The dining hall is a staple of Fieldston life. Every day, students and faculty pack the cafeteria, eager to see what the hardworking AVI team has cooked up. Before this year, however, they often collectively groaned over the cafeteria’s characteristic mile-long lines that seemed to go backward and became a mob when dessert came out. That’s all been changed.
Over the summer, the dining hall underwent a massive renovation: the humble cafeteria has transformed into a sleek new dining hall.
Upon entering the cafeteria, the first thing you will consider is that the lighting is noticeably brighter. Diners are flooded with sunlight and space. The overhead lamps illuminate the entire room, adding a touch of modernity to the hall. The white paneling on the walls and ceiling reflects the light and makes the space seem larger. Other aesthetic changes include colorful signs above each station and an updated dish-disposal area, complete with a sink and various labeled bins.
Before the renovation, the dining hall was separated from the serving area by a wall. Now, the wall between the two spaces has been knocked down. This allows for a spacious double-sided Nutribar that houses the deli meats, fruits, vegetables and sandwich of the day.
Another addition to the dining hall is La Trattoria, located in the corner next to the drink machines. Already a favorite among students, La Trattoria serves the two foods adolescents love most: pizza and pasta. Amy Van Tassell, the AVI Food Services Director, said, “We knew pizza was a big thing because [students] were ordering pizza from down the road, and I was like ‘What is one thing you could have…to put in the dining hall?’ And it was the pizzeria.”
Before the renovation, pasta was served at the Roots section. With the relocation of the pasta section to La Trattoria, the Roots Bar has expanded. It now houses the salad of the day in addition to a healthy meat-free entree. This new arrangement leaves vegetarians especially pleased because students who only want pasta have stopped crowding the lines. Form IV student Meredith Metz said, “As a vegetarian, it is so much easier for me to get my food now.”
Although the cafeteria had an aesthetic renovation, it still serves the same healthy food. “People eat with their eyes, but it’s the same food, we serve organic food. Our fruits and vegetables are organic, everything is locally sourced,” said Van Tassell.
One of the core principles of the AVI team is dedication to fresh, made-from-scratch meals that prepare students for academic success. Each member of the AVI staff strives to support the student body by giving everyone a balanced meal.
When asked about the reason for renovating the dining hall, Van Tassell said, “The school hasn’t had a renovation in a long time and they’ve been thinking about it, it’s been on their agenda for a long time and they wanted to do something for the community.”
The consensus among students has been that the cafeteria has changed for the better. “The general flow of the lunch lines has significantly improved,” said Arden Sehgal, Form IV. Many students expressed that the new layout was more intuitive and made it easier to get around the cafeteria. Though some students are nostalgic about the charm of the old dining hall, the response to the renovation has been overwhelmingly positive.
While the visual changes are incredible, the emphasis has always been on the well-being of the Fieldston community. “Even though we didn’t have such a great look last year, it’s still the people that put the food out, that care about what they’re serving that make it a good program,” said Van Tassel, “You could have any food company in here whatsoever, but it’s the people that run it that make the department.”
