Dining Services Adds Flavor and Variety

Dining Services has recently enhanced the flavor and feel of the on-campus dining experience. The Vegan station is new, the Gelato has its fans, and the Campus Center is becoming even more colorful  … literally. Rollins’ ongoing partnership with its dining services provider, Sodexo, has reaped benefits for everyone.

“One of the joys of working with the Rollins community is being able to keep up with the trends,” said Dining Services Director Gerard Short. “Lately there has been an increase in demand for organic foods and healthy alternatives.”

The topic was discussed and the staff decided to open the Vegan Station, which has proven to be quite popular. The Smoothie Station, which used to occupy that counter, has been moved downstairs to the Grille.

“The idea was to provide more choices for vegans and to keep the station sustainable,” said Short. Head Chef Gustavo Vasconez also shared that all the ingredients are cultivated within a 150 mile radius of the school.

In order to provide outstanding service, Dining Services is open to suggestions. Some organizations, including Student Government Association, requested more variety for dinner. In response, Dining Services is moving some of the pizzazz from lunch to dinner. “The idea is to satisfy as much as possible,” explained Vasconez. 

The food offerings at the C-Store solidly embody that commitment. Thanks to Retail Manager Heather Wilson, if there’s any specific food that a student wants, all they have to do is mention it and within three days it will be available for them in the C-Store.

Dining Services prides itself on the personal commitment of its 84 member staff, which definitely goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Have you noticed that the campus center isn’t entirely white anymore? Keep an eye open, because it’s going to becoming increasingly more vibrant as the year goes on. That’s another idea from Dining Services:  the visual impact needs to support the culinary experience and atmosphere. The Campus Center is meant to be a place for everyone to relax, get together, and have an amazing meal.

To spice things up even further, on November 19, a partnership with the International Student Organization is going to transform the building into a Latin-American street fair!  And the Campus Center is also scheduled to play host to a modest Iron Chef-style event.  Stay tuned …

-Jennifer Ritter (Class of 2013)