Fresh, made-to-order deli sandwiches; a fun, casual atmosphere to kick back in between classes; and plenty of room to gab with your roommate. If it sounds like another popular college hangout in Morgantown, Jeff DeMoss, director of WVU Dining Services, says thats the idea.

“People are looking for a change,”he said.”A part of our motto is having fun and taking that to the students, sort of like Paneras. As Emeril would say,kick it up a notch.”


p. Kick it up a notch

“Kicking it up a notch”means adding new blue-and-gold, neon”Flying WV”signs (coming in September) and repainting the walls of the residence dining halls. The old food lines are sporting a new look, as well. The pizza line is now known as”Augustos”and offers freshly baked pizzas, calzones and stromboli.

Other food lines include Quenchers (a wide assortment of beverages), Greens and Things (salad bar with dozens of toppings to choose from), The Deli (panini-style grilled sandwiches and New York-style deli), The Grill (burgers, hotdogs and chicken), Taste of Home (comfort foods like Mom makes at home plus vegetarian offerings) and Temptations (pudding, ice cream and other desserts).


p. Menu makeover

Another exciting addition to the menu is Demonstration Cooking, where students can watch chefscomplete with white chefs hats and coatswhip up dishes with a south of the border, Pacific Rim, Jamaican, Italian, Hungarian, Mediterranean or Indian twist. Students can also dig into a Smashed Mashed Potatoes Bar later in the semester.

“Theyll make and saute foods right on the spot in front of the students,”DeMoss said.”Ive been here for nine years, and its very important to continue to have fun and to be progressive.”

Items on the daily feature menu will change from lunch to dinner, and Demonstration Cooking will be offered at all of the residential operations and Hatfields. Look for menus to start appearing online on the Mountaineer Information Xpress (MIX).

And thats only the beginning. Students will also be treated to bruschetta and other gourmet dishes, as the popular”At Your Service”program returns for another year. Always a hit with the students,”At Your Service”challenges WVU administrators to tie on their apron strings and try their hand in the kitchen. The first”At Your Service”meal is planned for Aug. 28 at Boreman Hall.


p. Extended hours, other options on the menu

For students who have early classes and are tempted to skip breakfast, WVU is providing more options for early risers. Students can choose from Mean Genes Burgers or Hatfields, as well as the residence dining rooms. On weekdays and weekends, Dining Services will offer made-to-order omelets.

Another alternative is the Towers Dining Room, which is extending its hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

As always, a dietitian is on staff, who can address studentsconcerns about healthy food choices and help develop individual dietary programs.


p. Mountie Bounty cards

Students may also be interested in Mountie Bounty cards. These cards, which work like debit cards, can be used at any of the dining areas at any time. Students and parents add dollars to a Mountie Bounty account, and when the card is swiped, money is deducted from the card. For more information about Mountie Bounty cards, log onto Mountaineer Card Services athttp://www.wvu.edu/~wvucard.


p. Tastes From Home contest

Homesick for Moms cooking? Dining Services is holding a”Tastes From Home”contest this fall. Ask your parents to submit your favorite recipe so we can crown them king and queen of cooking. It is easy to enter. Just click onto the Dining Services Web page at http://sa.wvu.edu/wvudining/tastesfromhome.pdf and print out the application form.

Dining Services will pick winners in four categories: entree, side dish, vegan/vegetarian and dessert. In addition to fun prizes, the winning dishes may end up on the spring semester menu. The deadline is Sept. 30.