Student groups now have to option to cater their events on campus with the new Campus Catering guide. At the end of the Spring 2013 semester, the Meal Plan Resolutions Committee discussed the first draft of the guide. Angela Agnello, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Faculty Student Association, explained that the guide was created in response to requests from student groups, clubs and organizations who wanted lower-priced finger foods, sandwiches and snack items delivered to their meetings or events on campus.

According to Agnello, the committee also discussed adding healthier, vegan and vegetarian options. As a result of the Campus Dining dietician, Tina Tiernan, working with the catering staff, the menu features options to fit the needs of those looking for vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free items.

The catering guide itself stresses the purpose of the service and that it is not intended for individual students: “Our Student Catering Guide has been developed with SBU Students in mind and is available for Student Groups only. Orders cannot be delivered to a student’s residence hall.” Certain menu choices, such as pasta and the hot dog bar, serve a minimum of twelve guests while the taco bar and picnic options serve a minimum of twenty-four guests.

The service also includes a pick-up menu for late night meetings, which requires orders to be placed twenty-four hours in advance. Between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., pizzas can be picked up at the Student Activities Center and from 7 p.m. until midnight sandwiches and wraps can be picked up from West Side Dining. Also, an Asian Appetizer Sample can be picked up from Roth Food Court.

Student groups can place an order by calling Campus Catering or through the online CaterTrax system at stonybrookuniversity.catertrax.com. The site offers a tutorial on how to place orders. The online system asks for event information, checks to ensure that there are no conflicts with the selected event date and allows students the options of pick-up or delivery for the order.

The website features options for breakfast, morning breaks, afternoon breaks, lunch, buffets and hors d’oeurves. In addition to the variety of food choices, the site has a tab labeled “Additional Services.” Under this section, students can find details on a linen service, a china service, wait staff, a delivery charge, grill cook, liquor permit and floral arrangements. The site states, “We pride ourselves on our ability to meet any need with style and creativity, assuring the success of your event.”

The system is new, having only been developed at the end of last spring semester with marketing distributed at the beginning of this semester. Orders are expected to be placed soon, giving Campus Catering the chance to truly show what it is capable of putting together.

Members of the Residence Hall Association attended a tasting and demonstration for Campus Catering for the upcoming North East Affiliate for College and University Residence Halls (NEACURH) conference, set to be catered by the new service. Mariah Geritano, a senior double-majoring in psychology and biology and vice president of the Residence Hall Association, remarked on the success of the event. She explained, “The food tasting went extremely well; the chef was very helpful and explained every dish he prepared, and was very open to feedback and requests for alterations of the dishes dues to food allergies/ special needs.”