By Maddi Achtyl
In their second semester at Stonehill, dining services provider Bon Appétit is working hard to accommodate the needs of the community.
Just before the start of the spring semester, Stonehill Dining made a post on their Instagram page about new changes that students could expect for the upcoming semester. These changes included where meal swipes can be used, welcoming back Reuzzi containers to certain locations on campus, and adding Grab & Go items available at locations around campus.
Ace’s Place now allows students to use meal swipes for either a large Starbucks drink or a regular-size drink served with select breakfast items, including bagels, Danish pastries, muffins, and coffee cakes. Bon Appétit made this change based on student feedback throughout the first semester.
“All of the changes Stonehill makes to the dining program are driven by student feedback,” said Jeremy Weaver, general manager of dining services at Stonehill.
Another addition this semester is that students can now use five meal swipes a day. During the fall semester, students felt four was not enough.
The College is also reintroducing Reuzzi this semester as part of its commitment to a more sustainable and adaptable dining experience by offering reusable food containers. Dining Services is piloting the program, and a select number of to-go containers are available at Gigi’s this semester.
After using the app to check out the containers, students can return them by following the directions in the app and finding a return location around campus.
Another change the dining hall is making this semester, based on student feedback, is labeling the top nine allergens on the menus at all dining locations across campus. The nine allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, wheat, shellfish, fish, soy, and sesame. To learn more about each icon, the dining services website has a menu icon legend.
Students can also utilize the on-campus dietician, Barbara Rose, to ensure all their dietary needs are being met and to ask any questions they might have regarding allergies. Rose can be contacted at barbara.rose@cafebonappetit.com.
The Grab & Go program is being expanded to include an array of house-made salads and sandwiches, as well as popular snack items now available at Gigi's, Lux's, Ace's, and the Hill. To accommodate students with nut allergies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are also being sourced from a third party to avoid using peanuts and tree nuts in Stonehill kitchens.
To ensure the quality and freshness of the Grab & Go items, they are made in-house daily and stocked for purchase on the same day. All items also have stickers with expiration dates.
An ongoing concern for students was the long wait times during peak dining hours. Weaver addressed the issue, saying “We have implemented a number of strategies to reduce wait times, including surging staff at times of peak traffic. We apologize for any inconvenience and continue to prioritize speed of service.”
With these new changes, Stonehill Dining and Bon Appétit hope to improve the overall student experience when using on-campus dining, making it more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable.
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