Greetings and welcome to Fall semester 2015.
As I write this semester’s introduction to UCuisine we are in the process of preparing for the renovation of Putnam Refectory. If you reside in the Hilltop residences you already view the towering STEM residence halls that are under construction. To meet the needs of those students that reside in the area, Putnam Refectory will be undergoing a significant change in the layout of the dining facility. This project has been in development for several years in preparation for the additional students that will be housed in the Hilltop community. Construction at Putnam will include two floors of dining space with a staircase located in the center of the now existing dining room. The servery will be updated with many new options, one will be a smoothie bar where students select the ingredients that they would like blended together. This construction project will be significant, requiring the move of the postal area from the first floor location to the upper floor and the relocation of the Grab & Go and ongoing construction to meet the fall 2016 deadline. Currently the construction part of the project is out to bid and we are eagerly waiting on responses. When the project is awarded we will have a better idea of the project calendar and we will communicate any information regarding service through Residential Life. As with any project of this magnitude there will be many inconveniences that will incur. Dining will do everything we can to meet our customers’ needs, so please bear with us. We can promise that the finished project will be worth the wait.
In addition to Putnam’s new construction we are proud of our two new food trucks that we purchased this spring. One is called “Food for Thought.” It will offer a wide array of eclectic menu offerings. The truck will operate throughout campus during the day and evening. In addition, we have also purchased an ice cream truck that will offer UConn’s finest ice cream. Take the opportunity to visit our social media sites for information regarding our trucks’ locations and schedules.
So how do we begin the fall semester and move forward with our exciting changes? We do it through your help and understanding. Our success comes from your input. As you can see by the cover of this semester’s UCuisine we put our heart in our work. If you require assistance with your dietary requirements, we will work hard to cater to your needs due to allergies and other
dietary requests. While appearing to be a large department we have the ability to work on a one-on-one basis to meet a diverse variety of dietary requests. Communication is important to us. If we are not aware of how we are not meeting your expectations it is difficult for us to provide the dining options that you require. To accomplish this goal we are eager to receive feedback through our website. We currently meet with representatives from the Student Resident Area Association and Student Government to listen to student’s concerns. In addition, our dining surveys demonstrate that we are achieving our goals but as a former colleague always stated, “You are only as good as your last meal served,” so feel free to contact us and share with us your thoughts.
Lastly, to keep in touch with Dining and the services we offer, please utilize this guidebook, our UCuisine. If one is not available, you can find all of our information on our website: www.dining.uconn.edu. Your dining experience has to be a memorable one while at UConn or we have failed to meet your expectations.
Eat well, enjoy life, pursue your dreams.
C. Dennis Pierce, Executive Director of Dining Operations
UConn Dining Services