For students, the holiday season can feel bittersweet. College life often means stepping away from routines, family gatherings and the familiar tastes of home. The absence of these traditions can make winter feel quieter, especially during the weeks leading up to finals or winter break.
At Cal Poly, food offers a way to bridge that distance. Whether grabbing a quick bite between classes, preparing a meal in an apartment with roommates or sharing dishes downtown after a long week, food can be a source of comfort and connection. Even small moments—a shared dessert, a late-night snack or an impromptu potluck—can create a sense of grounding during the holidays. I have noticed that sometimes the smallest things, like splitting a warm brownie with a friend after a long day of classes, can carry a comfort that feels closer to home.
Thursday Nights in Downtown SLOÂ
Every Thursday evening, Higuera Street comes alive with a farmers market. The air fills with the aroma of fresh food, accompanied by the sounds of live music. Students and locals alike wander through the stalls, discovering familiar faces and meeting new ones. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting, a place where people pause to enjoy the simple pleasure of good food in good company.
For students looking to branch off from their usual meals, the farmers market offers plenty of options to choose from. Korean dishes sit beside Mexican specialties, and classic comfort foods share space with seasonal treats. Fresh produce, baked goods and prepared meals can be taken home to cook or eaten right on the street. The variety balances new experiences with the comfort of what students already know.
Gathering Around the KitchenÂ
Cooking in dorms or apartments often becomes its own kind of tradition. Chopping vegetables, stirring sauces and assembling a meal together lead to unexpected moments of laughter that sometimes mean more than the food itself. The kitchen becomes a space where everyone contributes in their own way, whether passing ingredients, pouring drinks or sharing a recipe that holds personal meaning. Some of my favorite nights have been the chaotic ones—trying to recreate a recipe in a tiny apartment kitchen, realizing halfway through that we were missing half the ingredients and improvising anyway. The food did not always turn out perfect, but the memory always did.
Cultural fraternities and sororities also host holiday potlucks for their members. These events allow students to share family recipes and celebrate the traditions that shaped them. Meals become a way to learn about one another and form bonds across different backgrounds. In dorm kitchens or at club gatherings, preparing and sharing food transforms ordinary moments into small but meaningful traditions, creating a sense of familiarity and belonging away from home.
In Good Company
Even when family is far away, shared meals help the holidays feel less distant. In those moments around the table, students discover that a sense of home is not tied to a place—it can be built anywhere, one meal at a time.