Chobani at the Hieber Café, one of the many dining locations on Colgate University’s campus, welcomed students and faculty with several new and creative menu items this fall. From yogurt creations to smoothies to sandwiches, Chobani — better known to students as “Chob” — offers a fresh, health-focused dining experience. Through Boost Mobile ordering or walk-in ordering, students can pick up any of the exciting and delicious new seasonal items Chobani offers until October.
The menu, visible on the Boost mobile ordering app, features two new yogurt creations: the birthday cake creation and the peach cobbler creation. The birthday cake creation can be made with overnight oats or Greek yogurt and is topped with sponge cake, sprinkles, frosted rice crisps and frosting. For those looking for something more fresh, the peach cobbler creation includes your same choice of base and is topped with spiced peaches, an oat and almond crumble and cinnamon glaze. It’s the perfect dish to usher in the fall season without saying goodbye to delicious summer fruits.
On the savory side, the new menu also features a Caprese sandwich, a tzatziki chicken sandwich and a chili-lime aioli turkey club. Senior Jenna Eisenmann recently tried the tzatziki chicken sandwich which includes tzatziki chicken salad, labneh, lettuce and tomatoes.
“I usually stick to the same things, [but] the sandwich was honestly pretty good. It had lots of vegetables and wasn’t soggy. I’d give it a seven or eight out of ten. I probably wouldn’t try anything else, though,” Eisenmann said.
On the other hand, junior Carlotta Hample-Forcier noted an issue with this new menu: her favorite chipotle aioli has been replaced by chili-lime aioli. The preexisting turkey club now includes turkey, lettuce, tomato, cheddar and, of course, chili-lime aioli.
“The fact that they took the chipotle mayo off the turkey club makes me want to never go back. I will probably never go back,” Hample-Forcier said.
First-year AJ Johnson, who couldn’t have been more excited to try Chobani’s new menu after all the buzz she has heard, was disappointed by the Caprese sandwich. This handheld item features tomatoes, mozzarella, a balsamic reduction and basil.
“Personally, I don’t like Chobani,” Johnson said. “The bread was ridiculously dry, it wasn’t warm, the cheese wasn’t melted, and it was kind of gross. I wouldn’t go back. They don’t have much on their menu which was really sad, especially as someone with a nut allergy. It was way too hyped up. Their specialty is drinks, and they should keep it that way.”
Other students, such as senior Brett Lynott, think that the new sandwich is an improvement from last year.
“I love the new grilled cheese. While it is a bit smaller, the thicker, garlicky bread adds a nice flavor compared to the grilled cheese they served last year,” Lynott said.
While students have varying opinions on Chobani’s new menu, the cafe recently acquired a smoothie vending machine called Bleni Blends. It currently offers the flavors Strawberry Banana and Tropical Bleni, both of which are gluten-free, vegan and kosher. To order, you just have to find the big blue Bleni Blends machine in Chobani, swipe your card or tap to pay and select your flavor. In just a minute, a freshly-blended smoothie appears below. Junior Thor Graham recently tried out this curious machine and felt optimistic.
“I think [Bleni Blends] is a great investment, especially now that Chobani takes walk-in ordering and the lines can be outrageously long at times,” Graham said. “It offers a quick and convenient option if you’re in a hurry or just want a snack. I do wish that there were a few more flavors to choose from, but I loved the tropical one I tried last week and the fact that the smoothies are a more decent size than the normal Chobani sizes.”
Chobani seems to be hit or miss with these new specials, with students noting that several items are either an improvement or made inconsistently. However, the new hidden gem of Chobani may just be the smoothie machine offering a nutritious grab-and-go beverage, especially if additional flavors are added to the menu.
