Staff Shares Behind the Scenes of the Dining Revamp
Changes are coming to Universtiy of Puget Sound’s Dining & Event Services (DES) designed to enhance the dining experience and value for students and the campus community. From expanded menu options to innovative technology, these changes are a result of student feedback and a commitment to providing top-notch dining services.
Director of Dining & Events Chelsea Bairey shares details of these updates, exploring everything from new culinary offerings to improved ordering systems.
We've heard some exciting changes are coming to the university's dining and event services this fall. Can you tell us what sparked these changes and what students can expect?
The Dining & Event Services team is excited to share the latest updates to our program. The updates were sparked by students and the campus community’s valuable feedback and requests. We are committed to enhancing your dining experience by introducing several new features.
This fall we will be updating our diner menus to incorporate more protein alternatives, such as jackfruit at the tortilla station, to cater to those seeking plant-based options. We’re also adding new items to our menus, including Boba at Lillis Café, to provide more variety and meet diverse tastes. In response to requests for more animal-based proteins, we are now featuring a carved New York striploin as part of our Chef’s Table dinner rotation.
We recognize that we have not always met the mark in areas such as plant-based protein alternatives and fresh foods. These changes are part of our ongoing efforts to better align with campus preferences and enhance the dining experience.
You mention that student feedback has been instrumental in driving these changes. How are you planning to continue gathering input from students on these new offerings and future improvements?
Student feedback is indeed crucial to our efforts and drives our changes. To ensure we continue to align with student needs and preferences, we gather input through several channels.
First is our use of Text n’ Tell platform which allows students to provide feedback quickly and easily. We also monitor and engage with student feedback through our social media channels. Our team actively listens to students during face-to-face interactions.
Additionally, we employ up to 200 student staff each semester across various DES outlets. These student employees offer invaluable insights into the student experience. If you’re interested in contributing directly and providing feedback from within, we encourage you to explore job opportunities with us. Job opportunities can be found on the Puget Sound Employment Opportunities webpage.
One of the changes you mentioned is a focus on plant-based protein options. Can you elaborate on the specific additions to the salad bar and other dining areas?
We’ve made several enhancements to our dining areas with a focus on increasing plant-based protein options. For the salad bar we’ve expanded the selection to include hummus, avocado, edamame, lentils, and grain blends, providing more nutritious and diverse choices.
We are also introducing jackfruit as a versatile plant-based protein option for the tortilla bar. In addition to our existing plant-based options like Beyond Burgers and black bean burgers for The Grill, we are now offering a portobello burger, which is ideal for those seeking simple, vegan-friendly ingredients. Both the jackfruit and portobello burgers were featured at this year’s Welcome Festival, and we’ve received positive feedback on these additions.
The Lillis Café is getting a new addition – boba tea! Can you tell us more about the flavors and when students can expect to try them?
We’re thrilled to bring boba to campus this year! Lillis Café is now serving up your favorite boba drinks from 10 a.m. until close, Monday through Friday. Our initial menu features a selection of classic flavors, including Thai Tea, Taro, Brown Sugar Milk Tea, Mango Green Tea, Strawberry Milk Tea, and a traditional Milk Tea. You can enjoy these with a variety of tasty inclusions like Brown Sugar Tapioca, Honey Tapioca, Mango and Strawberry Popping Pearls, and Lychee. Plus, you’ll have the chance to build your own custom boba creations or even add boba to a smoothie.
The noodle bar is expanding with a new concept, "Global Street Food." What can students expect from this new menu and how often will it change?
The noodle bar is undergoing an exciting transformation and will be renamed Grizz’s Grub following a staff vote. This revamped station will feature a two-week menu cycle with a variety of dishes such as falafels, fajitas, flatbreads, and chili pie, along with popular noodle bar items. We’re currently in the process of recruiting for this position, so the station will open soon after we’ve filled and trained the necessary staff.
We heard mobile ordering is getting an upgrade. Can you tell us more about the expanded options and later pickup times? How will this benefit students, especially those involved in late-night activities?
The Diner's mobile ordering program has received a significant upgrade to better serve students, particularly those with late-night commitments. We will be expanding the menu so you can place a single order that includes items from different stations. For example, you can order a deli sandwich and fries from the grill in one transaction. We’ve also added options from the tortilla station and grab-and-go items to the mobile menu. Also, students with late labs or practices can now order in advance for an 8:30 p.m. pickup. Orders will be held on the pickup shelves until 9:30 p.m., allowing for greater flexibility.
In the future, we plan to expand the mobile ordering options by adding more stations throughout the academic year. These improvements aim to make dining more convenient and accessible, especially for those with demanding schedules.
There's also a new technological addition coming to campus – a smoothie-making robot! When can students expect to see this robot in action and what other beverages will it be able to make?
We’re thrilled to introduce a smoothie-making robot, to campus this fall! We’re excited about the prospect of offering fresh smoothies around the clock. The smoothie robot will be operational 24/7, ensuring you can enjoy smoothies any time of day or night, even when our staff isn’t on duty. Unlike other machines that use concentrates or frozen products, the Puget Sound robot will use only fresh produce to create personalized smoothies.
We are asking for the campus community’s help to name our new robot once it arrives. Stay tuned for updates on its debut date and participate in the naming vote by following us on Instagram @ups_diner.
What can you tell us about changes to alcohol availability on campus?
The University has recently obtained a license to offer alcohol services for catered events and select athletic events. This semester, we will pilot this initiative with a beer garden at home football games. A beer garden will be available at home football games for those who are 21 and over. We encourage all attendees to drink responsibly and help us ensure the success of this new offering. We look forward to seeing you there and appreciate your support as we introduce these changes.
Looking ahead to next semester, we've heard about plans for new vending options. Can you share more details about what types of food will be available and when students can expect to see these vending machines?
We are continually evaluating fresh vending options for late-night diners and hope we have more to come in the future.
Learn more about DES by visiting pugetsound.edu/dining-event-services.
