Accolades & Memberships

Dairy Bar Accolades

2025

  • Best of Hartford (Ice Cream Category) - First Runner Up

2024

  • 1881 Reserve was awarded First Place in the American Originals – Monterey Jack category in the 2024 American Cheese Society Annual Judging and Competition. The cheese also received a bronze medal in the same class at the Big E Cheese Competition.
  • Willimantic Chronicle Readers' Choice - Dairy Bar: Best Ice Cream Winner; Best Place to Visit with an Out-of-Town Guest - 2nd place

2023

  • Willimantic Chronicle Readers' Choice - Dairy Bar: Best Ice Cream Winner; Best Place to Visit with an Out-of-Town Guest - Winner/1st place
  • Big E Gold Medal Cheese Competition
    • Silver Medal - Old Farm Lane Fresh Cheese - Green Chile
    • Silver Medal - Old Farm Lane Fresh Cheese - Chipotle
    • Bronze Medal - Old Farm Lane Fresh Cheese - unflavored
    • Best of Hartford (Ice Cream Category) - First Runner Up

    2022

    • Best of Hartford (Ice Cream Category) - First Runner Up

    2021

    • Best of Hartford (Ice Cream Category) - First Runner Up
    • The Chronicle: Best of 2021 Readers' Choice Award, #2 Best Ice Cream

    2020

    • The Chronicle: Best of 2020 Readers' Choice Award, #1 Best Ice Cream
    • Yankee Magazine: Best of New England Hall of Fame 2020

    2019

    • CTNow Best of Hartford - Best Ice Cream Shop, 1st Place
    • American Society of Animal Science Big Scoop Competition - UConn Dairy Bar Lemon Ice Box Pie
    • TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence - Hall of Fame
    • The Chronicle: Best of 2019 Readers' Choice Award, #1 Best Ice Cream
    • American Cheese Society 2019 - Chipotle Cheese (2nd place) & Green Chile (3rd place)

    2018

    • Connecticut Magazine: Best Ice Cream in Connecticut

    2017

    • Connecticut Magazine: Best Ice Cream in Connecticut

      2015

      • Connecticut Magazine Best of CT: Best Ice Cream Parlor

      2014

      • Connecticut Magazine Best Ice Cream in Connecticut

      2013

      • Connecticut Magazine Best Ice Cream in Connecticut
      • Yankee Magazine Best of New England: Editor’s Choice

      2012

      • Yankee Magazine Best Ice Cream in New England
      • Connecticut Magazine Best Ice Cream in Connecticut

          Dining Services Accolades

          2025

          • Silver Award - Executive Chef Curtis Bangs (NACUFS Culinary Challenge - Northeast Regional Conference)
            Recipe: chicken roulade with purple pommes purée, sautéed carrots, and pâté cream sauce
          • Green Restaurant Association 2025 Award - Location with the most Chemical & Pollution Reduction - Putnam Dining Hall

          2024

          2023

          • Gold  - Best Local Foods Recipe (NACUFS Nutrition Awards Contest)
          • Green Restaurant Association (GRA)
            • All eight dining halls now have the highest rating of 4 Stars
            • GRA 2023 Award - Location with the most Chemical & Pollution Reduction - Putnam Dining Hall
            • GRA 2023 Award - Location with the most Waste Reduction - Whitney Dining Hall
            • GRA 2023 Award - Location with the most Water Conservation - McMahon Dining Hall

          2022

          2021

          • Green Campus Leader - Sierra Club

          2020

          • Green Campus Leader - Sierra Club
          • Bronze - Best Vegan Recipe (NACUFS Nutrition Awards Contest)

          2019

          • Silver - Best Local Foods Recipe (NACUFS Nutrition Awards Contest)
          • Top 25 College Dining Power Players - Food Management Magazine
          • Green Campus Leader - Sierra Club

          2018

          • IFMA Silver Plate Award: Dining Services Executive Director, C. Dennis Pierce
          • Menu Masters Healthful Innovations Award
          • Gold - Best Vegan Recipe (NACUFS Nutrition Awards Contest)
          • #3 in Top 30 Best College Dining Halls (Delish)
          • Green Campus Leader - Sierra Club

          2017

          2016

          • Gold - Best Vegan Recipe (NACUFS Nutrition Award)
          • Green Circle Sustainability Award by DEEP
          • NACUFS Theodore W. Minah Distinguished Service Award - C. Dennis Pierce

          2015

          2014

          • #1 Udi's Top 10 Gluten Free Accommodating Colleges List
          • NACUFS: #1 for Gluten-free Dining Options
          • NACUFS: Silver Medal for Sustainability
          • NACUFS: Bronze Medal for Culinary Challenge
          • AFC Bronze Medal Chef Culinary Competition

          2013

          • Sierra Magazine 2013 #1 "Coolest Green Schools"
          • LEED Gold Certification for McMahon Dining Unit
          • The Daily Meal: Top 60 Best Colleges for Food
          • NACUFS Nutrition Contest - Silver Medal for Best Local Foods Recipe
          • Sierra Magazine 2013: Top 5 "Coolest Schools"
          • KBE Building Corporation received first place from the Connecticut Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., for their renovation of McMahon Dining Hall

          2012

          • NACUFS - Bronze Medal for McMahon Dining Renovation
          • Environmental Leadership Award
          • The Connecticut Journalism Award
          • Best Business in Windham County
          • Sierra Magazine 2012: Top 5 "Coolest Schools"
          • PETA: Elite 8: Most Vegan-Friendly Schools

          2011

          • Sierra Magazine 2011: Top 20 "Coolest Schools"

          2010

          • Sierra Magazine 2010: Top 20 "Coolest Schools"
          • NACUFS Culinary Competition
          • NACUFS Silver Medal for Catering - special event

          2009

          • NACUFS: Bronze Medal for Most Innovative Nutrition Contest

          2008

          • National Restaurant Association Menu Masters Award
          • Campbell's Golden Ladle Award
          • Silver Medal at UMass 14th Annual Chef Culinary Competition
          • NACUFS Gold Medal for Whitney Dining Hall/Local Routes