[Food police] French stew

Restaurant: Cormet
Day: Thursday, 1 November 2018
Time: 12:04
Meal: French stew with white rice

For our first article, we grab a seat at the always busy Aula, where the caterer Cormet has held sway since last summer. First a recon around the freshly prepared bread rolls and enticing fast food, and we end up in the hot food corner. Disinterestedly, the staff serve plates and bowls full of food in the hope of stilling the hunger of students and staff. We choose the French stew with white rice.

Temperature 7+
The thermometer shows the appropriate temperature of 68 degrees Celsius. This temperature more than meets the legal standards set by the Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit (the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) of 60 degrees Celsius.

Texture -6
The texture of the stew is as expected. The dish feels smooth in the mouth, even though the meat is a little tough. Unfortunately, the chunks of parsnips are less pleasant. They are too big, too hard and their taste dominates every mouthful. The rice is well-cooked, but a little dry for our taste. The French beans are almost raw. Oh well, we don’t have those molars for nothing.

Taste 6
A blend of stew and rice is always good. Except for when the garnishing detracts from the taste experience. Who on earth puts spring onions on top?! We suggest the milder parsley the next time. You still have the green, but not the sharpness of spring onions. A pinch of salt and pepper would also have done wonders to boost the rather bland taste.

Quantity/proportion 5
The dish consisted of plenty of rice that almost filled three quarters of the bowl. The small serving spoonful of stewed meat drowned in a sea of white grains. This accounted for quite a lot of rice left behind. What a waste.

Price/quality 6
For only EUR 3.50 you get a reasonably well-filled bowl that looks like a delicious meal. But don’t be misled by the price – you would be better off with four cheese sandwiches.

Presentation 7
The environmentally friendly bowl has an industrial look and it looks good on the sturdy table. You can sit on the bench and easily eat on your lap without spilling. The layered white of the rice, brown of the stew and green of the spring onions looks appetising and photogenic.

Experience 7
At the serving counter, we are not greeted, even after repeated eye contact. Fortunately, the cashier makes up for it. She does her job with a bright smile.

Overall rating 6+