Boston College Dining Services has been named “College Innovator of the Year†by Food Management, a magazine which covers the non-commercial foodservice industry.
The publication highlighted programs and initiatives such as menu and venue updates, sustainability initiatives, and GET mobile ordering that reflect ÇéÉ«¿Õ¼äDS’s drive to be on the cutting edge of food service.
Beth Emery
“The young customer base at a university desires innovation,†said Director of Dining Services Beth Emery. “Our students inspire us to continually think outside the box.â€
The strides ÇéÉ«¿Õ¼äDS has made to be more sustainable, such as hiring a sustainability manager and creating an action committee of student groups, were prompted by an increase in passion and feedback from ÇéÉ«¿Õ¼ä students on the topic, ÇéÉ«¿Õ¼äDS administrators said.
“Innovation led to our sustainability initiatives, our waste tracking systems, and how we choose our vendors and their products,†said Executive Chef Frank Bailey. “Innovation has made us a much better member of our community.â€
Bailey is involved in developing creative menus for “pop-up†meals with the ÇéÉ«¿Õ¼äDS Catering team. These events, among the initiatives highlighted by Food Management, range from “scraps†dinners, where ÇéÉ«¿Õ¼äDS staff highlight delicious ways to use what would traditionally be considered waste, to a multi-course fine dining experience.
“ Our students inspire us to continually think outside the box. ”
Emery cites Bailey as among the members of her “talented team†who have made significant contributions to ÇéÉ«¿Õ¼äDS’s innovation. They include Associate Director of Restaurant Operations Megan O’Neill, who led the GET mobile ordering initiative and its partnership with a student-run business that provides deliveries of advance orders, and McElroy Commons General Manager Michael Forcier, who oversaw the redesign of the student-run Co Ro (College Road) Café & Market which now serves flatbread pizza, Starbucks coffee, and kombucha on tap. Co Ro also provides students a gathering space with laptop outlets and a location to host musical performances.
“ Beth Emery has created a culture in ÇéÉ«¿Õ¼ä Dining that allows us to be innovative in everything that we do. ”
Emery and her team find inspiration for innovative changes from the competition around Boston. They frequently go to locations around the city and bring back new ideas for on-campus dining such as açai bowls and fast-casual dining. ÇéÉ«¿Õ¼äDS also strives to renew their menu options through the ÇéÉ«¿Õ¼ä Test Kitchen, which accepts recipe suggestions from students, staff, and faculty.
“We love being on the cutting edge of food service, keeping up with the latest trends and having a true passion for food and service,†said Assistant Director of Catering Scott Powers. “Beth Emery has created a culture in ÇéÉ«¿Õ¼ä Dining that allows us to be innovative in everything that we do.â€
—Christine Balquist | University Communications | February 2019

