Harvest Dinner

On September 23rd the E Center partnered with CU Housing and Dining for the annual Harvest Festival, a local organic dinner served in all of the dining halls as a celebration of fall. It was a huge success, due not only to the deliciousness of the local offerings, but also to the hard work and planning of Dining Services Executive Chef Kerry Patterson, and his team of chefs.
 
"It's an incredible event because we feature local products from local farmers and we think it really brings the fact that dining services is really committed to local cause," said Janice Torkildson promotions manager for dining services,
 
Local farms the Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Patch and Farmer John provided supplies for the dinner.  The meal included local vegetable and meat dishes as well as desert made from local fruit.
 
Chef Kerry said that the harvest fests spring from his interest in reducing the school's carbon footprint, as well as supporting the local community were forefront in the Festival, but he is also confident that the nutritional value and flavor of foods that don't have to travel as far are much more intense. He sees events like the harvest fest as a "win win situation" even if they require some hard work.
 
Torkildson said that everyone at the dinner enjoyed the meal and that she hopes dining services can continue to increase the amount of local and organic food available, as well as provide an educational component for students about where their food is coming from.
 
"I think that it is our role as educators to help make them aware of all of these issues," she said.