A straggling line of hungry UCLA Anderson School of Management students began to form in the north lawn of the Anderson complex a little past 4 p.m. on Thursday.
The final preparations for “Anderson Afternoons,” a weekly event where Anderson students get together to eat, were nearly finished. But Thursday wasn’t a typical Anderson Afternoon.
It was the “Chili Cook-Off,” where all money raised from the event went to a variety of charities, including the Special Olympics. Steaming pots of homemade chili bubbling in heated aluminum trays could be seen at one side of the yard, while two plastic tables holding refreshments stood at the other.
The event was just one of many organized and attended by Anderson Eats ““ a student-run group for those looking to enter the food industry, or just get their grub on.
The mission of the club is simple: let students meet and eat as an opportunity to socialize over good food, said Lorenzo Mah, a management student and co-president of Anderson Eats. The club consists of about 80 members, with an annual fee of $25 to join. The fees go toward the club outings, Mah said.
On average, the club meets about once or twice per week for an event. Events range from bake sales ““ held at Mah’s West Los Angeles apartment ““ to potlucks to outings at restaurants. The most common type of event is the “cheap eat,” where the students decide on an affordable place to grab a quick, tasty bite.
The group does not run on a set schedule, but rather meets whenever there is enough time for an event to be organized, said Shalindra Soysa, a management student and co-president of Anderson Eats.
At the chili event, members of Anderson Eats quickly got their hands full.
Within a half hour, the entire area was filled with students crowded together, tasting several pots of colorfully named chilis, such as “Mornin’ After Chili,” from small plastic cups.
The atmosphere was lively as students settled into groups and filled their stomachs with the chili.
“I love food,” said Daniel Morris, a management student. “And I love meeting other people that love food.”
The club was formed last year to bring together foodies looking for new places to eat. An added perk is the ability to meet other students who may be interested in entering the food industry, Morris said.
“It evens out (with) the professional clubs you join that aim to help you get a job,” said Jeff Chu, a management student.
In addition to providing networking opportunities for students, Anderson Eats aims to teach students skills related to the food industry, including sharing business tips and advice from students who have had experience in the field.
The club is also planning to offer a knife-handling class spring quarter, although the class is still in the works, Soysa said.
All members of the group are graduate students. While there are not currently any undergraduate students in the club, Mah said they are not opposed to opening up to the larger UCLA community.
Anderson Eats is in the midst of a re-awakening after its sluggish first year, when the club rarely met because of a lack of leadership, Soysa said.
But he said this year there are more active first-year Anderson students who have taken an interest in the club, which has helped it grow. The club has been more active this year with its weekly events, Mah said.
“It’s just something fun to do,” Chu said. “It’s also a chance to informally network with people.”