2nd Annual “Taste of KU Dining” Sampling Event for KU Faculty and Staff

July 23, 2014 (LAWRENCE, Kan.) – KU Dining Services will present the second annual “Taste of KU Dining,” a free event for KU faculty and staff. The event will be held at the Kansas Union Ballroom, 1301 Jayhawk Boulevard, on Wednesday, August 20, 2014, from 4:00-5:30 p.m.

All KU faculty and staff are invited to attend the event in appreciation of their service to the University and to receive important information about benefits available to them for dining options on campus. No RSVP is required. The event will offer faculty and staff an array of food and beverage samples representing all KU Dining retail and residential facilities. Included among the offerings will be redfish macque choux from Impromptu, breakfast quesadilla from The Market, smokey pulled pork slider from Mrs. E’s, tofu vegan buffalo wrap from North College Cafe, chorizo taco burger from Oliver Dining, southern pecan crème flavored coffee from The Roasterie Coffee Shops, Café Spice tamale from The Underground and many more.

Information will also be available at the event about the discounted KU Cuisine Faculty/Staff Dining Plan. The Plan offers the convenience of access to all 22 KU Dining retail and residential locations plus flexibility, selection and substantial savings.

Employees may take advantage of the KU Cuisine Faculty/Staff Dining Plan benefit by adding KU Cuisine Cash to their KU Cards. Adding as little as $45 gets a bonus $5 value immediately, usable at any KU Dining Services location. Participating faculty and staff then save an additional 10% off at the all-you-care-to-eat Residential Dining Centers (Mrs. E’s at Ekdahl Dining Center in Lewis Hall, Oliver Dining, or North College Café at GSP Hall). Plan participants may host University-affiliated guests such as students or colleagues at any KU Dining retail or residential location.

KU Cuisine Cash stays on the KU Card as long as a faculty or staff member is employed. KU Card holders with KU Cuisine Cash also receive 10% savings on Fridays at any KU Dining retail food court, restaurant, coffee shop or snack bar.

KU Dining is a division of the KU Memorial Unions. A not-for-profit service organization at the University of Kansas, the KU Memorial Unions provide services for the benefit of the University community.
For additional information on KU Dining Options: www.kudining.com. To sign up for the KU Cuisine Faculty/Staff Dining Plan online: www.kudining.com/facstaffplan.

Mortar & Pestle IS NOT Closing!

This week, we sat down with Nona Golledge, KU Dining Director, to discuss the misperceptions about the closing of Mortar & Pestle Café (M&P) on West Campus.
Let’s cut right to the chase.

Is the M&P closing?

No! The M& P is committed to serving our partners on West Campus, but we do need to streamline the service.

Streamlined service. What does that mean?

We will close the grill portion and move the remaining operations to the coffee shop, where we can offer many M&P favorites with staffing geared to sales levels.

But why the changes?

Unfortunately, economic realities make it difficult to maintain our current offerings. Since M&P’s opening in 2010, the population on West Campus has not reached the point to sustain the current operation. Even with elimination of the grill, KU Dining Services will incur financial losses.

But don’t you receive student fees to subsidize the M&P?

No, Dining does not receive student fees or state funding. We are a not-for-profit organization offering dining services to the KU campuses. All income from sales is dedicated to supporting retail dining on campus.

So what will the New M& P offer with the grill closed?

We’ll continue to carry hot items. We will offer a rotating menu of hot entrees as well as Panini sandwiches, hot soup and the popular “dillas of the day.” We’ll also offer the complete line of Roasterie coffee and specialty beverages as well as breakfast pastries, gourmet salads and sandwiches.

What else do we need to know about the changes?

As the landscape of the KU campus changes, KU Dining Services changes too. We will watch for continued growth on West Campus so we can expand the offerings at M&P to best serve our guests.
See you at the U!