Nothing intimidates Barry, LC elder
Taco Bell: The eighth wonder of the world?
by Jessica Tanner
Toxic Hell. The Bell. T-Bell. T.B. Call it what you will, but the run for the border is a well known phenomenon that sweeps many Lewis & Clark students from atop Palatine Hill to the only 24/7 drive-through around.
Since many LC students are budget-conscious and perhaps vegetarian as well, the bean burrito seems to fulfill these prerequisites. "My favorite Taco Bell item is the 69¢ bean burrito. It's cheap. It's good. I can't eat much else there because I'm a vegetarian," senior Arabeth Muller said.
Senior Andrej Czapszys agreed that the bean burrito is the perfect ordering choice. "Taco Bell kicks ass. My favorite thing to order is bean burritos…lots of them because they're cheap."
Another popular item is the Seven Layer Burrito, which simply consists of lettuce, tomatoes, rice, beans, sour cream, cheese, and guacamole. One of the biggest surprises is that the tortilla does not count as a layer. These elements alone may be ordinary, but they combine for a taste explosion.
"In a symphony, you have all of these different parts coming together. You can't have the violin section without the cellos. And too much percussion would throw the whole thing off balance. Likewise, if there are too many beans, they could overshadow the melody of the rice and the sour cream," senior Tara Gahlsdorf said.
Gahlsdorf has eaten many Seven Layer Burritos, but only one single time has she received a bad burrito. "I had a bad Seven Layer experience recently as they forgot the cheese and the rice was on the bottom. I drank alcohol that night to forget the experience."
Not everyone adores the Seven Layer. Muller added that the Seven Layer has too much goop in it with all of the sour cream and guacamole. Czapszys described it as simply "okay."
Although Taco Bell is readily available in the States, this convenience is not so visible overseas. Several students had new feelings after returning from trips abroad. "Coming back from Europe, the 'B.B.' (Bean Burrito) was like ambrosia: the food of the Gods," Muller said. Senior Susan Loeb also fulfilled the urge to eat Taco Bell after being away. "Coming back to America, Taco Bell was the first thing that I ate, along with a mocha, which I slurped down in about three to five seconds."
A love for Taco Bell can become an obsession. Gahlsdorf, who happens to be a psychology major, explained her former situation and the help she received. "I try not to go too much anymore because I'm getting over a serious addiction. Most of it involved the Seven Layer burrito. I used to go at least once a day. When I came back from France, I was starved for Mexican love. My roommate Jen helped me get over my problem as she explained to me that Taco Bell food doesn't have the same nutritional content as real food."
Another example of Taco Bell obsession came from a homepage on the internet known as 'The Freak Out Homepage'. "I have recently realized that I am obsessed with Taco Bell. At first I thought I may have been in love with it, but I am far, far beyond that. I love Taco Bell so much, I'm even contemplating getting a job there. I eat there so much I think I could be a candidate to win the national Taco Bell Award for Most Valued Patron (better described as the Stoner of the Year Award), if that award existed of course. I go to Taco Bell like 10-15 times a week. Albeit, it's usually at 1 a.m., when I'm stoned out of my mind and starving to death. See, that is the beauty of Taco Bell, it is always open. Okay, sometimes it closes, but only after all the stoners have long since passed out for the night."
