Olson Communications has named Vanderbilt Campus Dining the recipient of a 2012 Chefs of Tomorrow Award. Sharon Olson, founder and president of the Chicago-based marketing and communications firm, presented the award to Vanderbilt Dining Director Camp Howard, CEC, on Nov. 6 at an annual dinner for foodservice media.
The Chefs of Tomorrow Award, launched in 2008 as a grant program to assist the professional development of foodservice educators, also recognizes innovative foodservice programs. According to Olson, Vanderbilt Campus Dining earned a 2012 award because of its passion for consistently providing excellent food at the highest levels of quality, value, convenience and service.
“Subtle, yet unmistakable, reminders of where food comes from are everywhere on campus,” Olson says. “The annual Farm to Fork dinners conducted by Vanderbilt are noteworthy, but there are noticeable reminders throughout the campus on a daily basis. In one foodservice operation, there is a video screen behind the serving area showing pictures of the farmers and the fields that are the source of meals served to students.”
Vanderbilt Campus Dining also fosters the building of community in a creative and financially self-supporting way. “Nowhere is sense of community stronger than in the new Commons built for freshman students,” Olson says. “There is no takeout from this facility, which encourages students to connect with each other over meals.”
Next year’s Chefs of Tomorrow event for trade media awarding a 2013 recipient will be held in late October in Portland, OR.