Uncommon Grounds on Common Grounds

If you walk to the center of the Mount Holyoke College Campus, across the expansive green, up the stairs, and into the Blanchard Campus Center, you will discover a small but wonderful bakery called Uncommon Grounds. At first glance, this bakery seems to be inadequately small for there to be anything decent to eat. However, if you order one of the famous "Chef Jeff" cookies you will be pleasantly surprised. This intriguing cookie is named after, you guessed it, Chef Jeff, who worked at Mount Holyoke several years ago. He created this gigantic, delicious cookie that I have been a fan of almost since the day I arrived at college. It is officially called a "Gourmet Chocolate Chunk Cookie," and is filled with decadent chocolate chips that melt in your mouth.

When asked about Uncommon Grounds, Johannah Huynh, a sophomore at Mount Holyoke, said, “I never indulged in Uncommon Ground's sweets and sensations in my first year, but since all my friends bragged about how good Chef Jeff cookies are, I have now come to be a Chef Jeff cookie connoisseur. And I also love their éclairs.”

In addition, other delectable treats such as peanut butter pie, grand slam pie - made with snickers bars - smoothies, free-trade coffee, tea, fruits and pastries line the shelves and walls of Uncommon Grounds. While most students at the other colleges are unaware of this tiny bakery, I highly recommend stopping by the next time they are on our campus.

photo credit: http://www.kjochimsen.de/10yrmhc.html