Creative Dining Services

11/07/2024

We are both excited and honored to announce that our dining team at Grand Rapids Community College has been selected, in collaboration with Swipe Out Hunger and the Hunger-Free Campus Program, as one of four colleges in Michigan to receive funding aimed at enhancing their resources and support systems for students facing food insecurity.

The Hunger-Free Campus Program is part of a larger national initiative to address the urgent issue of hunger among college students. This program positions our dining team to make a significant impact on the lives of students while helping to alleviate hunger and food insecurities in the community they serve.

Click the link below to learn more about this incredible initiative and the wonderful opportunity it presents for our dining team as they continue their efforts to promote student well-being and combat food insecurity within our campus dining community.

GRCC receives $125,000 to address food insecurity among college students. The funding is part of the state budget’s one-year pilot Hunger-Free Campus program.

11/05/2024

Food can be a passport to a delicious journey, each bite being it's own flavorful adventure— and last week, our very own Executive Chef Rosialee Cunningham and her culinary team (Hali and Michele) in Colorado celebrated International Credit Union Week by treating their diners to a culinary expedition like no other.

Each day, their diners were served a delicious dish, inspired by a different country. Their culinary voyage started on Tuesday with a Liberian Shrimp and Chicken Stew, Wednesday's Haitian Griot, Thursday's Polish Cabbage Rolls, Pierogi & Polish Sausage, and concluded on Friday with an Ecuadorian Arroz Con Pollo.

"There is something pure when exploring different cultural cuisines. Food becomes translation, it brings cultures and people to a shared table" - Executive Chef Rosialee
📸 : Rosialee Cunningham

10/29/2024

Meet Executive Chef Joseph,

As the leader of our culinary team at Indiana University South Bend, one of Joseph’s most defining characteristics— is his commitment to clear standards, ongoing training, continual improvement, and sustaining consistency in the kitchen. His work ethic, dedication to ingredients, and innate sense of flavor make him the perfect leader for our talented team of culinary professionals for IUSB Dining Services.

Want to know Joseph a little better, below are some fun facts about him he would like for you to know:⁣
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1. He joined us in August of 2023

2. His favorite part of his job is his coworkers. They have an awesome team at IUSB, who make it a great work environment every day.

3. His favorite food is anything grilled in the Summer with friends and family. If he had to be specific, he would take a Ribeye and Lobster.

4. The one thing he can share with us that no one knows is that when he was younger, he spent hours and hours alone teaching himself to play golf because he couldn’t afford lessons. To this day, he plays golf with his grandfather weekly, who is now 86.
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Thank you for all you do Joseph!

10/22/2024

We are proud to announce that our Corporate Executive Chef, Nathaniel Malone, achieved an impressive second-place finish in the Chef’s Roll-sponsored 2024 Kikkoman Chef Competition. Nathaniel's dish showcased his innovation, knowledge, and creativity using Kikkoman Soy Sauce to create a stunning Miso Cured Smoked Pork Jowl with Sticky Soy Glaze and Choy Sum. The dish featured Goat Cheese, Pink Oyster Mushrooms, Lemon Ginger, Honey Ginkgo Nuts, fresh Mission Figs, Concord Grapes, Tremella Mushroom "Pork" Rinds, and Espresso Soy Sauce Powder.

Please join us in extending a heartfelt congratulations to Chef Nathaniel on this remarkable accomplishment!

10/18/2024

As we strive to create working environments that are as diverse as the guests we serve, valuing people's identities and unique needs is paramount. In part three of our series "Our Employee, Their Stories," Cris, our line cook for Davenport Dining Services, opens up about his past experiences in the foodservice industry and what Creative Dining Services does differently when it comes to valuing his identity and his unique needs.

Continue to follow along to learn more about Cris’ heritage and passion for cooking.

10/16/2024

Today is World Food Day, and we would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to feeding those in need. We also want to acknowledge and celebrate the incredible work being done by our non-profit and client campus partners to provide nourishment to the communities we serve.

A special thank you to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Feeding America, World Central Kitchen, Food Recovery Network, Swipe Out Hunger, and all of our campus food pantries across the country. Your dedication to ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious food is both generous and compassionate, and we truly appreciate all of your efforts.

10/15/2024

Today is National Cheese Curd Day, and our dining teams have been delighting diners with this deliciously comforting appetizer all day. Whether it's a quick snack in between classes, a bite-size treat at the office, or adding a new twist to a classic bacon cheeseburger, today has been all about satisfying our diners' cravings for something crispy.

10/11/2024

As a company, we believe that a sense of belonging is a strength and is a real pathway to employee well-being. In part two of our series “Our Employee, Their Stories,” with Cris, our line cook for Davenport Dining Services, shares how his coworkers’ respect for his heritage fosters his sense of belonging as he serves our campus dining community at Davenport University.

Continue to follow along this month to learn more about Cris’ heritage and passion for cooking.

10/07/2024

What sets us a part— quality food and mouthwatering dishes that will get our diners in the door and keep them coming back for more! From our local farms to sea merchants and beyond, we deeply appreciate our vendor partners and our culinary teams’ collaborative commitment to serving our diners quality, delicious food.

10/04/2024

This year, September 15 - October 15 is a time to celebrate Hispanic heritage— and we had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Cris, our amazing Line Cook from Davenport Dining Services. In this 4-part series "Our Employees, Their Stories," Cris opens up about his heritage, his cooking, and how food brings family together.

Follow along this month to learn more about Cris' heritage and passion for cooking.

10/02/2024

At Creative Dining, we are committed to nourishing the Calvin University campus dining community by supporting its people— students, faculty, staff, and parents. As a foodservice provider, we are inspired by the people learning, living, and working together to create an enjoyable dining experience with fun, interesting, and diverse menu options for our diners to choose from.

09/25/2024

Today is National Foodservice Worker Day, and we want to take this moment to reflect and acknowledge the incredible contributions that our foodservice workers make each and every day. We recognize their commitment, dedication, and hardwork.

Our foodservice workers, our people, are our most precious assets, and we truly appreciate and value everyone today and every day.

09/23/2024

Our very own Corporate Executive Chef, Nathaniel Malone, is a finalist in the Chef’s Roll-sponsored 2024 Kikkoman Chef Competition. Chef's Roll is a global culinary community, and hundreds of culinary professionals created their best original dishes showcasing the versatility of Kikkoman Soy Sauce.

Nathaniel's dish, Miso Cured Smoked Pork Jowl with Sticky Soy and Choy Sum, is a finalist with a chance to win the grand prize. The winner will be announced on October 1, National Soy Sauce Day.

Click the link below to learn more about the 2024 Kikkoman Chef Competition, check out Nathaniel's dish, and vote for your favorite.


https://chefsroll.com/opportunities/vote-now-support-your-favorite-finalist-in-the-2024-inspired-by-kikkoman-chef-competition/

09/20/2024

Adding value to our customer’s dining experience oftentimes means, adding something new to the menu— and our dining team Davenport University did just that! This Fall, they revamped their menu to include 6 new grain bowl options for their Panther's Den Grille.

Their new grain bowls, including Southwest Salad, Superfood Salad, Curry Chicken, Chipotle Steak, Asian Chicken, and Power Bowl have provided their diners with a new and delicious way to add value to their campus dining experience.

Special thanks to our culinary team at Davenport Dining Services for their continued creativity and inspiring approach to dining!

09/18/2024

What's trending in 2024— Iced coffee! From traditional to seasonal flavors and everything in between, our dining teams have been delighting their diners with caffeinated cups of deliciousness all year long.

We'd like to give special thanks to all of our brand partners for providing trendy coffees and helping us enhance our dining experiences around the country.

09/14/2024

On Thursday, we were honored to have our team of volunteers come together to participate in the Community Foundations Celebration of Philanthropy.

This event celebrates the individuals, families, and companies rooted in giving back to the community, ensuring the Holland/Zeeland area thrives. We are proud to have been part of celebrating the people and organizations who are truly rooted in community, making Holland/Zeeland a better place for all.

Special thanks to our amazing team of volunteers and the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area for the incredible work they are doing in our communities.

09/13/2024

Meet Culinary Intern Director Joe,

In December 2023, Joe joined us at the Gateway Spoon Cafe & Grill as our Culinary Intern Director in partnership with Gateway Mission in Holland, Michigan. In his role, Joe prioritizes the health and well-being of his interns while fostering a team culture of learning, thoughtfulness, accountability, and hospitality.

Want to know Joe a little better, here are some fun facts about him he would like for you to know:⁣

1. His favorite part of his job is working closely with people and supporting their recovery by building strong connections and providing interns with job skills and hope.
2. He is currently enrolled in graduate school studying counseling. He is also involved with the statewide educator community and participates in recovery programs in partnership with prisons.
3. In his free time, he enjoys going to the theatre, acting in plays, and directing plays. One well-known role he played was as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.
4. His favorite food is seared sea scallops and a rack of lamb that he intends to cook for himself on his birthday this year.
5. One thing he wants to share that no one knows is that he's celebrating 2 years in recovery from substance misuse on October 1st.

Joe, we are fortunate to have you on our team, and we value the amazing work you're doing with our culinary interns at the Gateway Spoon.

09/09/2024

As a company, we are committed to creating inclusive work environments. One crucial aspect of this is how we welcome new employees. B'Onko Sadler, one of our Area General Managers, shares his insights on prioritizing his team's growth and ensuring that new employees feel welcome as a vital part of their success.

We appreciate our teams' dedication to fostering a culture where new employees feel comfortable, welcomed, and included.