Confessions of Rich Neumann

Rich Neumann, director of residential dining at 21,000-student Ohio University in Athens, divulges his desire to be taller, his fear of government bankruptcy and his love of filet mignon.

Q. What is the best part of your job?

The variety. I run day-to-day operations, teach a class and supervise four interns.

Q. What is the worst part of your job?

Human resources issues.

Q. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Working full time while earning my master’s degree.

Q. What is the most unusual foodservice/catering request you have ever received?

Goat.

Q. If you weren't in foodservice what would you be doing?

Financial analyst or CFO of a Wall Street firm.

Q. Which talent would you most like to have?

The ability to predict the future.

Q. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would like to be taller.

Q. What is your greatest fear?

That the U.S. Government will go bankrupt.

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

My mother, who is a breast cancer survivor, is a constant source of inspiration.

Q. What is your favorite meal?

Filet mignon cooked medium rare with sautéed mushrooms, baked yams with butter, a field-of-greens salad and a glass of Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon.

Q. What is your guilty pleasure?

Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia.

Q. What food fad do you wish had never started?

Atkins Diet.

Q. What is the weirdest food you have ever eaten?

Crickets. They are crunchy and very salty.

Q. Are you a morning or evening person?

Morning, after my workout.

Q. What are your words to live by?

Work hard, play hard and live within your means.