With no surprise, Stevens has once again won a dining award for Pierce Dining Hall and for the first time, Pi Kitchen!
The National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) is an organization that presents member institutions with Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards across six different categories. The categories include residential dining concepts, residential dining facilities, residential dining (special events), retail sales, catering (special events), and catering (online menus).
Pierce Dining Hall was awarded the 2023 Silver Residential Dining Facility Award. Pierce has also won similar awards dating back to 2016. Madison Goslin, The Senior Marketing Manager, reported, “most years we end up placing”. Having submitted the entries herself, Goslin emphasized how Pierce Dining Hall is meant to be an enhanced dining experience that has been recognized over the years because of its efficiency and inclusivity.
The technology in Pierce, such as the 50” LCD TVS, allows for the menus to be broadcasted for that specific station. Each station also has its own signs to identify the food, its ingredients, and its nutritional value. The menus include a wide range of diverse food that is nutritious as well as appetizing. Students can easily navigate through Pierce Dining Hall and enjoy their food all while overlooking the Hudson River and New York City It is no wonder that this dining hall repeatedly receives awards from NACUFS.
Pi Kitchen, however, has won its very first award from Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards, specifically, the 2023 Bronze Retail Sales Single Concept Award. Unlike Pierce Dining Hall, Pi Kitchen is a sit-down restaurant with a “farm-to-table concept” explained Goslin. Fruits and vegetables come from farms all over the tristate area and Pi Kitchen even has its own herb cultivator. The herb cultivator “grows herbs and plants two times faster” than the normal rate Goslin shared. Pi Kitchen truly takes nutrition to the next level and enhances the culinary experience.
The menu is seasonal and decided by a team of culinary experts. These experts take into account allergies and food restrictions, allowing all students and staff to enjoy their creations. The whole point of Pi Kitchen is to make the staff and students feel comfortable and find a second family amongst each other. It is a dining experience that is “rare among college campuses” and is treasured by the staff and student body.
Submissions for the 2024 Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards will begin in the fall of 2023. Goslin has revealed that she is trying to get the UCC Marketplace in the running for the 2024 Awards. She has also mentioned how she wants to upscale the retail themes for the dining halls in general and try to get Stevens more retail-related awards.
Overall, the 2023 year for the Stevens dining halls was a success.
