With over 250 students making up the staff of this popular dining facility, students are eager to be part of the CoHo and everything it has to offer. With 80-100 job opportunities offered each year, the CoHo tries to provide as much employment as possible for students in need of work. Darin Schluep, the food services director, oversees the CoHo and has the pleasure of seeing his young staff gain skills that will benefit them in their later careers.

“The CoHo’s student-focused business model is challenging yet extremely rewarding,” Schluep said. “The entire management team really loves mentoring and coaching the students, and I know that working with the students gives me energy and definitely keeps me feeling young — although they often remind me just how old I am.”

Over 7,000 customers pass through this popular site daily, and the success can be easily attributed to the staff who either work full or part-time at this caffeine-crazed spot.

“The best part of working with so many students is seeing their growth in the time they spend with us,” Schluep said. “Whether it’s through positional growth —from employee to student supervisor to student manager — or just growth as an individual, it’s rare that we don’t see some sort of transformation in the folks that spend significant time working with us here.”

Written by: Lauren Tropio — city@theaggie.org

Biking once again took the crown for Best Mode of Transportation. Of course, the popularity of the bike likely comes as little surprise to any student who has braved the busy bike circles during rush hour.

According to the Downtown Davis website, Davis is recognized as the most bicycle friendly city in the country by the League of American Bicyclists. The map of the city of Davis shows over 100 miles of bike paths, lanes and trails.

Additionally, the city is home to the U.S. Bicycle Hall of Fame, numerous biking competitions and various bike rentals and bike shops ready to fulfil the Davis resident’s every bicycle-related need.

“What I like the most about biking is that it’s quick, you can take your bike wherever you go and it’s good for the environment,” said first-year biological sciences major Ismael Delgadillo. “It’s also good exercise.”

Meanwhile, some students, such as first-year international relations major Julieta Torres, simply enjoy the experience of biking.

“You get where you’re going pretty fast and it’s also really fun,” Torres said. “I like going in the roundabouts, and you get to see a lot of people you know when you’re biking.”

Written by: Clara Zhao — features@theaggie.org

Davis loves dairy cows, as seen in the consecutive winners of the Best On-Campus Animal Award in 2016 , 2017 and now 2018. If you’re near the Tercero area, it’s hard to miss the bovine herd as they mull around, socialize in their pens and blanket the nearby dormitories in their aroma.

The Tercero herd is found on Dairy Road, opposite the herd of freshmen in the Tercero dormitories. During the winter, the cows are boarded inside pens to avoid the cold rains. In the spring, they return to the pasture to graze and enjoy the sun. Pedestrians and cyclists can pass by and moo to the curious, friendly herd.

Out of 334 cows, 105 of them are milked daily, while the others are either dry or too young. To the untrained eye, the cows may actually all look similar, but assistant facility manager Maria Patino explained that there are two types.

“We have Holsteins, the big black-and-white ones, and then we have Jerseys, those little brown ones,” Patino said. “The Holsteins produce a lot more milk. The Jerseys make a little less milk, but they make a lot of protein and a lot of fat in their milk.”   

All the milk produced by the cows makes its way down to Hilmar Creamery in Modesto to be crafted into cheese.

As for the infamous — or famous, if that’s your cup of tea — smell of the cows, Patino offers her own take.

“I just get used to it.” Patino said. “I honestly don’t even smell it anymore.”

For the real cow lovers, Patino touched upon the various internship opportunities available with the Tercero herd. Every quarter, students can learn about managing a dairy herd or directly feeding and working with the cattle. For credit, ANS 49C is a class created to teach students proper techniques for handling dairy cows. New interns and students are always welcome.

To learn more about the Tercero cows, you can always stop by and wave howdy to the mooers or follow the dairy facility on Instagram: @ucddairy. When asked for their opinion on the win, the cows responded with a unanimous, “MOOO!”

Written by: Nicolas Rago & George Ugartemendia — features@theaggie.org

You can often see it: the crowd of hungry students, families and out-of-town visitors swarming around, waiting for a spot to eat at the ever-busy eatery on the corner of 3rd and C streets. Burgers and Brew is one of the most iconic dining destinations in downtown Davis. It’s not much of a surprise, then, that the popular restaurant with “burger” in its name happens to serve the best –– you guessed it — burger in all of Davis.

Even with several other local spots and fast food chains all competing to satisfy the Davis community’s craving for a good burger, Burgers and Brew stands out. According to Burgers and Brew manager and bartender Joel Loza-Medina, it all starts with a tradition of using satisfying, high-quality ingredients.

“It’s the freshness,” Loza-Medina said. “We get all of our meat from Dixon and it is all local. I think people like the family chain-style restaurant. All the food is no GMO, it’s all good meat, and all of our burgers are half-pound burgers so people come hungry and leave happy.”

Each burger is cooked fresh and served up with mouthwatering flavor, and the menu lists about 20 different varieties of burgers. Whether you go with the classic original hamburger, cheeseburger or patty melt, or if you go for the more unique spice guacamole cheeseburger, bacon fusion burger or lamb burger, Burgers and Brew has a little something for everyone.

It’s no wonder that Burgers and Brew has emerged as a staple of the Davis eating experience. In a market often oversaturated with cheap, low-quality options, Burgers and Brew gives customers a burger crafted with care within a fun and lively dining environment.

“I think that Burgers and Brew is cool because there is a lot of fast food joints,” Loza-Medina said. “But as far as going out with your friends or on a date, everyone loves burgers and shakes and people can come here and have a good night out while still eating the comfort food that they enjoy.”

A burger is a food that many people can make, but not everyone can make a burger exceptionally well. Burgers and Brew sits in that coveted upper echelon of burger-making, serving the Davis community with good food and good times for over a decade.

Written by: Dominic Faria and Ryan Bugsch — sports@theaggie.org

Milk tea has become a big business in Davis over the last few years. With several boba shops in downtown alone, the bar is high for both quality and convenience. This year’s Best Boba, T4, or Tea 4 U, satisfies on both levels.

T4 opened in Davis last spring and is located on E Street, tucked away from the street traffic, but centrally located behind Mishka’s. A steady stream of customers keep up an easy hum of chatter and music, adding to the fun, warm vibe of the cafe. T4 is often packed in the evening with students lounging around tables, playing games like Jenga and giant Connect Four.

“I think it’s a very versatile place,” said Steffie Guan, a fourth-year managerial economics and communication double major. “You come here to study or to hang out with friends. And if we’re in the mood for more than boba, then they also have food and snack options.”

While the most popular tea is earl grey milk tea, according to Allan Tren, the owner of T4, the shop offers a wide range of drinks from passion fruit smoothies to roasted oolong milk tea to chocolate milk with sea salt cream. Multiple batches of tea are brewed every day, providing the fresh flavor that won this year’s contest. The snacks are unique as well.

“T4 is known for their popcorn chicken,” Tren said. “Most popular would be either our calamari or the egg puff.”

T4 is located on E Street and is open 11:30 a.m to 11 p.m. on weeknights, and 11:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Written by: Kira Burnett — science@theaggie.org

The big city lies just an hour and a half south of Davis

Most UC Davis students and staff know the feeling all too well: living in a smaller city can feel limiting, and sometimes residents need to break free and experience something new. Often times, this comes in the form of day trips to larger metropolitan areas. Courtesy of the annual Best of Davis poll, a consensus has been reached, and the beautiful coastal city of San Francisco has been voted as the Best Day Trip from Davis.

San Francisco is both iconic and accessible. The metropolis can be reached by way of a short car ride or trip with Amtrak. Upon arrival, there are a plethora of options for food, museums and the outdoors.

“My favorite things to do in San Francisco are things like getting Boba Guys, hanging out in downtown San Francisco, or going to places like the Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach and Land’s End,” said fourth-year managerial economics major Michael Wong. “A lot of people from Davis are from the Bay Area, so going to San Francisco always gives us the opportunity to spend time with friends from high school or from our hometowns.”

Locals like Wong have a good grasp on the big city, but for many first-timers, San Francisco can be overwhelming. For newcomers, it’s key to embrace the amount of options, because that’s exactly what separates Davis from the big city.

“There’s a lot more exploring you can do in San Francisco,” Wong said. “In Davis, where it’s a small town, there’s not as much to do.”

Next time you and your friends are looking to bust out of Davis, look no further than San Francisco. This is a day trip that’s sure to go above and beyond expectations.

Written by: Rowan O’Connell-Gates & Alyssa Hada  — features@theaggie.org

You’re sitting in the Arboretum. It’s a classic Davis day. The sun dances off of the water, and anywhere between ten and a thousand ducks are waddling about. As the sun finally settles into its “golden hour” position, you make the decision:

“I’m going to Snapchat this right now,” you think. It’s a surefire move to make sure your Davis pals know that you’re not stressing over the intensity of midterms and that your not-Davis pals know that you live in a painting. What filter do you use to claim this location as your own?

The cursive “Davis, CA” filter, of course. Why? It’s a classy way of claiming your college town. It gives all of the details. It’s got that beautiful Aggie blue and gold color scheme. It’s at the very base of the photo so it doesn’t distract from what you’re trying to showcase (be it that “golden hour” or your golden face).

“That’s the prettiest filter,” said Talia Basma, a fourth-year English major. “I like the font on this. It looks professional. This one is at the bottom, and I can take a picture in peace.”

Peace. Professionalism. Class. These are what Davis students love to decorate their memories with, and that’s why the cursive “Davis, CA” snapchat filter is the MVF (Most Valuable Filter) of our campus.

Written by: Olivia Luchini and Jess Driver — features@ucdavis.edu

Late at night, while much of Davis is fast asleep, the students at UC Davis are often just getting started after a long night of studying, procrastination or unwinding from the long day behind them. While Davis is home to many options for the hungry late-night dweller, In-N-Out remains the favorite.

Between its basic menu (and not-so-secret menu), brightly-decorated interior, quick and friendly service and 1 a.m. closing time, In-N-Out offers the perfect treat for those who need to cure that late-night hunger. For first-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major Sascha Recht, In-N-Out has gained her loyalty.

“I love In-N-Out.” Recht said, “They have affordable, high-quality delicious food, excellent customer service and an amazing business model.”

That business model, which values quality of ingredients over quantity of options, has proven to be a hit with the people of California (and an ever-expanding slate of states) for nearly 70 years, and its presence keeps expanding. The burger options are basic: a hamburger, a cheeseburger or a double-double for those who need a little bit more meat. Aside from burgers, other options include french fries, milkshakes and fountain drinks, but any person who frequents In-N-Out will tell you about the bountiful secret menu options, such as an animal-style burgers and fries, protein style burgers, a low-carb burger without the bun, and grilled cheese.

In-N-Out’s reliable, minimalist take on the classic burger and fries is perfect for those who do not want to wait at a sit-down restaurant, mess up their kitchen before they go to bed or settle for a lesser fast-food burger. For Recht, this is all a person needs after a long day.

“It’s always the best place that’s open late and there’s nothing better than a burger and fries before bed,” Recht said.

Written By: Sneha Ramachandran & Bradley Geiser

If you ever need eight-and-a-half pounds of chili garlic sauce or dried miso, Kim’s Mart is the place to go. Located downtown near the corner of 4th and F Streets, this market was voted best Asian Grocery Store. While the store has been open for around 31 years, Kim’s Mart moved to its current location in 2008.

“At that time [of opening], there were a lot of Korean students, especially graduate students who had to go to a shop in Sacramento,” said Jon Jun, the current owner. “The previous owner who opened this store was a graduate student at UCD, so he decided to open an Asian grocery store in Davis.”

The store has two tables on its sidewalk for those who want to enjoy their Korean sushi outside. Inside, one can find everything from roasted seaweed to shredded cuttlefish.

“This is an Asian [store] — we have a variety of Korean, Japanese, Chinese, some Filipino, Thai [products],” Jun said.  “A lot of Asian students who go to UC Davis come here instead of going to Sacramento. We also provide sushi rolls and we also do hot food to go, so students can come in and grab what they like and they can eat front of our store.”

Although the store’s main focus is Korean cuisine, one can also find green tea ice cream, preserved duck eggs and other delicacies. One aisle is dedicated to many different types of ramen, such as the famous spicy chicken ramen. Other staples include oolong tea, dried soups and rice porridges.

Written by: Rachel Paul and Hannan Waliullah

Ike’s Love and Sandwiches, the popular sandwich shop in Davis, has won Best Sandwich once again. The chain opened its first location in 2007 on Halloween, and the eatery has since expanded to multiple locations all over California. The goal of Ike’s is to make every experience memorable to people who set foot in the popular eatery. With identifiable sandwich names from “Your Sorority or Frat” to Davis exclusives like “Picnic Day,” this sandwich shop has been making a name for itself since its opening day.

Written right outside the front door of Ike’s above a wall of sandwich options reads a quote from Ike Shehadeh himself: “Many of my sandwich recipes were concocted in my old apartment on J Street, and now I get to share them with you! The sandwiches below are my favorite at Ike’s. I also added a few exclusives just for UCD.”

When Nicole Walter first went to Ike’s, she was overwhelmed by the number of options the sandwich shop offers.

“My friends down in Santa Barbara love it, so when I went down to visit them, we went [to Ike’s], so I started coming here once I moved to Davis this year,” Walter said. “I remember reading the mission statement about ‘love before anything else.’”

Accompanying Walter was Myles Bridgewater-Jackman, who also shared what he remembered about his first experience at Ike’s.

“I think I remember how overwhelmed I was with all of the choices,” Bridgewater-Jackman said. I’m still a newcomer, so I’m still trying to get myself acquainted with the menu.”

Scott Judson, a first-timer at Ike’s, had positive reviews for his experience. The familiarity of one of the sandwich names, “Damon Bruce,” prompted him to try the sandwich.

“This is actually my first time here,” Judson said. “It was great […] I just heard [about Ike’s through] commercials and figured I’d check it out. I ordered the Damon Bruce with no cheese. [Damon Bruce] is a broadcaster in the Bay Area.”

Whoever dares take the crown from Ike’s will have to be a tough contender, as Ike’s has been a two-time winner for Best of Davis.

Written by: Stella Tran & Kennedy Walker