Before the days of university food service, many Miner alumni ate their meals at eating clubs. Later, campus cafeterias provided the three squares a Miner needed. For some students, a landlady or fraternity or sorority cook served the meals. Others had a favorite restaurant. We asked about your favorite food during college. Here is what you told us:

“Rayl Cafeteria chili (1980–84). The food service at that time would throw all the leftover legumes they had, including lima beans, into a pot of tomato, grease and microscopic meat. A real gastrointestinal delight!”

John LaBerg, CE’84
Schaumburg, Ill.

“Back in the late ’50s, my wife worked at dear old Rolla Drug. I spent many evenings in the back booth. As a scientist, I had to experiment with all of the ice creams and flavorings to concoct the ideal milkshake. The hands-down winner was a pineapple shake made with black walnut ice cream. I paid a big price in poundage gained, but science was served.”

Chas Dohogne, MetE’61
Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.

“I never liked liver and onions as a kid. But Lambda Chi Alpha’s long-time cook Myrtle Mae Marlow made liver and onions. Since I was away from home, I had to try to eat whatever was served. Much to my surprise I loved Mrs. Marlow’s liver and onions. I have been eating liver and onions ever since.”

Pete Legsdin, Econ’70
Springfield, Mo.

“One of my favorite food experiences was being a part of the ‘meal plan’ at a small Asian restaurant called East Meets West. The woman who ran the place went out of her way to ‘educate’ me on the new types of food I was eating. The meal plan consisted of 20 meals for $40, and that was certainly within my budget. Four or five years after I graduated, I was back in Rolla recruiting for my company. I stopped in to eat one afternoon, and not only did she remember me, she pulled out my five-year-old meal card that still had a couple meals remaining. She insisted that I not pay for my meal since I had already paid for the plan. Wow. Would you ever find a place or service like that today? Very fond memories for me.”

John LeaRussa, ME’88
Houston, Texas

Editor’s note: The owner of East Meets West was the late Meiko Tyler, the wife of John Tyler, research engineer in Missouri S&T’s Rock Mechanics and Explosives Research Center and longtime Solar Car Team advisor. 

“I was at Rolla when Alex’s Pizza opened, and it still is one of the best pizzas I have ever had. It tasted best after a long and difficult EE exam. I was a member of Shamrock Club, board bill was $1 a day. We got steak once in a while, which was great. We ate on picnic tables across from the theater on Pine. I remember eating breakfast and reading the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. I also liked the A&W Root Beer stand; they had a great chili dog. Life was a lot simpler back then.”

Robert Heider, EE’66
St. Louis