For students who complain about the variety of food at Boston University, Dining Services thinks it has an answer &- one that is coated in batter and deep-fried.
Cranberry Farms, which serves home-style Thanksgiving cooking in one of the restaurant slots at the George Sherman Union, will be replaced every other week by a different, temporary food service in response to students’ desire for different eating options.
This week, in place of Cranberry Farms’ usual options, the vendor will be serving chicken wings; the week after next, mac and cheese is on the menu, said Senior Assistant Food Service Director at BU Steven Tortora.
Future options may include a variety of foods, including Asian noodles and seafood. The change comes as a result of the dining survey that went out to BU students this fall. Cranberry Farms was one of the top vendors students wanted changes to, Tortora said.
“People wanted some new options, so we’re trying to fill that,” he said.
“The chicken wings have been very popular so far.”
At noon on Feb. 3, a line stretched from the chicken wings counter to half-way across the Union Court floor, a sight seldom seen when Cranberry Farms is in service.
“This is really good,” said College of Engineering senior Brian Chan, as he sat eating an Asian-style chicken wing.
Chan said he is a fan of replacing Cranberry Farms every other week, but he said he occasionally enjoys eating at the vendor in the rare times he eats at the GSU.
“Still, it’s a good trade-off,” he said. “It will definitely get more people to come to the GSU.”
The fate of Cranberry Farms next semester is currently up in the air, Tortora said.
However, Student Activities and Operations Executive Director John Battaglino said in a Feb. 1 Twitter post that Cranberry Farms is staying.
Regardless, some students said they are bothered by the rotation between Cranberry Farms and new vendors.
“I really liked Cranberry Farms,” said College of Arts and Sciences junior Stephanie Ng. “I feel like Cranberry Farms was less fried and I don’t really want more fried foods at the GSU.”
Kelly Allen, a College of Communication junior, felt similarly.
“It’s like getting a Thanksgiving dinner whenever,” she said.
CAS senior Aroon Rustemi said he will miss having a “full meal” when he wants to.
I’m actually kind of upset about that, I loved Cranberry Farms, he said. “Everything here is small portions.”
Others, like School of Management freshman Brendan Parker, think the change is a good thing.
It’s always good to have options and they sound good,” he said. “I like wings and I like mac and cheese.
He suggested they should serve Italian food, such as pasta, as one of the dining options to replace Cranberry Farms.
College of General Studies freshman Danielle Medina said she thinks it’s a good idea but hopes the GSU will offer more fresh foods like fruit and vegetables.
The GSU seems to have almost everything . . . but maybe more fresh food,” she said. I’d probably be more likely to go to the GSU.
CAS sophomore Kathleen Hong said she is open to trying new foods at the GSU.
Anything that brings more options on a regular basis sounds good to me,” she said.
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