 1 or 2 ovens with 4 hobs each, 1 or 2 fridges, some have freezers, some have microwaves, all have kettles, toasters and each room has its own kitchen cupboard assigned. They get cleaned every day.

A lot of people eat exclusively in the college cafeterias, as the food is good, and fairly cheap. Every day there are at least two meat and two veggie options, with various sides, a daily soup, a decent salad bar, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, various yoghurts and hot and cold desserts. They're great with special diets too - I am allergic to gluten, and every day they make me a special meal separate from the rest, to avoid contamination. They're really very good.

If you're not put off by the cycle, I'd really recommend considering Girton for your college choice. I was pooled to Girton, but every day I'm thankful that I was, because I've had the best two years of my life there and I literally can't wait to get back after the holidays. The people are so friendly, the college is lovely and I actually really like being that bit further out, because it's quiet, there are no crowds of tourists in the summer and the cycle provides a nice bit of daily exercise. Feel free to ask me any more questions if you're interested!

[TheHaylio]

(Original post by Mrs Cullen)
On the contrary, I'd say that Girton is one of the friendliest and closest-knit colleges of all, because we tend to socialise a lot more together as a college - simply because we are a bit further out. In terms of socialising with people from other colleges, it's true that you have to make slightly more effort (e.g. in comparison to other colleges that are across the road from each other), but there's nothing stopping you from cycling in to see people. Just the same as at every college, you'll meet people from other colleges from your course, and from any extra-curricular activities you do, so Girton is really no different in this respect other than you have to cycle a bit further!

Also, Girton has an accommodation annexe closer in town where the majority of second years and some third years live - it's on the road backing on to the Sidgwick site, so great for arts students. You can choose to live there if you'd prefer to be closer to town. Incidentally, it has the same, if not better cooking facilities than the main college, and the on-site cafeteria there does AMAZING food.

In case you're interested, the cooking facilities are roughly like this: one kitchen per corridor (about 16 people) with 1 or 2 ovens with 4 hobs each, 1 or 2 fridges, some have freezers, some have microwaves, all have kettles, toasters and each room has its own kitchen cupboard assigned. They get cleaned every day.

A lot of people eat exclusively in the college cafeterias, as the food is good, and fairly cheap. Every day there are at least two meat and two veggie options, with various sides, a daily soup, a decent salad bar, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, various yoghurts and hot and cold desserts. They're great with special diets too - I am allergic to gluten, and every day they make me a special meal separate from the rest, to avoid contamination. They're really very good.

If you're not put off by the cycle, I'd really recommend considering Girton for your college choice. I was pooled to Girton, but every day I'm thankful that I was, because I've had the best two years of my life there and I literally can't wait to get back after the holidays. The people are so friendly, the college is lovely and I actually really like being that bit further out, because it's quiet, there are no crowds of tourists in the summer and the cycle provides a nice bit of daily exercise. Feel free to ask me any more questions if you're interested!

Thank you so much for all that I am seriously considering it.

I don't mind a back ride normally, but i'm worried that after a night out i may end up spending a lot on expensive taxi journeys XD

Girton is definitley a contender though- and i hadn't considered it before.

[marcusfox]

Not Cambridge, but relevant to halls food in general, at my hall in Reading, the vegetarian options were often restricted to only those who had pre registered their dietary preferences as they were limited in quantiy but not in quality, and I often fancied tucking into a nice macaroni cheese when the other two main hot options were either two different but equally unidentifiable meats in a brown sauce.

Depended on which dinner lady you asked, and how late you came to be served though, quite often if you queued just before they finished serving, they had been saying no to non-veges all throughout the hour and if there was any left, they would happily let you have it.

[Mrs Cullen]

(Original post by TheHaylio)
Thank you so much for all that I am seriously considering it.

I don't mind a back ride normally, but i'm worried that after a night out i may end up spending a lot on expensive taxi journeys XD

Girton is definitley a contender though- and i hadn't considered it before.

You're welcome! It is such a lovely college, I do tend to get a bit gushing when I talk about it It's all true though, I don't know anyone at the college who doesn't like it.

As far as evenings out go, everyone tends to taxi in and out of town together - if you get a big taxi, it only costs £1.50 each, so it doesn't work out too badly. (And the college bar is one of the cheapest of the colleges, so it sort of balances out!)

[AverageExcellence]

I dont think so, they only serve up caviar and Foie gras on solid gold dinner plates with platinum knives and folks

[TheHaylio]

(Original post by Mrs Cullen)
You're welcome! It is such a lovely college, I do tend to get a bit gushing when I talk about it It's all true though, I don't know anyone at the college who doesn't like it.

As far as evenings out go, everyone tends to taxi in and out of town together - if you get a big taxi, it only costs £1.50 each, so it doesn't work out too badly. (And the college bar is one of the cheapest of the colleges, so it sort of balances out!)

Hahah! and the taxis let you in? Where i live drunk people are just abandoned by taxis!

How much does the accomodation cost at Girton? I reallly don't have that much money stowed away XD

[Mrs Cullen]

(Original post by TheHaylio)
Hahah! and the taxis let you in? Where i live drunk people are just abandoned by taxis!

How much does the accomodation cost at Girton? I reallly don't have that much money stowed away XD

Yeah, they're used to ferrying pissed students about! They don't care as long as you're not sick in the taxi (in which case you might get fined...)

Yeah, that is one of the downsides, Girton accommodation is a bit pricier than some of the other colleges. I think it's somewhere in the region of £100 a week, (I can't remember exactly and can't find it on the website) but Girton has a 39 week tenancy - that means you get to leave your stuff in your room over the Christmas and Easter holidays, unlike at most other colleges where you have to clear everything out, but you do have to pay for the 39 weeks even if you're not planning on staying over the holidays. The £100 a week does include charges like heating, cafeteria subsidy etc. which are often charged separately at some colleges. The nice thing about the accommodation though, is that everyone pays the same regardless of what type/size of room they have and there's a ranking system to make sure that over the course of your degree, everyone has equal levelled rooms (eg. small in first year, big in final year etc.)

[TheHaylio]

(Original post by Mrs Cullen)
Yeah, they're used to ferrying pissed students about! They don't care as long as you're not sick in the taxi (in which case you might get fined...)

Yeah, that is one of the downsides, Girton accommodation is a bit pricier than some of the other colleges. I think it's somewhere in the region of £100 a week, (I can't remember exactly and can't find it on the website) but Girton has a 39 week tenancy - that means you get to leave your stuff in your room over the Christmas and Easter holidays, unlike at most other colleges where you have to clear everything out, but you do have to pay for the 39 weeks even if you're not planning on staying over the holidays. The £100 a week does include charges like heating, cafeteria subsidy etc. which are often charged separately at some colleges. The nice thing about the accommodation though, is that everyone pays the same regardless of what type/size of room they have and there's a ranking system to make sure that over the course of your degree, everyone has equal levelled rooms (eg. small in first year, big in final year etc.)

£100 a week doesn't sound that bad! Are the other colleges much cheaper than that then?

I just really want an oven- is 16 people sharing a kitchen the norm then? What about a bathroom?

Thanks for the response!

[Mrs Cullen]

(Original post by TheHaylio)
£100 a week doesn't sound that bad! Are the other colleges much cheaper than that then?

I just really want an oven- is 16 people sharing a kitchen the norm then? What about a bathroom?

Thanks for the response!

No, £100 pounds a week isn't bad - I'd say it's around average for an average college room (a lot of them have different prices for different sized rooms etc.) at other Cambridge colleges. But it's just the 39 week tenancy that makes the difference, most other colleges have 30 week tenancies, so it's an extra £900 a year - but if you spend some of the holidays at college, then it's probably worth it. Plus you don't have to shell out more for a really nice room in final year.

Yeah, 16 people per kitchen is pretty standard. It's not normally busy though, because most people eat in the cafeteria. However, there's no catering on Saturday evenings, so the kitchens do get busy then. Although a lot of people just get takeaway that night!

As for the bathrooms, there's normally around 4 toilets, at least 2 showers (though they're planning to install more on the corridors that only have 2 at the moment) and 2 baths on every corridor - again shared by around 16 people. Again, they're cleaned every weekday.

[chai wallah]

Kitchens in two out of three options for first year accommodation at King's! Proper kitchens in other years too. In fact it appears we're rather good for kitchens, which surprises me having experienced the horrible gyp rooms in the remaining accom option at interview. Bring your own pans and utensils and you'll be fine.

Veg options are sometimes good in hall, sometimes rubbish.