Learning new equipment
This summer, when not supplying meals for orientation and various summer camps, the dining team at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa will be focusing on its Lakeside Dining Center renovation.
The concept shut down during the spring semester and will be under construction until students return to campus in the fall.
While construction is underway, dining staff will spend the summer learning new recipes for the concept’s new stations, as well as how to run the equipment being installed.
“We’re making operational plans for each section so it will be a real consistent product when it comes out. We’re trying to develop those plans the processes for each station,” says Kristina Patridge, director of dining services. “There’s a lot of new equipment that we’re not used to, so we’re trying to get some training on that as well as training on how to repair things.”
The piece of equipment staff is most excited for is a wood-fired grill, Patridge says. The grills will be installed at a station that will act as a Brazilian steakhouse. The staff is using the summer to learn how to properly use them.
“When you have [these grills], you also have to think about where are we going to store this wood? How are we going to handle the ashes?” Patridge says, adding that she is trying to connect with the school’s arboretum to see if they would like to use the ashes for their gardens.
Upstairs, Sola, a new street food taco concept, will offer tacos made with fresh tortillas. The concept will also serve popsicles.
“We have purchased a popsicle maker, so we’re also developing recipes for interesting popsicles, which will be displayed beautifully in their own case,” Patridge says.