Themed meals can expose diners to different cuisines and add excitement to the menu rotation. Read on to uncover eight such meals that recently made waves at on-site operations.
Dining services at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, R.I., hosted a dinner inspired by the popular Candy Land board game. Menu items included orange glazed salmon made with orange slice gummies and root beer pulled pork made with root beer barrels. Students who attended were also entered to win a gumball machine.
Students at Raynham Middle School in Raynham, Mass., got to experience international dishes during the school’s weeklong Around the World in Five Lunches event, which offered a different ethnic cuisine daily. Student-created slideshows about the featured cuisines, such as Italian and South American, also played during lunch periods. Staff said that the event was intended to promote diversity at the school.
The University of Nebraska at Lincoln switched up its menu with a carnival-themed dinner at one of its dining halls. The event included carnival-inspired decorations and traditional fair games that students could play before or after their meal. The school’s dining services said it plans to offer one themed meal per month.
In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday in March, Huron Valley Schools in Highland, Mich., hosted a Dr. Seuss-themed lunch at its elementary schools. Foodservice staff, who wore Dr. Seuss-inspired hats and served green eggs and ham, said the event was a hit, noting that the district sold over 100 more meals that day than it typically does.
The Indian Students Association and the Division of Housing and Food Service at The University of Texas at Austin came together to create Spice of Life, an Indian-inspired meal showcasing dishes from Northern and Southern India. The meal was served at the two main dining halls on campus and featured dances, games and henna art for guests.
High schoolers at Methuen Public Schools in Methuen, Mass., took a trip down South for a country-inspired meal that included steak tips, barbecued chicken and peach cobbler. The event included live music and students had the chance to to win a laptop or iPod.
Philbrook Dining Hall at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., hosted a meal in honor of the Lunar New Year. Foodservice staff created a menu based off Korean, Malaysian and Chinese cuisines, which included dishes such as potstickers and Cantonese roast duck. The dining hall also showcased such themed decorations as red lanterns.
To mark the start of summer and the end of the semester, the University of Houston in Texas hosted a luau, during which it served suckling pig, sushi and Polynesian salmon. Students were encouraged to wear tropical attire, and the university also provided leis and a Snapchat filter.
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