University of Louisville

Dining Service Advisory Committee Meeting

Miller Hall

Friday March 3, 2006

MINUTES

In attendance: Sonny Altman, Elisa Stephens, Melissa Pompa, Nicole Kersting, Chad Whistle, Andrew Murphy, Katie Roberts, Debby Kalbfleisch, Jessica Flick, Sowmya Srinivasan, Andrew Shires, Maggie Wehage, Courtney Murphy, Jared Clay, Shannon Staten.

Sonny welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced new Operations Manager Andrew Shires. Andrew introduced himself, and stated he came from a University in Virginia with 12.000 to13.000 students. Andrew has a background in dining services. He enjoys being around students. Sonny asks the committee to feel free to refer to Andrew for questions or comments.

Carry-Over Items

Tulip Tree Café:

Melissa stated that the Tulip Tree Café is scheduled to open March 20th. Chartwells will have a Grand Opening for Tulip Tree Café, in which free samples of coffee, cookies, and giveaways of Starbucks Retail will be available. The hours for Tulip Tree Café are as follows:

Monday thru Thursday: 7:30AM to10PM

Friday: 7:30AM to 6PM

Saturday: Noon to 6PM

Sunday: Noon to10PM

The hours may change according to need.

Ice Cream:

Melissa stated that Chartwells is currently looking for cost-effective options with two other vendors.

Grill in the Ville-Adding Panini Sandwich Station:

Melissa states that 2 new grills have been ordered for making Panini sandwiches. The weekly grill menu board posted in the residence halls will notify students which days to visit the Grill for Panini Sandwiches.

Subway and Wendy’s Personnel:

Melissa stated she has met with the employees, and asks for feedback from students on the personnel. One student stated that he ate at Subway one night and the service was ridiculously slow; employees were just joking around and ignoring customers; the service station looked terrible. Another student stated when requesting wheat bread an employee told her they were out of wheat bread and did she want a different kind. The student replied she would go to a different Subway and began to leave. The employee then asked her if she really wanted wheat bread. When she answered yes, he went to the back to get wheat bread. Melissa responded they should never run out of bread, that it is baked fresh daily.

Larger Signs for SAC:

Students have complained that the 8 ½ by 11 signs are too small and ineffective; therefore, Courtney has conducted a walk-through in the SAC and is currently working on some larger sizes to be posted.

Outtakes and The Cardinal’s Nest Pricing:

Sonny stated that they found the cereal was prized correctly. The supplier was charging Chartwells a high price; therefore, it was pulled from the shelves. Sonny requested the students to let us know when items seem priced too high so that we can review. A student comments that the cereal was still in the store. Melissa will review.

Value Meals:

Melissa says they are still in the brainstorming process of coming up with some value meals for all locations. Student comments that there is no fountain drink machine at The Cardinal’s Nest. Melissa will check into why this machine was removed.

Reports and Comments:

Grill in the Ville

-One student recommends that the healthy choices of the Monday through Friday breakfast options be extended to the weekend.

-Grill in the Ville ran out of chicken several times during lunch. Students couldn’t order buffalo wraps or anything with chicken. Melissa will look into this. Sonny asked students to notify Melissa when things such as this occur.

-Student comments that the Grill in the Ville has “random” specials. Example- Clam Strips. Melissa stated that the reason this item was put on special is because they went over very well on Seafood Night and students requested their return for lunch.

Wheat Street Deli

-Students asked that Wheat Street possibly be moved out to make room for another option. Sonny says that he is always looking for new ideas to keep things fresh, and asks Melissa to review any alternatives.

Trattoria

-Trattoria is doing a good job and the lunch cashiers are great.

Subway

-Subway had no mayonnaise in the evening. Melissa will look into why this occurred.

Baja Flats

-Student recommends that Baja Flats have a standardized menu. Sonny says that they will look into this. He realizes that there is a need for standards and variety.

Tulip Tree Cafe

-Students request that Chartwells wait to hold the Tulip Tree Café Grand Opening until all students get back from Spring Break. Melissa responds that this is the plan.

-The Tulip Tree Café will offer Upscale deli sandwiches, Panini grill, salads, Starbucks coffees, desserts; etc.

The Cardinal’s Nest

-Student comments that Diet Pepsi and Diet Dr. Pepper run out daily at The Cardinal’s Nest; however, there seems to be a surplus of regular Pepsi.

-Student recommends that fat-free mayonnaise be offered.

-The Cardinal’s Nest has no milk by the end of the week. Melissa replied that they transfer these types of items to Outtakes each Friday afternoon so they won’t spoil over the weekend. However; there is no reason items should be out of stock prior to Friday afternoon; therefore, she will look into why this occurred.

Mitzi’s

Mitzi’s Frappucino is priced higher in Mitzi’s then in the vending machines. Sonny replied that they don’t try to match vending prices. Sonny requested Melissa look at their pricing.

Outtakes

-One student states there is no honey mustard or ranch dressing in Outtakes.

-A student comments that there is an employee name Vinny on the night shift in Outtakes who is always on his phone and sending text messages: therefore, holding up the line.

General Comments

-Sonny stated Spring Break hours will be posted Monday. The hours are as follows:

March 13th through March 17th Subway will be open from 11AM to 2PM. The Grill in the Ville will be open for Dinner on March 19th from 5PM to 7PM. All other on-campus dining operations will be closed. Regular operating hours resume on March 20th.

-Shannon has some comments from a commuter-student survey done by Access that she will be giving to Sonny.

-Students ask if special orders of sushi can be made. Melissa responds yes and asks Courtney to put up some signage reminding students that they can make special requests.

- One student requests bottled water with fluoride. Sonny will check if Pepsi carries this type of product.

The meeting was adjourned. The next scheduled Dining Service Advisory Committee meeting will be Friday, April 7th at Noon in Miller Hall’s Resource Center conference room.