A $1 million investment in a upgrades to Montgoris Dining Hall
is making meals at the University’s largest dining area more
pleasant, easier to access, and even more appetizing and delicious
in the future.
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According to Kenneth Waldhof, St. John’s Executive Director of
Auxiliary Services, the objective of this summer construction
project was to “expand the variety of food offerings, increase the
speed of service and to reduce congestion in the serving areas
while enhancing the customer experience with new options and
decor.”
While the current main serving area was not altered, secondary
self-serve areas have been installed outside the main serving and
seating areas. These secondary areas are an introduction to two
brand-new concepts for Montgoris.
“We’ve introduced ‘Menutainment’,” Waldhof explains, “where
students can find made-to-order meals and options throughout the
day. This made-to-order exhibition-style cooking destination offers
fresh herbs and spices, meats, vegetables and more to be sautéed by
chefs. They can create their own meal, selecting from a variety of
fresh and healthy ingredients.” He adds that low- and no-fat
cooking techniques are a special feature of Menutainment.
A second added feature is “myPantry,” a self-assisted kitchen
concept which is, Waldhof says, “a help-yourself dining experience
available throughout the day and designed to provide flexible
mealtime or snack options that students may prepare themselves or
have a Chartwells staff member prepare for them. At myPantry,
students can choose from a selection of cereals and juices, hot
breakfast foods such as waffles, eggs, and omelets, garden-fresh
stir-fry and more.
“Plus,” he adds, “delicious dessert selections are available all
day long.”
The addition of the two new serving areas has not impacted
seating capacity which remains virtually the same as before,
assures Craig Diana, Project Manager for the Montgoris renovation.
He reports that the upstairs lounge area has been converted to
dining space and that new dining tables and chairs have been
installed on both levels. New flooring on the main dining level
plus a paint-freshened interior complete the transformation and
contribute to the enhanced dining experience.
Waldhof points out that the bottom line is student satisfaction.
“We want the students to enjoy their experience at Montgoris while
having the opportunity to enjoy new and creative concepts all with
a healthy and nutritional flare in a comfortable and contemporary
setting.”