One of my favorite little things about life at Amherst is how even the smallest corners of campus can turn into places of connection. In my last blog post, I talked about the little ways Amherst shines, and today I wanted to share one of my absolute favorite traditions: cooking with friends.
While the First-Year Quad (FYQ) has kitchenettes — which are great for quick things like heating up leftovers or making tea — if you’re ever craving a full-on cooking experience, you’ll want to venture just a bit further. There are several residence halls on campus with full kitchens (not just kitchenettes!), and these spaces have become little hubs for my friends and me.
Halls like Charles Drew, Marsh, the Greenways, Garman, and Zü (Humphries) are all equipped with full kitchens, open to any student. These spots are perfect for when you want to go beyond the dining hall and cook something from scratch. For me and my friends, that’s crepes. 🥞
Since Greenways is the closest to the FYQ, we usually head over there on Sunday mornings. It’s become our little tradition — shoutout to my friend Liam, who somehow became our designated crepe chef (and honestly makes the best ones). There’s something about gathering around the stove, laughing over flipping crepes, and enjoying a slow morning with friends that makes the campus feel just a little more like home.
What I love most is that these kitchens aren’t reserved just for the students who live in those buildings — they’re open spaces for anyone on campus. So even if you live in the FYQ, you’re not limited! You can grab your ingredients and head over to any of these halls. Whether you’re cooking with a big group or just want a change of scenery while you meal prep, they’re such a nice option to have.
It’s these little pockets of campus — the kitchens, the common rooms, the places where we make our own traditions — that really make Amherst special to me. They remind me that beyond classes and studying, there’s always space to slow down, share a meal, and make memories.
So if you’re ever at Amherst and thinking about a fun way to spend a weekend morning, grab your friends, pick a recipe, and find yourself in one of our residence hall kitchens. Who knows? Maybe you’ll start a new tradition of your own.