Inuvik (Oct 08/04) - For busy students who mind their pocketbooks as much as their health, the Aurora College Canteen is the place to grab a healthy snack or nourishing lunch.

Delta Sun Services' chef Brad Olynyk serves up some soup at the Aurora College Canteen. . - photo courtesy of Malcolm Gorrill

"I eat here when it smells good, and that's most of the time," said student Ria Kisoun of the new canteen. "There's not a lot of grease and that's important to me. And the food is great and it's affordable."

Compliments to the chef Brad Olynyk are not only coming from students but from staff alike.

"It's just great," said campus director Miki O'Kane of Olynyk's cooking. "The food is amazing and I don't even have to leave work to enjoy it."

While business has been building as word gets around town, Olynyk is busy pondering other items he can add to the rotating three-week menu.

"I'm thinking of a whitefish entree because I've got quite a bit of that right now," he said. "So we'll see how it goes."

According to Olynyk, everything on the menu is a healthy option except, perhaps, the cheeseburgers he serves on Thursdays with caesar salad.

"Well, it's a popular item and once in a while it's OK to have a snack."

But apart from the burgers, the Chinese food -- without MSG -- on Fridays, the caribou stew on Mondays and soup and sandwiches, which are offered daily, provide enough variety and a healthy choice.

At $8 an entree, it is one of the more economical lunchtime options in town.

"It's been a slow start, but word is getting out," said Olynyk.

Judging from how quickly the spaghetti and meat sauce disappeared on Tuesday, it would appear that word is already out.