Southwestern University
07/23/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/23/2024 09:53
Pirate Dining Rises Above in a Sea Full of Options
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Pirate Dining Rises Above in a Sea Full of Options
Through a seasoned blend of award-winning meal options, professional staff, and state-of-the-art facilities, Pirate Dining is enhancing the Southwestern Experience one meal at a time.
July 23, 2024
Andrew Felts
Open gallery
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Of all the attributes that make Southwestern University one of the premier liberal arts institutions in the country - the high-impact experiences, the world-class faculty, the Paideia philosophy, and the post-graduate opportunities, just to name a few - Pirate Dining is perhaps the most overlooked.
Entering the third year of a partnership between Southwestern University and Aramark, Pirate Dining continues to raise the bar for on-campus hospitality.
Three of the most important elements that make up any dining experience - the food, the service, and the ambiance - are perhaps where Pirate Dining shines the brightest, and the rest of the country is starting to take notice.
In February, Pirate Dining Executive Chef Daniel Miller II garnered national acclaim after earning the"Best Beefy Sandwich" awardfromFoodService Directormagazine for his signature "Black & Blue" sandwich. The award-winning dish features layers of thinly sliced roast beef, caramelized brown sugar onions, a sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles, and is topped off with cracked pepper and sriracha, all nestled between two brioche buns.
"I still get excited when I run back across the award, or when someone mentions it to me," Miller said. "One of our students brought their dad back to tell them how good the food was, and the dad looked at me and said 'I've had your sandwich. It was awesome.' That really means a lot to me."
The Black & Blue sandwich is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the culinary options that the team at Pirate Dining offer daily during the academic year. Mabee Commons, Southwestern's signature restaurant located in the heart of campus, is home to a constantly-evolving menu full of cutting-edge American entrees, ethnically-inspired foods, vegetarian selections, and plenty more, all prepared fresh daily.
"We want the colors to pop and we want our visitors to have those 'ooh' and 'ahh' moments." - Pirate Dining Executive Chef Daniel Miller II
The first thing that visitors will notice upon entering the Mabee Commons is the expansive made-from-scratch dessert options. At any given time, at least three different cakes, four different types of cookies, and a wide selection of brownies and other desserts are strategically located to welcome guests into their dining journey.
"Our dessert offerings are spectacular," Miller said. "They provide the 'wow' when you walk in. We want the colors to pop and we want our visitors to have those 'ooh' and 'ahh' moments. It's really a focal point that invites people in when they walk past the front doors."
Just past the dessert offerings is the True Balance station, a space dedicated to those with food allergies and intolerances. The True Balance station provides delicious dishes made with ingredients that do not contain the nine most common food allergens: egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, soy, wheat, fish, sesame, and gluten. Behind the scenes, Pirate Dining provides dedicated grills, ovens, and dishwashing stations. The space also has its own serving utensils and dishes dedicated to True Balance to ensure that the station remains free of allergens.
The remainder of the open-space kitchen features a large brick pizza oven, where specialty pizzas are created using dough proofed in-house; a revamped sauté station, complete with made-to-order personalized dishes; a carving station, with a selection of meats that will make any carnivore jealous; a Mongolian grill, part of a space dedicated to offering meals from around the globe; and a breakfast bar, overflowing with waffles, cereals, made-to-order omelets and a constant flow of freshly brewed coffee.
"We are not a traditional dining hall. We are a restaurant," Miller said. "Once you use the word 'cafeteria' or 'conservatory' or 'dining hall,' people lower their expectations on the quality of the food. When guests come to Southwestern, they will get some of the freshest ingredients from local, sustainable suppliers."
Pirate Dining sources its leafy greens from TrueHarvest Farms in nearby Temple, ensuring fresh and nutritious romaine, spring mix, and other leafy lettuce at the salad bar. Throughout Mabee Commons and The Cove, Southwestern's campus cafe, visitors will be treated to a variety of options from locally-sourced vendors, including Georgetown's own Lulu's Pie Shoppe, Austin-based Rambler Sparkling Water, Richards Rainwater, and Weird Tea, as well as KTonic kombucha from neighboring Hutto.
"When guests come to Southwestern, they will get some of the freshest ingredients from local, sustainable suppliers." - Pirate Dining Executive Chef Daniel Miller II
In addition to the fresh, nutritious, and high-quality meal options offered by Pirate Dining, the frontline and back-of-house staff play a major role in elevating the culinary experience at Southwestern.
"The passion and the care that our staff put in every single day is the difference," Miller said. "They really care about what they're doing. They really care about the students and the guests."
Chef Miller considers himself among that group as well.
"I enjoy creating, learning new things, and furthering my own culinary knowledge," he said. "It's really fun. It's what drives me to get up every day to come to work. I couldn't ask for a better job."
In late 2023, two of the most visible members of the Pirate Dining staff werehonored as Foodservice HeroesbyFoodService Directormagazine. Sheri Clayton and Ella Sedwick were awarded for their unwavering commitment to making Southwestern a better place through warm smiles and hearty meals.
At all levels of Pirate Dining, employees display a commitment to listening and embrace feedback from the campus community. Members of the executive staff routinely meet with the Student Advisory Board. A separate Dining Committee was established to solicit feedback and implement suggestions from the campus community.
"Student Life has been very instrumental in working with us," Pirate Dining General Manager Greg Hensley said. "The dining experience is part of the overall student experience, so it's very important to receive feedback."
Throughout the year, Pirate Dining hosts various events centered around campus engagement. From Welcome Week and Friendsgiving to guest appreciation events and the popular "Late Night Breakfast" exam crams, Pirate Dining works hard to celebrate Southwestern students.
"While we are here to support students as their dining provider, we are also here to appreciate all the things that they do," Pirate Dining Senior Marketing Manager Debbie Walton said. "With these programs, we really just want to make sure our guests know that they are appreciated, and that we make the student experience a priority."
Students, guests, and employees alike have benefited from nearly $3 million in renovations to Mabee Commons and The Cove. After the conclusion of the Spring 2023 semester, work began to transform the spaces. With round-the-clock efforts, both locations reopened for the Fall 2023 semester, less than 90 days after construction began.
The transformation earned aSilver Award for Renovation of the Yearin the National Association of College & University Food Services' (NACUFS) prestigious Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards, one of the highest honors in college and university culinary arts.
With a perfect recipe of food, service, and atmosphere, it's no surprise that Pirate Dining has expanded well beyond serving just Southwestern's students, faculty, and staff. The secret is out amongst the broader Georgetown community, with residents routinely visiting campus to experience all that Pirate Dining has to offer.
"Southwestern has become the standard." - Pirate Dining Senior Marketing Manager Debbie Walton
"We are open to the public," Hensley said. "We run a local Georgetown restaurant, not a dining hall. We have a lot of visitors from outside our campus community every day, and we're seeing more and more of that. To showcase the university to the community and allow them to see what Southwestern is all about and experience the Southwestern feel and vibe is really great."
On any given day during the academic year, Pirate Dining also serves residents from the Sun City community, local retirement and assisted living facilities, youth sports teams, cycling groups, church congregations, and many more throughout the greater Georgetown area. Mixed with Southwestern students, faculty, and staff, the Mabee Commons often resembles a melting pot that brings together the entire community.
"It's important to make people feel included," Miller said. "Our guests might all be strangers to each other, but they mingle, and it's awesome when you can get multiple generations together in the same room to enjoy the same great experience. I love to see their eyes light up when they see the new space, and then the 'wow' on their face when the food exceeds their expectations."
Through its unique blend of high-quality meal options, dedicated staff, and top-notch facilities, Pirate Dining is playing a pivotal role in enhancing the student experience. Combined with the myriad of other amenities that Southwestern provides, it's no wonder why SU has emerged as one of the top destinations in the nation.
"Southwestern has become the standard," Walton said.