Yum. Yum. Yum.

While scrolling through Instagram a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon a post from the Spectator advertising their Free Food Expo in collaboration with Columbia College Student Council (CCSC). The biannual event brings several cafes and restaurants from the New York City, especially Morningside Heights, area directly to Low Steps, offering a diverse assortment of free food and drinks to the Columbia student body. I thought the event would be a great opportunity for me to familiarize myself with the local food scene and try out some places I otherwise might’ve not thought to visit. So, I shared the post with one of my friends, with whom I attended the event on Friday, March 27.

We arrived at Low a couple of minutes past 12 pm, when the event was set to start, but unfortunately, the crowd had already beaten us. So, if you’re planning to attend in the fall, we highly recommend that you arrive 15-30 minutes early. 

Our first stop at the Expo was the Harlem-based CopperLeaf Bakery, from which I got a chocolate croissant and a chocolate chip cookie. The line for these was, by far, the longest at the Expo so I had high expectations, and honestly, I think CopperLeaf surpassed them. While the cookie was extremely thin (maybe too thin), its rich, caramel-like taste from, I’m assuming some sort of brown butter, made up well for it. The true standout, however, was the chocolate croissant, the center of which was packed with an ultra-creamy, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate ganache. I already miss it.

Next, we tried matcha from the Japanese restaurant MAKI. Now, I have to preface this–if you’re looking for something sweet and dessertlike, this might not be the drink for you. It was relatively bitter and, per my friend, a little “grassy.” That said, I really liked it! The quality–evident in the color seen below–was undeniable. Also, kudos to the employees who were pushing these drinks like their lives depended on it. I see you. I recognize you. I appreciate you.

Lastly, we checked out fast-casual Korean restaurant Kim and Bob, which was serving (I think) bibimbap bowls and Korean fried chicken; however, unfortunately, by the time we made it, they only had veggies and a couple of meat options. I got the beef, I mean, it was an alright meal, but nothing memorable. However, I think a lot of that also had to do with the fact that the food had gotten cold from being outside for so long. The restaurant has great reviews online, so I’d be very interested in trying it again in the future.

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience. As a student, going out to eat can often be a bit of a splurge, which makes it tempting to just stick to the same three restaurants where you know you’ll love your order. Therefore, an event like this, where you can try out new dishes and cuisines cost-free, is a great place to start branching out, no strings attached. Looking at historical records, the next Free Food Expo should be happening sometime in October if you’re interested!

Images via Author