BOONE, N.C. — New renovations, services and staffing at Appalachian State University’s campus dining facilities are designed to enhance the culinary experience, build community and improve food safety and access.
The upgrades include recent renovations at Rivers Street Cafe in Ross Dining Hall and Pond Park Place in Tribbett Hall, both located on App State’s Boone campus. The $3.8 million renovation project began in May and was completed in August, with funding raised from meal receipts.
“We wanted to not only enhance the customer experience, but also offer new ways for diners to engage with our culinary team,” said Elizabeth Riede, Executive Director of Campus Dining. . “I think customers are increasingly looking for that connection in the general food experience.”
Rivers Street now has a more open concept with a redesigned salad bar and overall layout, and will eventually include “action stations” where chefs will prepare food right in front of customers. is. The most noticeable change is that the drink stations that ran the length of the cafe have been removed and new drink stations have been conveniently placed next to the seating area.
“It’s really beautiful, open and airy, with more light coming in,” Riede said. “When you walk through the space, you can actually feel the light.”
“The renovations have made it easier to access and navigate the entire space. It makes a huge difference,” said Stan Chamberlain, Director of Residential Dining for Campus Dining.
At Park Place, the former foyer space was renovated with additional seating to accommodate increased usage on the west side of the Boone campus.
Regarding the menu, Riede said, “I think everyone will notice that it’s going to be an incredibly different dining experience in both spaces this semester.”
Park Place has launched several new themed food stations. Rivers Street also has new equipment that will allow the menu to better adapt to seasonal changes.
All-inclusive dining experience
All Access Dining (previously known as All You Care to Eat) is available at both Rivers Street and Park Place and features a rotating menu as well as a buffet of home-cooked dishes such as pizza, burgers and chicken tenders. You can enjoy it.
“The biggest benefit of All Access is that it provides food security,” Chamberlain said. “When I went to school here, we used the declining balance method, and in November we would run out of money and think about how we were going to eat. Now, students won’t have to worry about counting their meals. . That will relieve a lot of stress.”
Each cafeteria is powered by Nutrislice, a comprehensive digital menu transparency company that updates menus in real time and can accommodate special diets and allergy restrictions. The program uses a series of symbols that allow guests to identify the top nine allergens in each menu item, as well as mark items as vegan, halal, locally sourced or gluten-free. Specify.
Nutrislice has an iPad installed at the entrance of the all-access dining space through which students can view the menu and filter for dietary restrictions. Students can also download the Nutrilice phone app to view and filter menus in advance.
“Nutrislice makes it easy to find things, and the digital menus are aesthetically pleasing and easy to read,” says Riede. “For students living with special diets or other restrictions or allergies, this is literally a lifesaver.”
Campus Dining is staffed by trained staff designated as “allergy handlers” at all times during mealtimes and can be identified by a purple lanyard, apron, or badge. For guests who need to avoid gluten or dairy, each dining hall has a “safety station” with a separate refrigerator stocked with dairy-free foods and gluten-free items. With the exception of App Bakery, located in a separate area of Roess Dining Hall, campus dining kitchens do not use tree nuts or peanuts.
Further underscoring Campus Dining’s commitment to food safety and choice is the addition of a new director of nutrition.
“Food allergies can be life-threatening, so we take great care when interacting with students, faculty, and staff with food allergies,” said Farrar, Director of Campus Dining Nutrition, who joined the Campus Dining staff this semester.・Mr. Wright said. “For my part, I want to make sure that everyone feels safe dining on campus, regardless of their dietary restrictions.”
Reid said he plans to make a number of positive changes to help climbers eat healthier. She provides nutritional counseling to students, faculty and staff, including reviews of dining locations, menus, and tours.
“Good nutrition is essential for the human body to function properly, especially in college,” Reid says. “Research shows that eating a healthy diet can improve your memory and attention, and help you process information faster. A nutrient-dense diet can improve your immune function, mental health, and sleep habits. , mood, and more, all of which are essential for college students to thrive in and out of the classroom.”
sustainable dining experience
Starting this semester, Campus Dining will now offer reusable to-go containers. The program is available as a free mobile app, and students can check out reusable trays and bowls using her QR code and return them within a few days.
“We wanted to meet two criteria: we wanted to provide reusable containers for free to students, and we wanted to be able to track the containers to improve our contribution to sustainability. ,” Riede said. “This could be a game changer in many ways.”
According to App State’s Office of Sustainability, containers achieved the following results in just the first two weeks of the semester:
- 326 pounds of waste avoided.
- 4,038 single-use containers were kept out of landfills.
- 2,503 gallons of water were saved.
To further support App State’s zero waste initiative, Rivers Street Café waste area staff will separate leftover food and other waste and ensure these items are properly distributed to the trash, compost, or recycling bin. I’m trying to make it happen. Uneaten compost will be distributed to App State’s Landscape Services for flower beds and tree planting, and to campus gardens and Sustainable Development Farms and Gardens to improve soil for vegetable planting.
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May 12, 2023
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About campus dining
Campus Dining is owned and operated by Appalachian State University and provides dining services tailored to the specific needs of the campus community. With three dining facilities and daily catered events, campus dining not only nourishes you but also provides opportunities to build and foster relationships through shared meals and experiences. Campus Dining is committed to serving the Appalachian community using sustainable practices such as local sourcing, and contributing to campus composting and an ever-evolving partnership with the Office of Sustainability. For more information, please visit https:// Dining.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As the Southeast’s premier public undergraduate institution, Appalachian State University educates students to lead lives of purpose. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System and is nationally known for its innovative education and providing access to high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate majors and more than 80 graduate majors through its Boone and Hickory campuses and App State Online. doing. For more information, please visit https://www.appstate.edu.