The 7 Best Foods at Rush

 

Bob Jones University’s Society Rush is an event filled with food, friends and fun. I had the privilege of going to almost every society and sampling the foods and drinks they had to offer. I tried everything from S’mores roasted over dragon fire, to the cleverly named Alphaccino, and even the ultra-exclusive Omega Ale.

Every society made a great effort in making their food and drinks this year, but I’m writing about the best of the best. I picked these dishes for their popularity, creativity, portability, and overall flavor. It’s important to balance your eating with physical activities at Rush and some societies like Z and Royals focused on that. However, the societies that focused on their food this year gave us seven clear winners.

The Beta Dog

            Students of BJU knew that this would be on the list, it’s the number one crowd pleaser every year and for good reason. Beta Dogs are a tradition that one member said has been going strong for 57 years. It’s a simple combination of Frank’s hot dogs in a pillowy bun with crispy bacon that’s been cooked in brown sugar. The winning formula makes for what one society member describes as “a really nice, salty-sweet combination.”

            They sell out fast, and they’re likely the first stop for most BJU foodies. The Beta Dog is, in my opinion, the holy grail of society food in which we compare all others. Dramatic comparison aside, the beta dog is a must try for new and returning students every year.

Fried Oreos

            BJU foodies with a sweet tooth might rush past the Beta Dogs to be first in line for fried Oreos. This ball of fried sugar has been a tradition for the Bear Cubs thanks to its portability and popularity with students. “Everyone likes it,” said the Bear Cubs member serving the food. “A lot of people come to it. It’s something different, hot, and good.” They're so good that even Mudge, the dog, couldn't resist.

            The society also offered powdered sugar and chocolate syrup for an extra cavity or two, but that’s the fun of rush, you eat a hundred calories and then go smash a car with a sledgehammer to burn them off. 

Charcuterie

           My jaw dropped in surprise when I saw the spread of food that the Colts had set out. The table was spread with (takes a deep breath) cowgirl caviar, tortilla chips, fresh fruit, vegetables,  cheese, sausage, crackers, pita, cookies, and a caramelized onion gruyere dip. I probably missed a few things but it was all very impressive.

            This incredible spread couldn’t have happened without Jaalah Patterson, the mother of one of the Colts’ members. She made the cowgirl caviar which consisted of corn, black beans, cilantro, tomatoes, salsa, and pinto beans. She made the onion and gruyere dip, and spent most of the night tending to the table and making sure it was stocked with food. I think every society needs an official mom to help them out, the Colts are a lucky bunch and they knocked it out of the park with their food.

Chili

            Before I was able to try their food, I was roped into a game of trivia with the Knights. I was terrible at the trivia but it was still worth it to try their incredible chili. The chili is reportedly a family recipe brought to them by “Sir” Henry Miller. The server gives the option of adding cheese and tortilla chips, which I recommend, and then you can eat it with a fork or scoop it up with your chips.

            It might not be the best option for portability but the taste could win a chili cook-off any day of the week. According to Henry, it consists of ground beef, black beans, diced tomatoes, onions and chili powder, and “that’s about it”. I have a feeling there might be a secret ingredient in his dad’s famous chili recipe, but either way, students who didn’t get the chance should look forward to trying it next year.

Walking Tacos

            Open up a bag of chips and put beef, cheese and other taco toppings into it. It might not seem like much but the result is amazing. Lanier served up walking tacos at rush, offering a wide variety of chips, good tasting meat, and toppings. They even crushed the chips just right, before serving it (which I appreciated).

            I chose cool ranch Doritos which worked perfectly but they also had Cheetos, Fritos, and plenty of other options. When asked why they chose to do the walking tacos one server commented, “We feel like most people have sweet stuff. So we just got real food, we don’t have any artificial, we’re all like healthy/fitness. That’s us.” I don’t know if I would call putting meat into a bag of chips healthy but I’m glad that they chose to serve this tasty and portable snack.

Cake Pawps

            I probably would’ve called them tiger pops but cake pawps is a much better name. The Tigers offered both chocolate and vanilla flavored cake pops. Chocolate cake pawps had the stripes and vanilla had the sprinkles. The cake was moist and delicious with the crunchy chocolate outside.

            I tried both kinds and even though I couldn’t finish them, because I still had about a dozen more society foods to try, they were still delicious. I preferred the chocolate one but BJU foodies won’t be disappointed with either. I must say that the cake pawps also pair nicely with a coffee from Zoe.

Quarter Burgers

            I’m ending the list with one of the last food I tried, the Bryan Bear Burgers. The smell of the burgers pulls you in and the amount of flavor packed into the piece of burger that they give you, keeps you coming back for more. Watching them grill the burgers, it doesn’t look like much. But somehow, the burger is delicious even with nothing else on it, and I don’t usually care for plain hamburgers.

            They make three burger at a time and cut them into sections, which is great for portability and avoids wasting food for people who just want to try it. The server said  that “Maybe the point is to get people to come around multiple times so you can talk and figure out more about the society.” That sounds like a smart business plan to me and delicious too!