Anna Gorman, Campus Carrier staff writer
Emma Bellantoni, Campus Carrier staff writer
The Dining Hall has recently implemented new services and stations offered for this academic year. These changes include the return of the vegan station after its absence at the beginning of the year, the launch of the destinations station and the sandwich spot, as well as new ordering processes at Java City Coffee.
Executive Chef Shawn Lawrence was excited to implement the destinations station, where the stir-fry previously was. His excitement stemmed from the use of new ingredients throughout the station.
“We’ve really [introduced] things here that we typically don’t have in a dining hall,” Lawrence said. “We’re using miso, using lemongrass, using a lot of different things that are specific to different cultures. It’s not your normal meatloaf and spaghetti and meatballs.”
According to Glory Harmon, the marketing manager at Berry Dining, the destinations station was created because of student feedback from previous events like Around the World premium night.
“For the Destination Station, we just decided that, based on student feedback, we would have a station that featured different cuisines around the world,” Harmon said. “For example, we have [a] Caribbean theme, we have Korean and other international themes and culinary dishes.”
Berry Dining also added back the vegan station after it was removed at the beginning of this year. Harmon said that based on student feedback, a lot of people missed the station, and bringing it back was a great addition to the dining hall.
Lawrence believes it is important to meet the needs of most dietary preferences and restrictions.
“Our main goal here is to feed [the students] so that you can do well [in] your classes and function on a college campus,” said Lawrence. “There’s a lot of different preferences and things that get asked of us, and we do our best to try to encompass everybody, some better than others.”
Freshman Alex Nunziato said she enjoys the simplicity of the new vegan station. She likes that there is usually no line, allowing for quick meals, such as rice, without having to wait in line.
The third major change was adding the sandwich spot. Lawrence said that there are new bread options offered at the new deli station.
“If you want a healthier option or if you kind of have a favorite sandwich, you can have that choice there at the dining hall,” Harmon said. “That’s located in the back of Destination Station.”
The Dining Hall is trying to stay on trend with its special events. Lawrence said Aramark, the company the Dining Hall is under, puts food trends at the forefront.
“It’s where we do a lot of the premium nights, the special events that we do,” Lawrence said. “Avocado toast for one is pretty trendy. We do that a few times per semester.”
Lawrence believes that the biggest, most noticeable change that the Dining Hall has accomplished within the last year is the True Balance station. He believes the station was underutilized when he first took over around two years ago. Since then, the station aims to offer a protein, starch or vegetable and a dessert that is allergen free.
“We avoid all the nine major allergies down here,” Lawrence said. We’ve hired some good chefs down here that really care about making sure that we’re serving safe food. I think that’s one of the biggest areas that we’ve focused on and made a significant impact.”
The Dining Hall takes feedback from students, which often comes from the dining committee supported by the Student Government Association (SGA), and implements it into the options as best as possible. The way to leave feedback is through the Voice of Consumer (VOC) program.
“If you notice at each station, they got the little cards out with the QR code,” Lawrence said. “It’s [students’] opportunity to say, ‘Hey, we like what you’re doing’ or they can also give us some feedback on stuff that they’d like to see.”
More food service changes that were made at Java City. The coffee shop no longer punch cards for rewards. Junior Vivianne Rumble, an avid Java City goer, misses the punch cards.
“I would say I missed them,” Rumble said. “I got excited when you filled it up and you got the free coffee.”
Java City offers a new ordering ahead system through the app, TouchNet Order Ahead. Although Rumble does not see herself using the mobile ordering system, she believes it provides accessibility.
“I kind of like going up there and just like talking to the people sometimes and the interaction,” Rumble said. “I guess maybe if I’m in a hurry I can order it, I just picked up really quick.”