Vegan festival includes vendors, more

Corpus Christi VegFest returns to downtown this weekend. The annual festival, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 8 at Heritage Park, 1581 N. Chaparral St., will feature food vendors, cooking demos and merchandise vendors from companies based in Texas. Live music and speakers from across the country will take place throughout the event. Entrance is free, but food and merchandise prices will vary.  The all-vegan festival celebrates a plant-based diet and lifestyle with 24 vendors including Corpus Christi locals Tula Blue, Lemon Shakers and McNabb Microfarm. Attendees can eat everything from tamales and burgers to pastries and kettle corn…

A taste of Philly right across the bridge

As the days seem to be getting cooler out you may find yourself wanting to bite into something warm and hearty. I have just the place for you, Yo Philly Cheese Steaks & Subs, a locally owned restaurant that gives you a communal sense as soon as you walk into the door. Once you head to North Beach and park you are met with a white building decorated with red paint on the walls. One of the sides has an illustration of a boy with a huge sub in his hand in cartoon style, the other side has the words…

Viking Food Pantry helps students during pandemic

More than 3K pounds of food distributed in January alone Since April 2019, the Viking Food Pantry has continued to help many Del Mar College students despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Opened in partnership with the Coastal Bend Food Bank and with the support of Student Government Association,  the Viking Food Pantry allows participants to receive up to 35 pounds of food twice each month. “Like most services, COVID-19 did affect the VFP operations,” said Rita Hernandez, the assistant dean of Student Engagement and Retention. The pantry was closed between March and July of 2020, but they still distributed food from…

Campus Dining reopens with limited menu

‘We are taking all the necessary precautions,’ manager says After being closed for nearly a year because of COVID-19, Campus Dining has reopened — with a limited menu and a side of social distancing. “We are taking all the necessary precautions to maintain a clean and healthy environment,” said Eliza Olvera, food service manager. “We have limited the amount of occupancy in the ordering area.” Other safety measures include spraying down the counters and machines during the day and requiring staff and guests to wear masks. Hand sanitizer is available at the Campus Dining entrance. Due to low guest count,…

YouTube the most important ingredient for Culinary Arts

Program still able to train students during pandemic When it comes to virtual learning, Israel Villanueva may have created the perfect recipe. Villanueva, an assistant professor in Del Mar College’s Culinary Arts Program, is no stranger to virtual instruction or technology. Before joining Del Mar, he earned a master’s in education technology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where part of his education required him to teach a six-week hybrid Fusion Cooking Course for a women’s shelter using YouTube and a webpage he created.   “The first thing I did when I arrived as a full-time instructor, I updated the curriculum. I…