Courtesy of Ian Splaver ’27
Though slowly this year, autumn rolls in, bringing with it chilly winds, dramatic leaves, and overcast skies. It is a time of reflection and nostalgia. Waking up one cozy Sunday morning, you notice that time has slipped by you again: It is November.
Some theories of time perception suggest that the way in which we perceive blocks of existence is relative to the total amount of time we have lived. Think of it like a fraction, with the denominator growing ever larger while the numerator stays the same: measuring one year, in this case. At the young age of five, a year seems like a long time—because you have only lived five of them so far (the wait for Christmas to come around again seemed almost unbearable). But, the longer you live the quicker each year passes, with one psychological theory even suggesting that you reach the midpoint of your perceived lifespan at the ripe young age of 20.
I don’t mean to scare you. This exact theory of time perception is heavily debated by modern psychologists and philosophers. But the point still remains: time is moving quicker than ever, and it is not slowing down. And this moody season seems to stimulate these concerns even more. Curled up in a wool sweater, drinking a PSL (pumpkin spice latte), and watching the leaves change color, we look for memories of childhood to keep us warm and remind us of home. Thus, I ask you, what is more nostalgic than a grilled cheese sandwich with a cup of tomato soup?
NV Bakery and Market is an unassuming-looking sandwich shop, hidden inside a strip mall in Waterford, only 8 minutes from campus. They have a large, Mediterranean-influenced menu, serving breakfast dishes, salads, smoothies, Italian pastries, and every kind of sandwich imaginable. You order at the front counter, find a table to sit at, and then your food is delivered to you on trays, cafeteria-style. The food is fairly priced, with most sandwiches sitting around $10.50 and coming with a complementary tomato bisque shooter. And this is not your average tomato soup. With fresh chunks of tomato, cream, and plenty of spices, it is almost like a cup of warm vodka sauce.
Courtesy of Ian Splaver ’27
Nearly every sandwich is a hit. We tried several: the Cubano, Philly cheesesteak, figs and honey, and spicy chicken melt. The last is a standout. A generous cut of grilled chicken breast, applewood bacon, avocado, and melted pepper jack cheese, nestled between two pieces of perfectly toasted and buttered peasant bread. Try dipping bites into the tomato soup and pairing with a bag of sour cream and onion potato chips; it is a thing of beauty.
Sometimes you just need something simple and reliable. Over the course of a year, I ordered the spicy chicken melt sandwich every single time I went to NV, and it never disappointed. This fall, as I near the midpoint of my senior year—a sentence which pains me to say—it feels like there has never been a better time to eat at this comforting establishment. NV Bakery takes you back to a not-so-distant time when food was more affordable, felt more like home, and you didn’t see the word “aioli” on every menu.
