If you have a hankering for a good lunch between classes-one that doesn't involve foil wrapping or a paper container-your lone option is a long trek back to your apartment. Even when you get there, eal lunch"" most likely consists of a sandwich or some Easy Mac.
Unbeknownst to many undergrads, they can shun fast food or apartment leftovers for a healthier and more community-friendly lunch option at Catacombs Coffeehouse, 731 State St. Catacombs has been serving lunch specials for $2.50 for over a year and uses locally grown organic produce in most of its offerings.
""It's not a business model-we do it because it's right,"" said Ben Hunter, head of the kitchen and manager at Catacombs.
On Wednesday the offering was a colorful plate of chickpea dahl-a thick Indian stew-with couscous and beet salad. Though dishes vary each day of the week, they are always vegetarian and often vegan. Lunches on the docket for coming weeks include roasted mushroom salad, butternut squash au gratin, and egg salad sandwiches.
All the dishes are made from scratch and most are made with ingredients from local farms and cooperatives. Catacombs buys its coffee from Just Coffee, a Madison fair-trade organization, and its flour and garlic come from Brantmeier Farm in Monroe.
According to Catacombs employees, the unpaid staff at Catacombs work there because they appreciate its insistence on supporting small farms and local produce.
""We are able to offer our lunch specials for $2.50 because Catacombs is run by a group of volunteers,"" said Andrew Breck, a Catacombs employee. ""We choose to support local farmers who farm with the health of the land and the environment in mind.""
Hunter agreed, adding that the shop's customers also appreciate its socially conscious ideology.
""People really respect our ethics on a lot of issues, and that's why they support this place,"" he said. ""As we become more successful we're using more and more organic products because that's what customers want.""
And they keep coming back. Anne Genereux is a UW-Madison graduate student who goes to Catacombs about three times a week. As a vegetarian, she appreciates its varied menu.
""It's hard to get that kind of food at a reasonable price,"" Genereux said. ""There aren't a lot of places you can get something for $2.50 and it's healthy.""
Genereux said she also appreciates the sense of community Catacombs fosters among its patrons, from its colorful ceramic mugs to the take-home Mason jars of tea or coffee it offers customers for only $1.
""Lots of people meet friends here-they don't come in and then leave, like at Starbucks,"" she said.
In addition to providing a warm atmosphere, Catacombs serves copious amounts of low-priced coffee. A large cup is only $1.25, and refills can be had for a mere quarter. Regulars may pay $16 each month to drink as much coffee as they desire. Genereux took advantage of this option.
""I always hope that I get a different mug,"" she said, smiling. ""Maybe it feels like you're more at home or something.\
