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The Daily Tar Heel’s sports desk editing team traversed to The Town Hall Grill in Chapel Hill to try out menu items named after UNC men’s basketball players. Each dish is created by the athlete it is named after.
On Monday, we put these meals to the test after a long day in the office. Here are our reviews:
I should preface this food review with the fact that I am a picky eater. I really have no right to be reviewing any kind of food when my diet consists of chicken and pasta. Luckily for me, Elliot Cadeau’s chicken and waffles fit within that criteria.
I surprised myself by enjoying this dish. The crispiness of the chicken in between two soft waffles was a shockingly great combination. Plus, the spicy caramel sauce and maple syrup tied it all together with a sweetness I wasn’t expecting. It had a kick to it that I usually wouldn’t like, but something about basketball player themed food had me branching out.
Anytime I can combine breakfast and one of my main food groups — chicken — I’m having a good time. Thanks, Elliot, picky eaters appreciate your meal design.
Rating: 8.4 out of 10
– Caroline Wills, sports editor
When I took the job as an assistant sports editor, I never thought I’d be reviewing a meal made by men’s basketball first-year forward Drake Powell. But in the age of NIL, here we are.
I love chicken alfredo. It might be one of the only meals that I feel confident in making. But Powell’s cajun pasta showed that clearly he knows better than me.
While at times it felt like I was eating a spoonful of cajun seasoning, there was the perfect amount of cheese to balance it out. I opted to go with the blackened chicken on it instead of the shrimp, and it didn’t disappoint.
The one thing that did disappoint? The peas. Sure, peas are a fine side on Thanksgiving or with the right meal, but peas in chicken alfredo really throw me off. Luckily, Powell included broccoli which helped mitigate my disappointment.
But hey, after basketball, Powell might just have another calling as a chef.
Rating: 7 out of 10
– Matthew Maynard, assistant sports editor
If there’s two things I love in this world it’s basketball and burgers. So, when I found out men’s basketball junior guard Seth Trimble created his own burger at Town Hall Grill, I couldn’t resist trying it.
Much like Trimble was confident that the NCAA tournament election committee would deliver a spot to the Tar Heels, The Seth Burger delivered, too.
The burger was defined by the applewood smoked bacon and house-made mild 1000 island dressing. It was full of flavor and added a smoky and sweet kick.
I enjoy a juicy tomato to pair with the lettuce on a burger, but alas, it was missing. The crunch and tang from the red onions, though, certainly satisfied my craving.
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As far as I can tell, Trimble knows what he’s doing both on the court and in the kitchen.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
– Olivia Paul, co-photo editor
As soon as I took the first bite, my 5-foot-5 frame transformed. I was 6-foot.
The chili sauce, honey and garlic hit my mouth and suddenly it was a cold day in late February. The year? 2024. The Miami Hurricanes entered the Dean E. Smith Center.
I couldn’t stop draining threes. My layups kept kissing the glass as I made my way through the half-dozen wings. Floater here, floater there. It all led to a 42-point record-breaking performance in the Smith Center.
Throughout my tenure, I traveled to the Sweet 16. I upset Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski in the Final Four in 2022. I earned ACC Player of the Year and became an All-American.
I ate the wings and became RJ Davis. It was a feeling like no other.
Nah, I am just playing. They were mid.
Rating: 6 out of 10
– Emma Moon, assistant sports editor
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Olivia Paul is the 2024-25 sports photo editor. She has previously served as a senior staff photographer.
Emma Moon is the 2024-25 assistant sports editor. She previously served as the Summer Sports Editor and as a senior writer. Emma is a senior majoring in Media and Journalism, and English. She has red hair and drives a Prius.
Caroline Wills is the 2024-25 sports editor. Previously, she served as a senior writer on the sports desk, primarily covering women’s tennis, field hockey, and women’s basketball.
