.png)
What began as a local culinary challenge at Saint Joseph’s University, between Hawk Dining Co. and neighborhood restaurants, has grown into a cross-campus competition, complete with a familiar collegiate rivalry between two universities in the Greater Philadelphia tri-state area.
Known as Hawk Battles, the concept started at Saint Joseph’s with a simple idea: pit the Hawk Wrap, a campus staple, against favorites from a local cheesesteak shop, followed later by a neighborhood pizza spot. Those early matchups set the stage for the final Hawk Battle of the semester with a showdown between Saint Joseph’s University Hawk Dining Co. and the University of Delaware’s UD Dining Services campus favorite, the Henwhich.
“Hawk Battles provide an excellent way to show school spirit, highlight local restaurants, and showcase the outstanding food programs at the battling universities,” said Hawk Dining Co. Senior Chef Manager Laurie Tomsho. “Everyone worked together to provide an excellent experience to all the guests we served during the battles.”
The idea for Hawk Battles emerged during a weekly touch-base meeting, when Aramark Collegiate Hospitality leaders discussed ways to engage students through food while strengthening collaboration. The concept was simple: use a signature menu item, invite campus partners to compete, and let students decide the winner. Saint Joseph’s University quickly embraced the challenge, launching an on-campus showdown that energized students and dining teams alike.
“The Hawk Battles are what happen when you mix a little school pride, a lot of flavors, and just enough competitive chaos—suddenly lunch turns into a full-on event,” said Mabel Davidson, Hawk Dining Co. Director of Operations.
Before long, word of the competition reached the University of Delaware’s UD Dining Services, along with an invitation to expand the idea into a head-to-head matchup. Rather than limit the event to a single location, the teams agreed on a home-and-home format, staging identical competitions on each campus so both universities could claim home-field advantage.
At the center of the contest are the signature menu items for the two campuses. Hawk Dining Co.’s Hawk Wrap features a flour tortilla filled with grilled chicken, Hawk Sauce, pickles, tomatoes, shredded cheese, lettuce, American cheese, and onions. The Hawk Wrap is a handheld option designed for bold flavor and easy eating between classes.
UD Dining Services countered with their campus favorite, known as “The Henwich,” which features a tender chicken breast soaked in butter, breaded with crackers, pretzels, and Pecorino Romano cheese, then baked and topped with melted aged cheddar. It’s served on a branded brioche roll and finished with either Angry Sauce or the original house sauce.
“The competition between UD and SJU was a great way to bring the two campuses together and highlight culinary creativity,” said Mike Ryan, UD Dining Services Director of Operations. “It was exciting to see the energy, competitive spirit, and student excitement that came from a friendly competition centered around food. I’m especially excited to continue building on this momentum, expand the competition, and bring the Henwich to another university to share the experience with even more students.”
.png)
During the day of each competition, which was held on two separate days in April, students cast their votes by scanning a QR code during the lunch period in the residential dining halls. The format of the competition created an atmosphere that felt closer to a pep rally than a typical lunch rush, drawing steady crowds and sustained engagement throughout the event, where each campus battled it out for their fan-favorite to come out on top.
Hawk Dining Co. claimed the win on its home turf for the first event, while the University of Delaware claimed victory on its campus for the second.
“Food is a powerful way to bring people together, especially on a college campus, and this competition gave students a new way to show their school spirit,” said Alicia Kent, Regional Vice President of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. “Ultimately, the real winners were the students we serve at both campuses, who got to enjoy each school’s fan‑favorite dishes.”
.png)
Sign Up for News Alerts
