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Special Dietary Needs

UAlbany Relocates and

Upgrades Kosher Kitchen

Photos courtesy: architecture+/Gary Gold ent areas on campus in resident dining, and
having the ability to cook, i.e. having a hood,
was imperative, as was having a space where
it could be self contained. Those were two
big pieces of it: the hood and also being its
own space so the rabbi was comfortable. The
rabbi was included in the design, and also
visited during the construction. We drove
the process and did the layout of the kitchen,
but we made sure that he was included in
that conversation.”
Unlike the previous iteration in Dutch
Quad, only students who are on the new
kosher meal plan can enjoy food from the
new Kosher Kitchen. “Previously, any stu-
dent could go through that line,” he said. “It
was just a hot line adjacent to the regular
serving area in the old facility. So with us
moving into the other quad, we had a concern
because the area it is in now is in between
two areas where we serve food. My concern
was that if we do the same thing that we
did in the old space, they could be so
he University at Albany in New inundated with students who aren’t
York recently unveiled a new keeping kosher that the food might
T Kosher Kitchen on campus run out, or it would be almost im-
that is a vast improvement on possible for the students who do
what was available previously. need to keep kosher to be able to
Stephen Pearse, executive use that facility. We created an
director of University Auxiliary actual meal plan for the kosher
Services at Albany, said that there kitchen. It seems to be working
were two reasons for the move quite well.”
and upgrade. “The operation as Approximately 60 students are
it existed in the old area was very on the kosher meal plan. Students
antiquated. It just didn’t present well. who are not kosher who wish to eat
It was a traditional steam-table line and food from the station are welcome to
it looked like something from the 60s or try it for an upcharge. “If a student sees a
70s. It was just not up to the standards of the particular meal that they would like to have, even
rest of our dining on campus.” though they are not on the kosher meal plan, they can pay
The second reason, which made it more pressing, is that a small amount more on their plan or for that particular meal,
its previous location, Dutch Quad, is being closed this sum- and that allows them to get that kosher meal,” said Pearse.
mer. “In an effort to begin the process of phasing out that The style of service has also changed from the previous
facility, I thought it would make sense to move that portion location. “In the old system, it was a buffet line,” he said. “Food
of the facility over to the resident dining complex where it was made, it was prepped in the kosher kitchen and it was put
was eventually going to end up anyway,” he said. “It set the out on the serving line, hot or cold, and there was someone
tone for the patrons in that area.” there to serve it. In the new system, everything is made to
The Kosher Kitchen is now located in Indian Quad, in an order. There is a daily menu and you choose which items you
area that was a small bakery facility in a dining area. “It had would like to have. There is no limit. You place your order and
a hood, which was key,” said Pearse. “We looked at the differ- they actually make the food for you, which is also appealing

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