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Welcome back.
Can you believe this weather? It’s been a challenging time for all of us these past two weeks. I appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we’ve dealt with all the disruptions the icy roads have caused.
We do have some new foods and services to offer you this semester so let’s start there. We had a number of requests for organic meats last semester. What we have done is bring in hamburger from two different sources to look at and put before you. Here, let me share this Kitchen Comment with you:
Hi Mr Annis, Last semester we talked about the idea of putting organic meat in the cafeteria and I was wondering if that was still a possiblity. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know. Thank you for your time. Allie
Allie,
Last week we started selling two different hamburger patties. At Couch we are selling an organic hamburger that comes from Cattle Tracks, an Oklahoma company out of Fairview OK. Their product is certified by the state of Oklahoma as being Organic. It is also very expensive, over $5.00 per pound.
In Crossroads we are offering a Natural Beef hamburger from NatureSource. It is a bigger national company and can get us the meat at a lower price.
It's manufacturer says:
No antibiotics or added hormones - ever USA born Angus cattle 100% vegetarian diet Corn-fed for a minimum of 120 days Proprietary NatureSource Verification SystemTM Humanely raised and handled USDA Choice and Select grade programs
Both companies have websites if you want to check them out:
http://www.nationalbeef.com/Trans_brandedMain.htm (look for the NatureSource section)
http://www.johnsfarm.com/
Dave
There is an additional charge for the organic and natural beef because it costs quite a bit more to purchase. We will charge $1.00 more for a hamburger made with this beef. We will keep tabs on how well this product sells. If we have a little movement (it doesn’t have to be all that much) we will keep it on the menu. If all we are selling is 4 or 5 a week I doubt that these burgers will stay around long.
We also purchased some organic ground beef and will make chili at Couch from this organic meat. Many of the other ingredients however MAY NOT be organic so we will advertised the product as “Chili made with Organic Beef.” We are also looking for an organic hamburger bun at both Cate and Crossroads. The first samples I have tasted were pretty blah.
I would also like to invite you down to the Weather Center for lunch. Everything is now up and running and your meal plans and points will work there ALL DAY LONG.
Your Comments:
Dave, I'm a stirfry kind of gal, and have been a loyal customer at Shanghai for the 3 1/2 years that I've now been at OU. On Tuesday, the first day back in classes, I had stirfry for lunch. So I wanted to compliment the person working stirfry last Tuesday (I think he said his name was Whitney; he wasn't wearing a nametag). I came around noon, and the first few days back are always busy for everyone, so I wasn't surprised to find a line. Whitney was the only person working in his area, and he had only two woks, but he still managed to get everything done in good time, with a good attitude, and the food was excellent. Joy
We have been very busy and it’s nice to have all of our employees back. I was actually helping out in the dish room at lunch that day and yes he was working out there alone. I asked why we had only two woks going and I was told that we only use three woks when we have more than one cook. Thanks for writing and telling me about this positive experience.
In the Dec 1st "Kitchen Comments," #576, you printed a complaint of mine about Burger King, relating a rather disappointing customer service incident involving some staff who were unable to follow even the simplest instructions. I appreciated your printing the unflattering comment; indeed, I took it as a sign of your dedication to your job. You even said you'd have the manager of Burger King, Matt, contact me if I'd notify you of my contact information, presumably to "make it right."
However, the email I sent you on Dec 8th, taking you up on your offer, was never answered. I suppose once the issue was out of the public eye, you didn't care quite as much. No response, no follow-up, and no "making it right."
Furthermore, the quality of service at Burger King hasn't improved at all. The cashier I had today (Saturday, Jan 20th) was unable to FIND THE BUTTON FOR "DOUBLE WHOPPER." Last time I only left with a burger I couldn't eat; this time I wasn't able to even get a sandwich at all! I suppose that's a form of improvement - at least THIS ridiculous incident didn't cost me anything (unlike last time).
Due to both your cavalier disregard for following up on your promises and the continually abyssmal service at Burger King, I think I can safely say I won't be eating at any establishment affiliated with OU food services any longer. This is an all-time low in my experience of food service, at ANY university or other institution.
PS - I have no delusion that you'll actually print this, or that it will make a difference.
I went back through my e-mails and found yours from Dec. 8th. I guess I just overlooked it. I’m sorry about that. I’m not sure I would categorize it as “cavalier disregard for following up on my promises” but it was sloppy of me. I’ll try to do better staying on top of these things.
As far as printing you comment, I feel we learn something from our failures as well as our successes. I hope this really doesn’t end your use of Food Service operations, that I think would be a little out of proportion, don’t you?
Hi Dave! Yay for Vault in Cate, does that mean we are one step closer to Vault Zero and Coke Zero in the caf? You mentioned it before but I haven't discovered either of these yet. Thanks!
We will get the Zero’s as soon as they are available.
Dear Dave, I noticed in your last Kitchen Comments that you talked about hotcakes not selling anymore. I hate to break it to you, but hotcakes are just pancakes, and last time I checked, pancakes sold like hotcakes among today's youth. I just wanted to point out that maybe you're being a little sarcastic. All things considered this isn't the worst thing you've ever said, but I think that as a professional you could be a little more polite to the people who write in with their problems. It is the most important part of your job, after all.
I actually view hotcakes and pancakes as two very similar but different foods but it may be a moot point, most folks think they are interchangeable like dinner and supper. That aside I was trying to be funny (not sarcastic). I can always depend on our KC readers to keep me in line.
We have a serious problem...the drink selection at crossroads is terrible. I can get super delicious food from amazingly great people, but I have to wash it down with either Coke or carbonated dirty water. How about some Rootbeer or Fruit Punch (healthy alternatives, eh?). If that's not possible, maybe you could start refilling the bottled drinks because they add to the selection but fall short on refills. Something has to be done, Dave. Thanks. –Batman
It will probably come as no big surprise to any of you but the drinks that get refilled for free both here and at restaurants across town are the drinks that don’t cost that much to begin with. We can include refills into the initial price of a glass of ice tea or soda. We really can’t do that for juices and even coffee in this day and age is hard to refill more than once.
We sell juices at Crossroads so you will have an alternative to the sodas and tea, but we cannot refill them the same way. The only place on campus where I know you get unlimited refills is the Couch Restaurants. You can get a great value there every day and it isn’t just for students who live in Housing, Couch is open to the public.
Dave, what happened to the Jones Soda in Xcetera? I got a massive craving for some fufu berry soda tonight and it just...wasn't there. I'm going to go hide in a corner and cry now.
The Jones Soda was a violation of our pouring rights contract with Coca Cola USA. We should never have been selling it to begin with.
I don't know what happened, but I'm considering it a Christmas miracle. In the two weeks since I've been back on campus, I've eaten a ridiculous amount of peanut butter cookies from Block and Barrel, because they are soft and delicious and the little peanut butter chips in them are to die for. The iced tea in Cate is also always fresh and delicious and doesn't taste suspiciously like a powder mix... and while I'm on a Cate-a-la-Carte roll, let me just say that Tim from Roscoe's = deity.
That’s why we spell his name with a capital T. I’m glad things seem like they improved while you were gone. I’m not sure if I’m going to buy your “Christmas Miracle” explanation but as long as you are happy ……
I would suggest extending the hours that breakfast is served in the mornings by 15-30 minutes. A lot of people get out of class at 9:15 or 9:20 in the morning and come to Crossroads hoping to order breakfast. The lines are often so long at that time of day, that many people will stand in line for ten or fifteen minutes, only to be told when it's their turn to order that breakfast just stopped being served.
I’d support that if we can find a way to get our lunch production started. I mentioned earlier that Crossroads has added Pancakes and French toast to their menu. I’m pretty sure that was done in an attempt to extend the breakfast serving times. I’ll bet Rick and Greg at Crossroads have already given this a lot of thought, let me get with them.
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