FOOD ALERT: BC Plaza

Until 2PM, the Duke Stores will be giving out free pizza from Domino's and chicken tenders and chicken wraps from Chick-fil-a. I was just over there....lots of great free eating to be had, so check it out.

Can I make it?

Quick Update: I am on Day 6 without using any food points...can I make it a week? Check back Wednesday to find out.

4 Free Lunches and Counting

Today marked my fourth day in a row savoring a deliciously free lunch. How did I do it?

Wednesday, April 2: You guessed it...my favorite place for a free meal. The John Hope Franklin Center. The French and Public Policy Departments sponsored a talk from a French newspaper war correspondent. His talk was very interesting, but the lunch was even better. On the menu today was a nice mixed salad with balsamic vinagrette, alfredo pasta with grilled chicken, asparagus, and sun dried tomatoes, fresh bread, and a dessert tray. Good eating!

Thursday, April 3: Duke Bikes Roll Out on the Plaza. Three trips to the free pizza tent were enough to fill me up. Thanks L Mo and Co for the lunch!

Friday, April 4: My lucky day! On the way to visit a professor in the Sanford Building, a stumbled across the lunch break for "The Nature and Nuture of Ethics" conference sponsored by the Kenan Institute. I dashed to a computer to look up the details of the event, and when I saw that it was free and open to the public, I took full advantage of their culinary offerings. Lots of sandwich platters, salad, fresh fruit, and delicious cookies.

Saturday, April 5: You most likely haven't heard about Duke Dining's Customer Care Review Program. Each month, Duke Dining sends out students, faculty, and staff to evaluate their dining facilities for quality, cleanliness, and food quality. If you are a mystery dinner (of course I am), they will also pay for your lunch. This week I was assigned to McDonald's (an unfortunate draw on my part), so I was able to enjoy a greasy but satisfying lunch on Duke's dime.

(Interested in becoming a Mystery Diner?? Contact Tammy.Hope@duke.edu)

There you have it...4 days, 4 free lunches. Let's see if I can muster up anything for tomorrow and extend the streak to 5!

Your First Destination: The John Hope Franklin Center

Located off the beaten track on Erwin Rd near Trent Hall, the John Hope Franklin Center is my number one destination for a delicious free lunch. It is host to a number of events each week, including the popular Wednesdays @ the Center series. Most of the talks start at 12pm and feature a gourmet meal. Check out their Events Calendar for a their complete schedule.

Hint: the event postings do not always indicate if there will be a free lunch. Chances are, if the event starts at noon and is located in room 204, there will be free eatin'. Also, don't be deterred by the phrase "light lunch will be served." These lunches are all-you-can eat, so I wouldn't characterize them as light.

The best way to get there is to take the C-2 to the Trent Hall bus stop and simply cross Erwin Rd (be careful--Erwin is a busy rd, so use the crosswalks!).

Welcome...the Adventure Begins!

Get ready...you are about to embark on an exciting adventure full of tasty, decadent, and--most importantly--free food. How? This blog will be your guide to making the most of your Duke experience. I will give you the inside scoop on the best places to find the best free food, and on occasion, advise you on how to get the most bang for your buck (er...food points). So buckle up, add an extra notch to your belt, and get ready for a culinary experience like no other. You're about to discover there is such a thing as a free lunch...and boy does it taste good.