Fast Casual-Type Dining Coming To Alexandria Schools

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Student feedback is leading Alexandria City Public Schools and two other Northern Virginia school districts to introduce a fast casual-type dining dining program based out of Sterling. ACPS and Loudoun County Public Schools are implementing Cuisine Solutions' Café + Teria program for the 2018-19 school year. Arlington County Public Schools' three high schools tested the pilot program last school year and will be keeping it.

Just like CAVA or similar fast casual restaurant, students customize their meals with various ingredients at Café +Teria. Students choose a base of grain, salad or a wrap, a protein like antibiotic-free chicken, ground beef, or Paneer cheese, a topping of vegetables, cheese and sauces and dressing.

The program will start at T.C. Williams High School, King Street campus, and expand to other secondary schools throughout the year.

"The option of customization is exactly what our students have been requesting. Plus, contributing back to the local economy in the process is an added bonus!" said Alexandria City Public Schools Nutrition Coordinator Robyn Douglas in a news release.

The program aims to offer a modern dining experience while incorporating international cuisines like Mexican, Indian, Asian, Mediterranean and Caribbean. Cuisine Solutions provides school partners with recipes, standard operating procedures, name brand and marketing materials to support the new program.

Some of the foods are prepared using the sous-vide method, which fully cooks and pasteurizes the food. Sous-vide means the food is vacuum-sealed and slow cooked in hot water.

Arlington County's program is returning for a second year after a successful pilot run. New additions for this school year will include the Italian bowl with a basil vinaigrette and whole grain pasta.

Image by Scott Suchman, courtesy Cuisine Solutions