By Julia Hess ’15
After 37 years Siena will have a new dining service on campus, AVI Foodsystems, Inc., America’s largest, independently-owned and operated food and hospitality provider. The company’s new initiative, Siena Fresh, will blend both old and new aspects of the Siena dining experience.
“We’re all about trying to provide the Siena community with what they are looking for,” said AVI Marketing Manager, Amanda Fishbaugh. “If we can make it fresh, we are going to.”
Fishbaugh assures that Siena Fresh will be focusing on the student body’s feedback in order to tailor the dining experience to the Siena community. This includes bringing back familiar dining aspects such as the food truck, Fair Trade ingredients and Limmy, the popular omelet chef. Students will have the ability to voice their opinions in the dining halls, as well as through social media platforms such as Twitter (@sienafresh).
On top of retaining popular aspects, Siena Fresh will also bring many changes to the Siena dining locations. In the Lonnstrom Dining hall, students will see a bistro location added to the lower level. Here, a wood-fired pizza station, “Piazza,” will be open to students late at night. Lonnstrom will also house “Clarity,” an allergen station where students can eat food that is entirely free of the 8 major allergens.
Massry Commons will introduce a Sunday brunch option, which will include a crepe station. The adjoined C-Store will remain a small convenience shop, but will be the home of “Flatz,” a flatbread sandwich store.
While Casey’s will continue to serve grilled sandwiches and wraps, it will now include a Starbucks. Here, the full Starbucks drink menu will be offered along with Siena Fresh’s home-made pastries. In addition, during the designated dinner hours, students will be able to their meal card to purchase food in Casey’s as opposed to using their bonus bucks.
All of the dining locations will have extended hours.
Siena Fresh has adopted the Fresh Food Philosophy and will focus on providing the best quality fresh food to the Siena community.
“You will never see bottled dressings on the salad bar, they will all be made in house along with our bakery items and pasta sauces. If we can make it, we will make it.”
