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11 boundary-pushing new menu items created at Elon University during coronavirus pandemic

Check out the bowls, biscuits, Chicago beef sandwiches, bao buns and even a Low Country boil in the testing phases this summer by Harvest Table Culinary Group at Elon University as menu planning turns to next school year.

Tara Fitzpatrick, Senior Editor

June 3, 2020

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The kitchen creativity in his neck of the woods has gotten stronger as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Jay Vetter, executive chef with Harvest Table Culinary Group at Elon University in North Carolina. With dramatically less students and staff on campus, the dining crew at Elon has turned a tumultuous time into an opportunity to reflect, renew and revamp the menu. The results are shelter-in-place menu items that travel the globe in terms of inspiration.

Vetter has been experimenting with dim sum, “bougie” PBJs, hempeh (like tempeh, but made with hemp) and more during this downtime. He’s been focused on local produce and salads, especially during the summer as he looks ahead to fall.

“Obviously, self-serve salads are gone, but we’re going to create really well-constructed salads, and also prepare for students who want just lettuce and ranch dressing,” Vetter says, alluding to the shift from customizable everything to chef-composed with a bit of leeway.

The plan at Elon for dining halls when students return is restaurant-style concepts, rather than action stations, and students will be able to get a complete meal in one place.

The new menu items will be ready, regardless of what the next semester will look like.

Contact Tara at [email protected]

Related:One On One With: Staying ahead of the curve with Southern hospitality at Elon University

Follow her on Twitter @Tara_Fitzie

About the Author

Tara Fitzpatrick

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group

Tara Fitzpatrick is Food Management’s senior editor and a contributor to Restaurant Hospitality and Nation’s Restaurant News, creating editorial content for digital, print and events. Tara holds a bachelor of science degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kent State University. Before joining Food Management in 2008, Tara was associate editor at National Association of College Stores in Oberlin, Ohio. Prior to that, Tara worked as a newspaper reporter in her hometown of Lorain, Ohio, where she lives now. Tara is a fan of food history, legends, lore, ghost stories, urban farming and old cookbooks. 

Tara Fitzpatrick’s areas of expertise include the onsite foodservice industry (K-12 schools, colleges and universities, healthcare and B&I), menu trends, sustainability in foodservice, senior dining, farm-to-table and innovation.

Tara Fitzpatrick is a frequent webinar and podcast host and has served on the board of directors for IFEC (International Food Editors Consortium).

Tara Fitzpatrick’s experience:

Senior Editor, Food Management (Feb 2008-present)

Associate Editor, National Association of College Stores (2005-2008)

Reporter, The Morning Journal (2002-2005)

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