Sitting down at a table together. Talking. Breaking bread.
Food has a way of bringing people together, of creating a shared experience, of cultivating a feeling of camaraderie and community.
That is as true with family gatherings as it is on many of today’s college and university campuses where friends and strangers alike are gathering to share special meals in fun and unique ways organized and hosted by Aramark Collegiate Hospitality chefs and team members.
“Our teams are focusing on so many unique ways to get students excited and engaged in the dining programs on campus,” said Karen Parker, Chief Marketing Officer, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. “These themed meals are just one more way our teams find ways to cultivate a feeling of community on campus.”
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON
Seahawk Supper
The Aramark Collegiate Hospitality team at University of North Carolina Wilmington created Seahawk Supper in 2019 to foster campus community and build bonds between students.
Seahawk Suppers are a monthly first-come, first-serve event that has a strong following among students. The meal is served family style to create an atmosphere students don’t often experience during their busy days. Conversation cards are set up on tables to get students talking and interacting.
The culinary team crafts the menu each month. For example, a vegan meal was served during National Vegan Month and a menu highlighting local sustainable seafood was served during National Seafood Month.
VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY
Supper Club
Students on a meal plan at Valdosta State University can reserve a seat at the monthly Blazer Dining Supper Club table by being one of the first 20 people to sign up.
The exclusive, multi-course meal is crafted by Aramark Executive Chef Andrew Atz. In September, the Night in Tuscany meal included a salad served in an edible Parmesan cheese bowl. A special seafood meal was served in October with Cajun night in early November.
The team created Supper Club to offer new and exciting programs to students so they could share a meal experience together, try new cuisines, and better get to know Chef Atz. The upscale Supper Clubs were even featured in The Spectator, VSU’s school newspaper.
UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD & BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC
Restaurant Night
University of Hartford, Berklee College of Music, and other Aramark Collegiate Hospitality accounts in New England host Restaurant Nights to get students excited.
In exchange for a meal swipe, students who sign up are served a three-course meal created by the talented campus chefs. There are usually two seatings in a private room or separate area of the dining room.
Each Restaurant Night takes on a different menu and different theme. The team at University of Hartford utilized a theater troupe to host a Murder Mystery dinner. Berklee College of Music recently held a 90s Night and drew on the college’s talented musicians to add to a Speakeasy Night.
SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY
A Night in Paris
The team at Pennsylvania’s Slippery Rock University create themed nights to excite students.
They recently held a Night in Paris dinner which included beef carving station; crepes, macarons and other French-inspired sweet treats, and a charcuterie board. They even assembled a team of flute players to add a touch of musical elegance.
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Learn AZ Supper Club
Held once a semester, the team at Arizona State University (ASU) hosts a meal with a discussion about sustainability and eating locally and seasonally. The chef curates a plant-based menu of small bites that are uniquely Arizonan, and another team member presents on ways to achieve sustainability through dining services.
The event for 20 students is organized in partnership with ASU’s International Students and Scholar Center.
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Secret Food Society
What started off as an inside joke turned into one of the most anticipated events on campus.
Auburn University’s Secret Food Society was born from an idea between chefs, marketing, and operations teams to showcase the talented chefs on campus.
A handheld food item, a T-shirt, and button designed around the food item selected are given away at “drops” on campus that aren’t announced until the day of the event.
Each chef selected for that Secret Food Society giveaway hands out the food they created to the students to get excited and engaged.
There are about seven scheduled Secret Food Society “drops” for this school year.
