Finals and Final Touches

What do NC State students and the Atrium have in common?  They’re both preparing for final exams!

The Atrium Food Court will close after lunch on Friday, December 10 to prepare for final inspection in January.  The renovated serving area will reopen a month later on Monday, January 10, the first day of the spring semester.

The new Atrium Entrance

The new Atrium is sleek and sophisticated!  With wood flooring and lime green and red accent colors, the walls pop.  Each new concept is beginning to take on a life of its own.  Upon completion, each concept will beckon to you as you pass by, inviting you to taste what’s inside.

And that’s just what University Dining is inviting you to do next week!  Although the Atrium will be closed, students, faculty and staff can sample the new recipes at our dining hall locations.  During lunch, Fountain will be serving fresh rolled sushi and Asian dishes and Clark will be serving fresh pasta dishes.  The recipes you’ll sample will be featured on the rotating menus in the Atrium in January!

Take a stroll through the Atrium through the pictures below.

December Atrium Pictures

No Comments by on December 9, 2010
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A Golden Opportunity

If you’re one of the many students, faculty and staff on a quest to find a Golden Ticket to the Atrium Preview Party, you’re in luck!  University Dining is withholding VIP tickets for SIX lucky guests at next week’s “Night Owl” event.

If you’ve been scratching away at Golden Tickets in the C-Store locations trying to reveal a winning ticket, we are giving you 3 nights to win!   But with our knock-out line up of entertainment and late night brain food, you hardly need another reason to come!

Night Owl is a semi-annual event that takes place each semester during exams.  The event is December 7-9 in Fountain Dining Hall from 9:oo to 11:00 p.m.

Check out the schedule of events below and RSVP on our Facebook page to be eligible to win a Golden Ticket to the Atrium concepts on January 9 and other prizes!


December 7
-Local Artist+Art
-Hosted by University Housing, Campus Police and Inter-Residence Council
-Kenny Shore Live
-Spin Art Painting with State Farm Insurance
-Cookie Decorating
-Board Games
-Prizes and Giveaways

December 8
-Trivia
-Hosted by Dr. John Ambrose, First-Year College and DUAP
-Trivia will begin at 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
-Latin-Inspired Insect Creations
-$100 AllCampus Cash to First Place Winner(s) of Each Round

December 9
-Open Mic with WKNC 88.1
-Co-Hosted by WKNC and Acappology
-Open Mic Night Judged by a Panel of Local Artists
-1st Place: $100 AllCampus, 2nd $75, 3rd $50

Menu: Late Night Brain Food
December 7
Scrambled Eggs, Biscuits, Bacon, Sausage Patties, Hashbrowns, Biscuits, and Sausage Gravy, Deli Bar, Yogurt, Fruit and Salad Bar

December 8
Taco bar, wrap station, gyro station, yogurt, fruit and salad bar.

December 9
Mashed Potato Bar, Philly Steak Bar, S’mores and Hot Chocolate, Yogurt, Fruit and Salad Bar

Cost
One Meal Plan Swipe, $7 AllCampus or $7.50 Walk-In.

No Comments by on December 2, 2010
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New Atrium Venues and Menus Revealed!

Drum roll please…University Dining is thrilled to announce the lineup of Atrium Food Venues and Menus for the grand opening on January 10, 2011.  University Dining chefs and staff have been working tirelessly to create a delicious menu of varying items that will allow food court patrons to get “fresh food fast!”

Delirious: A delightful play on the word “deli,” Delirious will offer diners the ability to add their own toppings, then have the attendant add the greens and dressing of choice for a custom tossed salad. Diners can also chose from a selection of wraps, plus a wrap-of-the-day. Selections will include grilled chicken Caesar, turkey club wrap, ham & cheese wrap, vegetarian spinach wrap, vegetarian wheat wrap, BBQ chicken wrap, and BLT wrap.

Zen Blossom: Fresh-rolled sushi (California roll, Hawaiian roll and tekka maki roll), Asian salads, vegetable egg rolls, rice, fried rice, noodles, and a rotating menu of appetizing wok creations, including beef & broccoli, sesame chicken, sweet & sour chicken, dragonfire beef, zesty pork, General Tso chicken, sweet chili shrimp, and vegetable lo mein.

Brickyard Pizza and Pasta: A wide selection of personal pizzas, breadsticks, and garlic toast, plus a rotating menu of tasty pasta dishes. Pizzas include: pepperoni, cheese, meat lovers’, veggie, and supreme. Rotating pasta dishes include chicken Alfredo, baked ziti, cheese ziti, chicken with mushroom ravioli and vodka cream sauce, tortellini with sausage and smoked gouda sauce, and chicken cacciatore. Breadsticks and garlic toast will also be offered.

Wolfpack-to-Go: Look for a wide variety of pre-packaged fresh items: sandwiches, salads, pitas, wraps, parfaits and other items for when you are on the go but still want something great. These items are made with minimal condiments so they can be dressed according to the diner’s taste.

Chick-fil-A: The new Chick-fil-A will be twice the size of its old location and will now add the spicy chicken sandwich to its lineup.

Like what you see?  Be one of the first to experience the Atrium on January 9, 2011 at a VIP Preview Party by revealing a “Winning” Golden Ticket at any C-Store Location.

4 Comments by on November 17, 2010
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Soft Opening: Still a Grand Affair!

In the words of Willy Wonka…”The suspense is terrible… I hope it’ll last.”

As January 10, 2011 nears, we are counting down the days to the debut of the new Atrium food concepts. And like Wonka himself, we have a few tricks up our sleeves!

Stay tuned to find out how you can win a Golden Ticket to be one of the first students to experience the marvelous TASTES that will await YOU inside the new Atrium!

No Comments by on November 8, 2010
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Pizza, Piazza

Photo by: Michael Schore

Did you know that the Brickyard, officially NC State’s University Plaza, was designed after  St. Mark’s Square located in Venice, Italy?  St. Mark’s Square or Piazza San Marco has been called “the drawing room of Europe.”  According to history, it’s one of the few urban spaces in Europe where human voices are heard over the sounds of motorized traffic.

With campus events, religious speakers and nearby Hillsborough Street, our own piazza has been the “drawing room” of NC State since its completion in 1969.  Prior to the brick, according to N.C. State Magazine, the plaza was covered in grass and mud.  Chancellor John C. Caldwell along with Carroll Mann, then director of facilities planning, were convinced that a landscape architecture plan “would effectively . . . unify the campus and permeate it with a university atmosphere.”

Boy were they right! Today, the Brickyard is a NC State landmark where university traditions are carried out each year.

In commemoration of this symbol and the tie to Italy’s St. Mark’s Square, University Dining fittingly named our Atrium Italian concept “Brickyard Pizza and Pasta.”  And now, as January nears, the menu can be revealed.

Pizza selections will remain the same as before, save a new crust, with a variety of toppings to choose from.  Why mess with a good thing, right?

What’s on the Menu: Pepperoni, Cheese, Meat Lovers, Veggie, and Supreme

Pasta dishes will rotate daily to give students a unique option each day.  To soak up the savory sauces, choose from bread sticks or garlic toast.

What’s on the Menu:  We are still finalizing the details, but as it stands, we plan to serve a rotation of Chicken Alfredo with Cavatelli Noodles, Baked Ziti, Mushroom Ravioli with Chicken in a Vodka Cream Sauce, Sausage and Tortellini in a Smoked Gouda Sauce, and Chicken Cacciatore with Penne Pasta.

No Comments by on October 28, 2010
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Chick-fil-A: 2x the space, 2x the fries, plus a little something spicy

A Line Just for You Chick-fil-A Lovers

The new Atrium is starting to take shape, and the most noticeable progress is coming in our new Chick-fil-A space. It has its own special queue to channel students toward this beloved destination, which will feature not one, but two counters to keep the goodness flowing during peak times, and four fryers to keep up with the demand for waffle fries.

I confirmed today that our new Chick-fil-A will feature the spicy chicken sandwich, something that should make a  lot of people happy.

We were thinking: what can we do to celebrate the return of the waffle fry and the debut of the spicy chicken sandwich on our campus? Should we have a competition for who’s first in line for them? Who gets the first sleeve of crispy chips? I’d love some feedback, and since we are getting at least 1000 hits a week, those of you who are reading must care.  So tell me: what do you think?

Two counters!

1 Comment by on October 20, 2010
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Atrium Sushi Gets Rolling

I got a sneak peek last week of the sushi lineup that will roll out in the Atrium’s new Asian concept this January.  Over fall break, executive chef Bill Brizzolara led a sushi training session and tasting with Atrium employees.   Let me tell you, the selections look and taste delectable!

The Atrium will begin operations in January with three signature rolls:  the Tiki Tekka-Maki, California Roll and Pineapple Avocado roll. All rolls are made with nori, Japanese seaweed, and freshly prepared sushi rice. They will be served with soy sauce, wasabi and pickled ginger.

The Tiki Tekka-Maki consists of fresh tuna, pineapple tidbits, green onion and cucumber. “Tekka-Maki” translates to gamblers’ roll because according to wise tales this roll was created as a quick snack for gamblers who didn’t want to leave the table.  But trying the Tiki Tekka-Maki is no gamble, you can bet your taste buds will enjoy this one!

The popular California Roll will also be offered, which consists of Surimi (crab sticks), avocado, and chili dressing with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds.  The California Roll has been an American favorite for decades.  It’s rolled “inside out” with the nori on the outside, which makes it easier to consume.

The third signature roll will be a Pineapple Avocado Roll, which consists of  avocado, pineapple tidbits, green onion and cucumber.  Adding pineapple to this roll gives it a nice tropical flavor for a sweet ending, plus it’s vegetarian!

These sushi rolls will be prepared fresh every morning beginning in January.  Now that’s “li desu yo”– good!

Future Home of our Asian Concept

6 Comments by on October 12, 2010
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Wolf Xpress Relocates to Better Serve Students

Wolf XpressWolf Xpress Print and Copy Center, formerly known as the University Graphics Copy Center, is relocating from the main bookstore to the new Atrium! Everyone will now have a convenient copy center in the heart of campus. Wolf Xpress will open in its new location, to the left of the main food court entrance,  by January 10, 2011.

Plans originally called for the North Campus Bookstore to occupy the space, but since the main bookstore will relocate to the lower level of Harrelson for the next four years while the student center is renovated and expanded, it made more sense to use the space for WolfXpress Copy.

Wolf Xpress has many options for printing at NC State–like the brand new Espresso Book Machine (EBM), which enables students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors to print library-quality paperback books on-site in minutes. Other products and services include:

  • Business Cards

    Future Home of Wolf Xpress

  • Letterhead & Envelopes
  • Banners & Posters up to 42 inches x 108 inches – paper or vinyl
  • Black & White or Color Copies up to 12″ x 18″
  • Full Color Flyers & Brochures
  • Note Pads
  • Special Papers & Transparencies
  • Carbonless Paper
  • Binding Services
  • Dry Mounting
  • Laminating up to 36 inches in width x 108 inches
  • Document Folding
  • Collating and Inserting
  • Poster Tubes for Storage
  • Free Pick Up & Delivery

All these options are available at affordable prices.  Now students can place an order online, pick it up, and get a Chick-fil-A sandwich all in one convenient location–the new Atrium!

No Comments by on September 27, 2010
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The Future of our Food Venues

Jonah'sOn Friday, several of us at University Dining made a trip to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., to check out some new foodservice venues they recently opened to get some ideas of what we’d like to do in the new Talley Student Center and on Centennial Campus.

Our first stop was Jonah’s, a Culinary Emporium, which offered a variety of choices: carved turkey, pizza, lasagna, rotisserie chicken, burgers, salads and more. It also had a built-in C-Store with mostly food items, a grab-and-go section, and fresh produce. The produce looked pretty, but I asked how much of it is actually purchased. Turns out to be very little, but they pull from it for their menu creations which means that nothing goes bad. How green of them!

We were very impressed with the offerings, from the brick-oven pizzas (wish we could have one of those in the new Atrium, but NO FIRE IN THE LIBRARY!!, plus not enough space) to the plated items. They had a turbo oven that enabled them to quickly heat items instead of keeping it hot all the time (thus drying it out and creating waste if it sits too long).

The bakery case was hard to resist, but I had to ask: would our students pay $2.99 for a dessert? A challenge on college campuses is to provide great food at an affordable price…we have a lot of students paying their way (and trying to be good stewards of mom and dad’s money), so it’s a delicate balance.

Peanut Butter ChocolateNext, we visited Market 810, which also had marketplace-style “mini-restaurants.” It had about six stations. Through their meal exchange program (similar to our equivalency) you could exchange two meals for something extra special…on this particular day, they had crab legs. Holy mackerel!

I particularly enjoyed the comment wall…students were invited to comment in a public place, and the manager would reply, often with an entertaining response. It was comforting to know that, even in the nicest of dining locations, students still found things to comment on…anyway, I digress…

When the Atrium Food Court opens, it will be NC State’s first glimpse into the type of foodservice we are moving toward as we plan for Talley Student Center and new dining facilities on Centennial Campus. I know it’s a hassle to eat in a bubble, stand in long lines in a temporary serving area, and…here comes the worst part: do without Waffle Fries for a semester, but I promise you: it will all be worth it. Check out the photos on our Facebook page as this is the caliber of foodservice we have in store for NC State.

No Comments by on September 20, 2010
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From Renderings to Reality

Asian/Sushi ConceptWe hope you are counting down the days to the opening of the new Atrium concepts in January.  Check out the renderings on the wall in the temporary Atrium serving area and online!

In January 2011, the two sides of the Atrium will flip flop.  The left side, the serving area, will be open for service and the right side will close to be transformed into the new seating area.  The application of modern colors, furniture, flooring and lighting in the Atrium will bring new life to the Brickyard eatery.

Atrium Food Court Architects, Moser, Mayer & Phoenix Architects, PA and The Baker Group, are working diligently to complete the left side of the Atrium renovation, which will  include the new serving area and new food concepts, including Asian/sushi, pizza/pasta, custom salads, and wraps.  Chick-fil-A will be the centerpiece of the new serving area, and the waffle fries will return at last!

Carefully strolling through this week in a hard hat, I could see the layout of the new serving area is beginning to take shape!  The new layout will guide students swiftly through the serving area during high volume times from their food choice directly to the register and into the seating area (the seating area will open in August 2011).

Over the next few months, the Atrium will morph into reality.  Until then, check out the pictures below for a sneak peek of the construction. Atrium slide show

No Comments by on September 15, 2010
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