University of Mary Washington launches upscale resident dining platform

As the University of Mary Washington welcomes the largest Freshman class in its history, students are enjoying an upscale dining experience by Sodexo, dining services partner. The new branded dining services platform launched this September with over 3,000 meals served in the first day.

Among the high-end food court dining offerings, the University is first in the country to offer signature burgers, chicken, quesadillas and sauces of the Wonderful World of Wings Cafe & Wingery in a resident dining concept. Daily offerings include Crescent City, Philly, and Texas Burgers, along with Vegetable Quesadillas, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Red Beans and Rice, French Fries, and Mustard Slaw.

Joe Stacks Deli is a retail concept so popular with students that it is now part of the resident dining program. Students can purchase ready-made specialty sandwiches, subs and salads, or get a custom sandwich made-to-order. Some specialty sandwiches include roasted vegetables on Foccacia, Italian subs, or turkey and provolone. Salad features offer traditional selections like potato salad as well as on-trend dishes like Chipotle Sweet Potato Salad.

Magic Oven Artisan Bakery features cookies, breads, cakes and other pastries fresh-baked every day.

Chef’s Fare is where students can enjoy a taste of home with traditional American-style entrees and sides like meat loaf, mashed potatoes, chicken pot pie, fresh steamed vegetables and macaroni and cheese. A full baked potato bar is an added feature during week-day lunches and a carved roast meat is offered every night for dinner.

Mama Jean, the Presto Pasta cook, tells everyone that the special ingredient in each of her pasta creations is love...lots of love! Students line up to snag one of her delicious specialty pastas while enjoying a friendly chat with Mama Jean as she prepares each dish. Presto Pasta also offers a variety of individual pasta casserettes served up hot out of the pizza ovens all during service.

At Pizza Mia, guests can watch as hundreds of pizzas, calzones, strombolies, and specialty breads are prepped and baked every day. Whether it’s a Snow Shoe Pepperoni pizza, ham and Swiss calzone, Chicago deep dish pizza or jalapeno cheddar bread, students enjoy their favorite Italian oven feature hot and fresh from the oven.

From open to close Graze offers an endless variety of fresh cut fruits, Belgian Waffle bar with all the toppings, bagels, breads, and spreads. In the morning students love the hot cereal bar that features flavored oatmeal along with hot grits or cream of wheat.

World Affairs is where guests enjoy watching cooks prepare a wide variety of ethnic dishes from around the world at a large Evo grill. Always using the freshest possible ingredients, the culinary team presents everything from Cantonese chicken stir-fries to Korean rice stations to Indian curries to Vietnamese Pho bowls or even Jewish potato latkes.

Simple Servings was introduced by Sodexo to provide guests who have the most common food allergies with delicious complete meals that include proteins, vegetables, starches and fruits and green salads - all without gluten, eggs, milk, soy, wheat, nuts, or shellfish. All of the Simple Servings cooks, along with Executive and Sous Chefs, are certified by AllertrainU, a course of instruction focusing on how to properly handle and prepare foods free of the major allergens.

Sustenance features fresh salad greens, vegetables, fruits, grains, home-made salsas, hummus, and vegetarian salads like couscous and olives or curried vegetables. Guests may help themselves to an extensive salad bar, or get hot black bean cakes or other vegan grilled proteins from the Vegan Grill. Sushi with pickled ginger, wasabi and a variety of Asian salads are also available.

Nourish offers a variety of cold cereals, cow’s milk and soy milk for guests wishing a quick yet nourishing start to the day.

& More is where guests can finish their meal with an ice cream cone from our self-service soft-serve machine or select one of ten flavors of gelato from an Italian Gelato station that will open soon. Beverages include Fair Trade and sustainable Aspretto coffee, fruit-infused flavored water Hydration Stations, Pepsi juices and sodas, and southern sweet tea.

Sunday Brunch is definitely a destination event! Students might be up until the wee hours of the morning on Saturday night, but they crawl out of bed and come to brunch in their jammies if necessary! This spectacular spread offers a carving station, full hot breakfast with eggs made to order, eggs Benedict, breakfast pizzas and frittatas, a pancake bar with a host of toppings, hot glazed cinnamon rolls and other pastries, plus a full array of lunch favorites.

Saturday Night CityScape Theme Dinners take diners on a culinary tour of some of America’s most iconic cities, such as Austin, Boston, Chicago, Memphis, and Miami. Menus include ribs and beer brats or Cuban Reubens, all served up with the music and flair reminiscent of each locale.

For more information, contact Rose Benedict, Unit Marketing Coordinator, University of Mary Washington Dining Services at Rosetta.Benedict@sodexo.com