Out of the many novelties that my first semester of college brought last fall, one of the things I was most nervous about was my use of Dining Dollars. It took me a few weeks to finally tap into the All-Access plan’s 400 Dining Dollars, and when I did, I was very restrictive. As the semester went by, I began figuring out the best ways to use the “fake money.” Now, in the spring, I have given up on being conservative with my Dining Dollars. I may have the least number of Dining Dollars left among my friends, but from the wonderful gastronomic experiences I get, I have absolutely no regrets. From grabbing a pint of Ben & Jerry’s at the convenience stores to ordering Domino’s for our dorm’s Super Bowl watch party, there are so many different ways to spend Dining Dollars around campus and Colonial Williamsburg. Here are the crème de la crème.

My favorite spot to use my Dining Dollars at is everyone’s favorite CW bakery: The Bake Shop. Even their plain bagel is not so plain: it is green and gold, exuding tribe pride. Although The Big Bird, my beloved baguette sandwich, was discontinued this winter, I have already found a new favorite Bake Shop Breakfast sandwich in the portobello mushroom variation. The blend of cheese, egg, and mushroom packaged in  a flavourful black garlic and sea salt bagel provides the emotional support I need on a stressful day. On a Friday afternoon a few weeks ago, I waited in a surprisingly long line with rain pouring onto my head just for this sandwich. The storm and seemingly endless wait were well worth it. When I approached the cashier to order, I heard the back kitchen announce that the garlic and salt bagels were fresh out of the oven. As I took a bite from the much anticipated sandwich, my mind forgot that my hair was wet, my shoes were drenched, and I had class in forty minutes. All I felt was the soft cloud of the bagel filled with the delicious omelet and salty cheese.

That meal got even better when I moved onto the classic maple pecan sticky bun that I had ordered for dessert. This menu regular is a must-try and my roommate’s go-to order. And what’s not to love? The yeasted dough covered in a sweet glaze and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting is to die for. 

The muffins, however, are my favorite offering out of the pastry case. The chocolate chip banana is my favorite, and whenever I see it posted on The Bake Shop Instagram, I always check my schedule to see if I can squeeze in a Bake Shop run. But really, all of their muffins are delicious. I’ve tried an interesting orange cream muffin that was delightful, and the double chocolate chip rendition was the best companion on my long train ride home for winter break. 

A fairly recent addition to the menu is the cronut. This cross between a croissant and a donut is served with a new delectable filling every day. I have had the Boston cream cronut, and although I am not a fan of the donuts of the same flavor, I cannot recommend this treat enough. It is more flaky, sticky, chocolatey, and best of all, more creamy than I could have wished.

Bake Shop also has amazing lattes, but my number one coffee spot to use my Dining Dollars at is Column 15. I am at the Earl Gregg Swem Library every single morning, and I think I now have a pavlovian response to the entrance and need to take that left turn into Column 15. There’s nothing better than starting my day with my favorite order, a Milky Way Latte. Something that I love about Column 15 is that, in addition to their very fun specialty latte flavors and Drink of the Week, their menu boasts a wide variety of syrups that you can mix and match to get a new flavor or discover a new favorite. I love the caramel and hazelnut duo, and lavender lattes have brightened up dark winter days. Watching  swarms of friends leave their bags at tables in Read and Relax and walk to Column 15 for their morning drinks is a common occurrence. I have endless BeReals of my friends gathered around the pick up counter waiting for our drinks.

Coffee can only sustain you for so long, so for a full meal, Chick-fil-A is a great place to use Dining Dollars. The location alone makes it perfect for whenever you want to shake things up and not go to The Caf or Sadler. While the selection may not be as varied as our dining halls, the menu is loved by all of the picky eaters in my dorm. Whether you love the classic chicken nuggets or need to make sure there are absolutely no pickles on your sandwich, the order process allows the customer to customize their order. My friends and I go to Chick-fil-A every Friday, a tradition I hope to continue next year. Every week I battle through my final classes before the weekend with the great joy of knowing that all of my friends will be tightly packed into the busy restaurant once again. Oftentimes, school work and extracurriculars keep us too busy throughout the week to find times to simply hang out in each others’ company, but I know that no matter how many times I see them during the week, I will see them at lunch on Friday to debrief and catch up on everything happening in each others’ lives.

Dining Dollars give me the opportunity to treat myself and add a little flair to my day. In the most stressful and hectic weeks of the semester, Dining Dollars serve as a lifeboat, giving me little nuggets of happiness in the form of snacks, coffee, or a meal. It feels like a nicer outing than just walking out of the dorm and into The Caf. My friends and I treat our walks to Bake Shop as adventures, Column 15 visits as revitalizing study breaks, and Chick-fil-A lunches as celebrations of friendship, life, and good food, making memories along the way. And if you ask me, there is no better way to spend money than that.