Photo Courtesy of Cullen Livingstone, Mason Dining Multimedia Coordinator
Mason Dining introduces new dining locations, events and inclusive food options.
BY EILLEEN NGO-TRAN, STAFF WRITER
This academic year, Mason Dining introduced new innovations focused on sustainability and interesting dining events. New foods have been introduced to the student body such as vegetarian, vegan and allergy friendly options. Featuring new establishments, these options are strewn about campus, and are not just in typical spots with a higher foot traffic like the Johnson Center or Student Union Building. The innovations are continually added to improve, alter and increase options for students and customers with different dietary needs.
1. New Seats in Southside
Being so close to the Johnson Center, according to Mason Dining Marketing Director Sofya Vetrova, Southside is one of the most visited dining halls on campus. The dining hall added 158 additional seats to increase capacity and comfortability to improve the dining experience of each patron.
2. More Beverage Options
Alongside more seating, there will be a wider range of beverages offered in the dining halls. The dining halls introduced Tractor Beverage Company beverages, offering organic refreshment options. Additionally, Mason Dining added improved coffee machines that have the ability to brew over thirty beverages, including hot cocoa and iced coffee while including alternative milk options.
3. Simple Zone, not Gold Rush
Located in Southside dining hall, the allergen-free pantry Gold Rush has been renamed and revamped as “Simple Zone”. This pantry provides items that are free from gluten, tree nuts and peanuts.
4. NuVegan
Located across from Starbucks on the ground floor of the Johnson Center, the soul food restaurant, NuVegan, offers entirely vegan menus with options ranging from vegan “fried chicken” to collard greens.
5. Crave
The late-night restaurant in The Hub serves the students who stay late on campus. They offer hearty meals such as cheeseburgers, crispy chicken tenders, loaded nachos and mozzarella sticks
6. The Spot
This plant-based vegetarian dining hall focuses on healthier and more sustainable meals filled with nutrition and flavor. Open Monday through Friday from 11a.m. to 3p.m., students with a dining plan may tap their Mason ID to dine in.
7. Mason Square Cafe in Arlington Campus
On the Mason Arlington Campus, Mason Square Cafe offers a build-your-own salad bar, “We Proudly Serve Starbucks” beverages and a comfortable space to study.
8. The Difference Baker
Located in the Nguyen Engineering Building, The Difference Baker attends to the sweet tooth with dietary restrictions. Catering to the seven of the top nine allergens, this bakery offers a variety of safer options for those looking for a sweet treat.
9. The Sweet Vegan on the ground floor of the JC
In the same corner as NuVegan, The Sweet Vegan is an option to get vegan sweets including ice cream and other non-dairy based desserts.
10. Simple Servings now offers sesame-free options
In addition to the other newly opened dietary-focused restaurants on campus, Simple Servings continues to tend to customers with food allergies or gluten intolerance. The station offers food which is free from the top nine allergens including peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, wheat, soy, milk products, eggs, sesame and gluten-containing ingredients. Simple Servings is now offering sesame-free options to the list of allergens included. The dining location also focuses on creating meals that are an easy and healthy choice for customers who are focused on ingredients and portion sizes to cater to health concerns.
11. The Teaching Kitchen
The Teaching Kitchen is a cooking workshop taught by a culinary master that focuses on topics ranging from knife skills to enhancing sauces and emulsifiers. The classes and workshops are intended to improve the dimensions of culinary creativity. Students may follow Mason Dining on Instagram to hear more about the classes.
12. Crop Share
Mason Dining partners up with Potomac Vegetable Farms to allow the community to be more involved with the crop share, or the Community Shared Agriculture, in the area. Through this program, the Mason community can enjoy fresh produce while also building and enforcing a more local and equitable agricultural system.
13. Events in the dining centers
The dining halls have unique activities open to all students such as seafood boil, hunger games and Willy Wonka.
Mason Dining is open to feedback. Students and patrons are able to text “TellSouthside” or “TellIkes” to 82257 with comments or concerns about Mason Dining.
According to Vetrova, keeping innovations creative and accommodating on the GMU campus is critical in reinforcing the “strong beliefs of inclusivity, sustainability, healthy eating, and many others are incorporated into each of our initiatives.”
Each of the new locations or innovations are geared toward the goal of improving the dining experience for those at Mason. The goals of increasing variety through new beverage stations, being mindful of sustainability by providing plant-based options and promoting inclusivity by accommodating to allergies and dietary choices help to support Mason Dining’s goals.
“We continue to create a progressive and innovative dining environment where our community feels welcome, appreciated, and happy, and most importantly – well fed!” Vetrova said.
