Inside the Kitchen: ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s Food Hub
A series of stories going behind the scenes of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s dining experience
BRISTOL, R.I. – Dining has become one of the many defining ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ experiences students and the rest of the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ community enjoy when they chose ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ. For good reason, too: ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s meal plan is ranked in the top 5 percent in the country according to student satisfaction surveys, topped USA Today College’s list for best college food in Rhode Island in 2016, and this year it was named as the best college dining program in Rhode Island by the monthly publication FoodService Director.
And while the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ community is largely familiar with the deliciously satisfying front-end experience of dining at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ, many aren’t familiar with the behind-the-line work that goes into preparing and serving more than 5,000 meals a day or with the efforts to reduce waste.
That changes now with an in-depth series of stories looking at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s dining experience. The stories range from a behind-the-line look at the work that goes into feeding the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ community to interesting facts about dining at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ and the University’s efforts in sustainability and combating food waste.
These stories show some, but not all, of what makes food service at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ so special. You’ve already tasted ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s top-notch food program. Now see how it comes together:
Behind the Service Line
The central hub for the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ dining experience is the Upper Commons. Take a look at that experience from other side of the service line and the people who make it happen.
Food Recovery Network at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ
It may look like this small group of students is heading in for an after-hours meal, but they are actually part of a student led effort to combat food waste and food insecurity.
Composting at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ
Food waste is a part of any food service. It’s why ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ and Bon Appétit Management Company work to curtail that waste. So far, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ has diverted over 230 tons of food waste from the landfill in the last three years.
Interesting Facts on ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ's Food
ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ dining serves on average 1,700 students a day. That makes for some interesting facts ranging from the average amount of pizzas made a day to how many pounds of hamburgers are cooked.
Sourced Locally: Where ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ's Food Comes From
ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ and Bon Appétit Management Company are committed to using the best ingredients and sourcing food locally when possible. Here are 10 local places where ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ÊÓƵ sources its food.