Ekdahl Residential Dining Center, Mrs. E’s, Wins National Award

The National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS)  announced last week that KU Dining Services’ Ekdahl Residential Dining Center, affectionately known as Mrs. E’s, has won the Silver Award for Best Residential Dining Concepts in the Large School Category. 

“We are extremely proud of our KU Dining Services team,” said David Mucci, director of the KU Memorial Unions.  “Their hard work has resulted in winning a NACUFS award not only this year, but last year as well.”

Named for a NACUFS founder, past president and highly regarded innovator, the Loyal E. Horton Dining Award selections are based on an operation’s ability to create exemplary menus, presentations, special events, and new dining concepts. The award also provides an avenue for collegiate dining operations to share ideas and creative presentations with other campus entities.

“It takes a team effort to win prestigious awards like this one,” said Nona Golledge, KU Dining Services Director.  “We’re thrilled for the dedicated staff at Mrs. E’s.  This is a well-deserved recognition.”

Mrs. E’s employs a staff of nearly 200, with the majority of those being part-time student workers.  The facility received a $5 million renovation in 2013, and with that came the addition of 11 new food concept areas, including Smokey’s BBQ and Daz-E Hill Grill.  One innovative concept, called the KYou Zone, caters to students with special dietary needs, including gluten free, vegetarian/vegan and kosher.

KU Dining Services is a function of the KU Memorial Unions and serves the KU campus through residential dining centers, retail cafés and catering services. Operating over 20 dining locations campus-wide and employing nearly 500 students, KU Dining is committed to sustainability and ensuring the collegiate community options for affordable and healthy dining on campus. For more information about the KU Memorial Unions or any of its programs or services, contact Claudia Larkin, 785.864.2449.

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.

Ah, Valentine’s Day…

Whether you love it or hate it, it comes around every February 14th. Flowers, chocolates, cupids, greeting cards, kisses, lovebirds, hearts and lace, they all represent this complicated holiday steeped in fascinating history and mythological mystery.

If you’re the type who is “in love with love,” you’ll go all out on this special day.

If you’re the type who’d rather skip the whole month of February, you’ll just need to grin and bear it!

But if you have to acknowledge Valentine’s Day, before you head out for a high-priced dinner off campus, consider enjoying a special Valentine’s Day meal with KU Dining, and put the dollars you’ll save toward movie tickets, a bouquet, or a nice sensible gift, like a singing teddy bear!

KU’s three campus dining centers—Mrs. E’s in Lewis Hall, Oliver Dining in Oliver Hall and North College Café in GSP—will be serving a special menu for dinner on Friday, February 14th. Created with care by the chefs in KU Dining, you don’t want to miss out on a great line up of foodie favorites: grilled KC strip steak, golden brown butterfly shrimp, baked potatoes, fresh sautéed veggies, and a bountiful salad buffet.

After dinner, impressive dessert bars will round out the meal at each of the dining centers: chocolate fondue with fresh fruits, pretzels, marshmallows and brownie bites at Oliver Dining; fresh strawberry pie and decadent chocolate chunk cookies at Mrs. E’s; and Tiramisu, fresh strawberries and an ultimate chocolate mousse cake at North College Cafe.

Those who have a KU meal plan or KU Cuisine Cash are set. Guests of our residents can use a “guest pass,” a benefit of those who have dining plans, or they may pay the $9.50 door price, which is still one great deal.

What!? No valentine? Even if you don’t have a special someone this year, KU Dining wants you to be their valentine and join them for dinner, made with love!

No meal plan? No problem.

Barbeque. Brick oven pizza. Burger and sweet potato fries. Big deli wrap. Pasta. Giant soup and salad bar. Vegetarian and vegan. Comfort food like meatloaf and mac and cheese…

Now, some of you may think that I’m generating those yummy food ideas as I stroll down Mass Street.

Actually, every one of those items—and more—can be found at Mrs. E’s. There are eleven different cafés under one roof at KU’s largest residential dining center, located in Lewis Hall on Daisy Hill. There you can sit and enjoy a great meal as you take advantage of one of the very best views on campus.

What? No meal plan? No worries! Bet you didn’t know that Mrs. E’s is open to everyone on campus. For one price at the door, you can have it all, and as much as you like of it, including beverage and dessert:

• Breakfast: $8.50
• Lunch: $9.50
• Dinner: $9.50

Special diet, you say? Those with special dietary needs have a café all their own at Mrs. E’s called K-You Zone. This café caters to diners be they gluten free, dairy free, nut free, vegetarian/vegan, kosher, Halal and more.

Off campus? We’ve got you covered! Students who live off campus can dine at Mrs. E’s for even less than the prices above by signing up for an affordable meal plan that entitles them to ten meals weekly at any of four residential dining halls. Faculty and staff, instead of using your credit card or cash at Mrs. E’s, if you use Cuisine Cash (which you can load onto your KU ID) you get a 10% discount every time you dine. To learn more about KU Dining’s campus meal programs: 785.864.7274.
And, if you weren’t already aware, Mrs. E’s went through a massive renovation last summer, resulting in a contemporary, warm and inviting ambiance with food options to please the palate of today’s sophisticated diner.

Residential dining is not what it used to be. Check out Mrs. E’s and all of the other great dining opportunities across campus. With 22 different dining options, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your craving.
See you at the U!

Mrs. E’s Reno on Schedule

New look and new food choices coming this fall!

The extensive renovation of KU’s largest residential dining location, Ekdahl Dining Center, is progressing well. Though the timeline is very tight, the project is on schedule. It is at the point where the changes and daily transformations are dramatically impressive and fast paced. The project spans all of the areas our guests will experience, from the newly redesigned entrance off  Engel Road  into a grand hallway featuring a large video wall set to display beautiful campus scenes and activities. 

Above the new cashier stations you’ll see an electronic flat screen menu board displaying that days numerous menu offerings. You then enter the food court, with its warm yet contemporary look, complete with ceramic tile flooring and walls. We have expanded from seven to now eleven different food concepts providing our guests with an array of options from classic favorites to cultural delights.

Each new concept is a streamlined station designed for improved traffic flow and speedy service. Nearly every part of the existing facility is undergoing a complete overhaul, with new food selections and special attention given to ensuring variety and quality for today’s college students’ ever-changing and sophisticated palettes. They will encounter updated décor, contemporary finishes, enhanced menus and new service styles.

The dining room layout has been improved as well, allowing students multiple seating options with new dining tables and chairs, carpeting and lighting with easy access for guests to move through the area more quickly and efficiently. The half wall partitions have all come down and have been replaced with open railings in order to better expose the breathtaking panoramic view of campus!

All of these changes give Mrs. E’s a bright, airy and open feeling in a warm and inviting dining atmosphere. A place you want to be! We are all very excited about this project and are looking forward to welcoming our students this fall.

The KYou Zone: New to KU Dining!

Through the years, KU Dining Services has provided individualized services to help meet the needs of students requiring special dietary accommodations due to medical and/or religious justifications. With this in mind, we are proud to announce the addition of the KYou Zone- a new concept as part of the Ekdahl Dining Center (Mrs. E’s) food court and dining room renovation project scheduled to re-open in mid-August. Some of the changes to Mrs. E’s include an expansion to 11 food concepts offering a wider variety of cuisines, updated decor, warm contemporary finishes, enhanced menus and new service styles!

The KYou Zone has been distinctively designed to meet the storage, preparation and service needs of our residents and more easily assist them in their specific dietary requirements. This concept of the food court will be operated and equipped as an “Allergy Friendly” area to aid students with varied food allergies and intolerances as well as those with specialty food requirements, some of which include gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and Kosher, to name a few. We will of course continue to meet with and offer individualized dietary services to any resident based on his or her physician’s documented dietary recommendations. In order to get the best use of this space, we will regularly offer foods with a vegan focus - menu items that can provide an additional selection for those who choose meatless meals with alternate protein sources, while adhering to the gluten free and dairy free needs of those served from the KYou Zone. In planning this kosher dining pilot program, the KU Dining staff has worked in conjunction with Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel and a focus group of Jewish students at the University of Kansas. Their insights and suggestions have proven beneficial as we work through the necessary processes in order to make this a successful venture for all parties involved. The idea is to begin small and grow the program based on customer satisfaction. We plan to offer a kosher meal on Monday evenings at Mrs. E’s to see how well patronized this added service style becomes. If we find this to be a successful venture and one that is widely supported, we could then increase the kosher menu offerings throughout the week. It’s important to note that KU Dining offers special dietary services at all of our residential and retail dining locations across campus as does KU Catering and our Impromptu restaurant. We realize we have a growing population on university campus’ that, for various reasons, require specialty foods and/or food preparation and through on-going staff training and improved marketing of this service, we will continue to meet the needs of our customers.

One of our Allerygy Safe Zones located at North College Cafe

Feel free to visit our website at kudining.com for more detailed information outlining our procedures to assist students with special dietary needs.

New look and new eats for Mrs. E’s

There’s every good reason to hold on to your KU Dining Plan!

Along with the unveiling of a significant renovation, Mrs. E’s Dining Facility will also be sporting a new look and new food concepts in the fall. New concepts, all geared to the tastes of today’s students, pump variety and excitement into the offerings of this well-loved KU establishment. Here they are:
: Daz-E Hill Grill
Offering student favorites: charbroiled chicken, gourmet burgers, grilled cheese, Rubens, fries, onion rings and more!

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: KYou Zone
This concept is designed to cater specifically to our students with specific dietary needs including gluten free, vegetarian, Kosher, Halal, and more. This space will be operated and equipped as an “allergy awareness area to aid those students with varied food allergies or specialty food requirements.

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: SmokEy’s
Our version of Kansas City BBQ, featuring a variety of smoked meats--pulled pork, brisket, turkey—and favorite BBQ sides like baked beans, homemade slaw, fresh veggies and cornbread muffins.

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: Lenoir’s Classics
When away from home, comfort foods remain a college student preference. Meatloaf, Chicken Dijon, beef stroganoff, pot roast, hot turkey sandwiches, roasted potatoes, rice blends, fresh steamed vegetables and so much more!

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: Al DentE
Here you will find all things noodles and more: pastas, rice, quinoa, ramen, along with savory and sweet sauces and fresh toppings.

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: Global CuisinE
Taste the world at your table; ethnic dishes ranging from; Asian, Italian, Mexican, Mediterranean, Thai, to name a few!

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: ThE Cutting Board
Our delicatessen with made to order sandwiches from a variety of lean meats, veggie toppings, sliced cheeses on fresh rolls/breads and a Panini of the day—served cold or toasted.

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: Copper OvEn
Serving freshly prepared and baked in our stone hearth copper oven—specialty pizzas, breadsticks, flatbreads, calzones and Stromboli.

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: Great GreEns
Our colossal salad and soup bar billed with fresh lettuces and a wide variety of vegetable toppings and salad dressing. One side features our made-to-order Sizzlin’ Salads, chicken Caesar, sautéed veggies, Cajun grilled ship are a few of the favorites.

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: Delights
The dessert destination, a perfect end to any meal selection offering fresh fruits and a variety of delectable treats including frozen yogurt, cookies, cakes, pies and more.
Dining Services begins the renovation right after commencement for an unveiling awaiting students in the fall.

MRS. E’S RENOVATION RIGHT ON SCHEDULE

New Entry Lays the Groundwork for What’s to Come

Incoming KU freshmen as well as returning students will come back in the fall to a shiny new Mrs. E’s, with not only an updated look, but updated food options as well.

But this semester, students are getting a glimpse of the changes to come.  The new entry way for Mrs. E’s has now been installed.  The brushed aluminum sign, punched with a repeating pattern of our iconic Jayhawk, boldly welcomes dining guests into the facility.

We plan to use this Dining Blog as a forum to keep readers up to date on the Mrs. E’s renovation.  Stay tuned for updates as the project progresses!

A New Look for Mrs. E’s

 Things won’t quiet down at Mrs. E’s after the Spring Session ends in May.  The day after commencement, Mrs. E’s will close her doors in anticipation of an extensive renovation—one that allows for better traffic flow, more dining options, and a beautiful new seating area for all her guests.   

The food court area of the existing facility will experience a complete overhaul, with new food selections, including dining concepts:    noodle bar, ethnic favorites, brick oven pizza, classic comfort food, deli selections, grilled items, deserts and more... In selecting the new concepts, special attention was given to ensuring variety and quality for today’s students’ changing palettes. 

The layout of the dining facility will change as well, allowing guests to move through the area more quickly and efficiently.  The popular salad bar will be relocated to further into the food court, allowing students easy access.  Attractive food stations will be easily visible to students as they scan their dining options. 

The seating area of Mrs. E’s will also get a facelift.  The existing half walls will come down and be replaced with railings that give the facility a bright, airy and open feeling.  Community tables will be added that allow for the seating of large groups. New chairs, flooring and lighting will add to our guests’ dining experience.

It’s a lot to do, but the Dining Services Team will work to have it all ready for students upon their return in August.  A brand new dining facility to open up the brand new school year. 

Mrs. E's New Entrance

Late Night Breakfast

   

      Student Union Activities and KU Dining Services hosted another successful Late Night Breakfast on Sunday night. From 10-midnight, Mrs. E's Dining Hall welcomed around 1,400 guests to join in on some pre-finals, holiday fun.





   
      Students gathered to enjoy a breakfast menu, massages and free giveaways.  Serving along side KU Dining Services' staff, a number of staff and faculty from across the university came to serve the late night meal!  Students were even visited by some General Mills childhood favorites.






      What a great study break and and a great kick off to finals week!  If you missed it, check out our Facebook page for pictures from this event!

It's a Wonderful Brunch

      Today at Mrs. E's, Oliver and North College Cafe Dining Halls, KU Dining Services hosted a wonderful brunch themed It's a Wonderful Brunch.  




      



      Staff and students enjoyed Uncle Billy's Banana Nut French Toast, Bedford Falls Bacon Pancakes, Hand Carved Prime Rib, Scones, Muffins, Mary Bailey's Spinach and Gruyere Quiche, Egg Nog and Chocolate Fondue!





       While visiting each of the locations, we couldn't help but taste some of the delicious food! No surprise, but KU Dining Services really outdid themselves.  It's a Wonderful Brunch was a huge success and we can't wait to see what Mrs. E's has in store for Late Night Breakfast this Sunday night at 10pm!


      If you didn't get a chance to attend this event, check out some pictures on our Facebook page!

Sharing Holiday Secrets

Sheryl Kidwell, Assistant Director of Residential Dining at KU Dining Services, has shared her one of her favorite holiday dessert recipes, Pumpkin Bars. Sheryl was extremely excited when asked to share this recipe. These pumpkin bars are served at the Residence Halls on campus and are among the favorites with the students. 

     

 Below, you can find the recipe for this delectable holiday dessert:

            Ingredients:
                  1C          Sugar Granulated

                  ½ C        Oil

                  2            Egg

                  1C          Pumpkin Canned

Combine Sugar, Oil, Eggs and Pumpkin until smooth.

                  1 tsp.      Salt Iodized

                  1¼C       Flour All-Purpose

                  ¾ C        Baking Powder Dbl Action

                  ½ tsp.     Baking Soda

                  ½ tsp.     Spice Cinnamon Ground

Add dry ingredients and mix until blended. Bake at 325 F for 25 minutes.

                  2 oz.       Cheese Cream Loaf

                  2 T          Margarine Whipped

                  1 ½ C     Sugar Powder 6x Cane

                  2¾ tsp.   Evaporated Milk

Combine frosting ingredients and whip until smooth. Take frosting and spread. Portions yield 3” squares.

Stay tuned for more KU Dining holiday recipes through the rest of the semester!  Try them out, snap a picture, tag KUDining Services on Facebook and let us know what you think!