Blugold Dining is celebrating its largest food drive event ever at UW-Eau Claire

A total of 4,960 pounds of food and $872 in cash was collected and donated to the Feed My People Food Bank through a recent University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire initiative to fight hunger and help those in need in the Chippewa Valley.

 

Blugold Dining sponsored the Helping Hands Across America food drive Nov. 19, at all campus dining locations. In addition to individual donations, six campus groups collected more than 400 pounds of food and $515 in cash in response to Blugold Dining's challenge for group participation. The Putnam Hall Staff collected the most food per person.

 

The entire Blugold Dining family was recognized for their dedication to UW-Eau Claire students and their support of the Helping Hands initiative, which provides Feed My People Food Bank with one of its largest food drive donations.

 

More than 14,500 individuals each month -- 39 percent of them children -- rely on food received from programs supplied by Feed My People. With UW-Eau Claire’s donation, Feed My People will be able to provide 7,967 meals to our neighbors in need.

 

The nonperishable food items collected on the UW-Eau Claire campus will help senior citizens, single parents, the working poor, the homeless, the mentally ill and others in need throughout the Chippewa Valley. For every dollar donated, Feed My People can obtain and distribute seven pounds of food worth more than $10. More than six million pounds of food was distributed in 2012 to hunger-relief agencies in 14 counties in west-central Wisconsin.

The OFFICIAL BLUGOLD SANDWICH contest is almost complete!

Blugold Dining is partnering with E&G Franchise Systems to create the Official Blugold Sandwich that will become a part of the Erbert and Gerbert’s Bistro daily menu here at UW-Eau Claire. It’s Blugold history in the making!

The contest began early this semester where we collected recipe submissions from members of the University campus community. Students, faculty and staff were encouraged to build and submit their favorite recipe online at our special Sandwich Builder site—much like building and ordering a pizza online. Those who submitted recipes were personally thanked with a coupon for a free cookie redeemable at Erbert and Gerbert’s Bistro in Davies Center.

The next phase of the contest was the voting process. Blugold Dining worked together with E&G to narrow the sandwich submissions down to three finalists based on the most popular ingredients and similar recipes. The voting website became available on Monday, October 7 and officially closed on Friday, October 25 at midnight.

There were a number of sampling opportunities around campus for students, faculty and staff to try out the three finalists during the voting phase. We hosted three smaller events in The Cabin, Hilltop Center and at a Dining Committee meeting which were followed by two large sampling events held Tuesday and Wednesday, October 22-23 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. between Hibbard Hall and Zorn Arena.

There were random drawings for Blugold Dining gift cards Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday of the final week of voting. Not only did we have eight lucky gift card winners, but we ended up with just shy of 500 voters who played a part in creating Blugold history!

The final phase of the Official Blugold Sandwich contest is to unveil the winning sandwich. Stay tuned for the big announcement which will include a time for the creator of the winning sandwich to make history in being the first to order the Official Blugold Sandwich!

Go Orange for No Kid Hungry

Orange is a bold color, and the No Kid Hungry campaign has an equally bold solution for ending childhood hunger in America.

This September, join Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign to raise awareness that 1 in 5 children in America face hunger. It's a problem we can solve, and it's time to get involved. Show your support by wearing orange this month, and together let's end childhood hunger in America.

 

Mobile pre-ordering debuts at select locations

Blugold Dining at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has been given a mobile upgrade with the official launch of Tapingo, an online to-go ordering system available in select locations. Customers can use their smartphone, tablet or computer to order food and beverages for pickup, and no longer need to wait in long lines to place their order.

For students, the arrival of Tapingo means that they are now able to sit in class, the library or their residence hall and place an order, then simply skip the line when picking it up. All orders are charged directly to meal plans or credit/debit cards – exactly the same as a normal in-store transaction.

 

Locations available at launch include The Cabin and Erbert & Gerbert's Bistro in Davies Center, and Freshens and Green Mountain Coffee at The Dugout in Hilltop Center.

 

Tapingo's free native iPhone and Android apps are available in the iTunes App Store, as well as the Android Marketplace. Orders may also be placed online.

 

Payment methods include all Blugold Dining meal plans, Blugold Account, debit card, American Express, MasterCard, Visa and PayPal.

 

Tapingo is the leading mobile ordering solution for campuses around the United States, delivering a targeted and expedited service for on-the-go consumers while improving operational efficiency for merchants.

 

Sodexo has provided Blugold Dining service on the UW-Eau Claire campus since 2002. The Blugold Dining program is administered by the University Centers, a Student Affairs unit of UW-Eau Claire.

Soup & Bread Night Raises Over $2,000

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students raised $2,174.51 for Feed My People, the only food bank in west central Wisconsin, through the Blugold Dining program's recent Soup and Bread Night initiative.

Students selected soups, breads and beverages to replace the usual evening and late-night meals at Riverview Cafe in Hilltop Center. The Feb. 13 event was attended by 2,201 people, who were served by volunteers from a number of student organizations and members of the Blugold Dining committee. The proceeds to be given to Feed My People will consist of a donation from Blugold Dining as the savings in labor and food costs, as well as cash donations collected during the event.

Emily Moore, executive director of Feed My People Food Bank, will be invited to an upcoming Blugold Dining committee meeting to accept the donation.

Feed My People Food Bank distributes donated food to more than 100 agencies serving senior citizens, single parents, the working poor, the homeless, the mentally ill and others in need throughout the Chippewa Valley. About six million pounds of food is distributed each year to hunger relief agencies in 14 counties. In 2012 more than 60,000 individuals living in west central Wisconsin -- about 38 percent of them children -- relied on food they received from programs supplied by Feed My People.

Gluten-Free Options at Erbert & Gerbert's Bistro

CERTIFIABLY DELICIOUS!
You asked. We listened. Erbert & Gerbert's Bistro now proudly offers gluten-free gourmet soups and certified gluten-free bread! Look for the 'GF' symbol on our soup menu and ask for any sandwich on our gluten-free bread for an additional charge. Yes, everybody is welcome in Flavornation!

“Introducing these new gluten-free options will allow a whole new group to enjoy the flavors we offer at Erbert & Gerbert’s,” said Chuck Schwalbe, director of marketing for E&G Franchise Systems. “That is truly exciting for our brand and franchisees, but even more importantly so for those who suffer from celiac disease or choose a gluten-free lifestyle.”

The menu’s focal point will be gluten-free versions of the chain’s three most popular sandwiches, using dedicated equipment to avoid cross-contamination. The three subs – the Boney Billy, a classic turkey breast sandwich; the Comet Morehouse, made with ham and provolone cheese; and the Jacob Bluefinger, a vegetarian option featuring provolone and avocado – will be made with specially-designed six-inch sub rolls made by Udi’s, a national gluten-free bread company. The sub roll from Udi’s are certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO).

In addition to the exclusive menu, guests will have the option of substituting the gluten-free roll on any of Erbert & Gerbert’s Bistro sandwiches for an extra charge, but those sandwiches cannot be certified gluten-free.

Erbert & Gerbert’s new gluten-free menu doesn’t stop at sandwiches—they are also offering a selection of three certified gluten-free soups, with more flavors in development. Two existing recipes – Cheddar Cheese and Broccoli and Cheesy Asparagus – have been reworked to eliminate gluten without altering taste, and a new flavor, French Onion, is also being introduced.

“Flavor is a key issue with gluten-free foods, and we wanted to develop a menu that upheld the values of Erbert & Gerbert’s Flavornation,” Schwalbe said. “Our reworked soups and the new sandwich menu reflect the best of both worlds: fresh, delicious fare that is certified gluten-free and meets our strict taste guidelines.”

The gluten free menu has already been sampled in seven markets across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota, and Schwalbe says the preliminary reception has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The customer response has been phenomenal,” he said. “We’re incredibly excited to roll the menu out nationwide and invite a whole new group of people to experience the flavors that make Erbert & Gerbert’s so unique.”

Introducing Gluten-Free Options

You asked. We listened. Erbert & Gerbert's Bistro will soon offer gluten-free gourmet soups and certified gluten-free bread! Look for the 'GF' symbol on our soup menu and ask for any sandwich on our gluten-free bread for an additional charge. We hope to roll out these new options for you this week, but check back here for more information!

A Better Tomorrow Starts Today

Your dining experience is more than great food just like sustainability is more than simply saying we are going “green.” At Blugold Dining by Sodexo, we understand the best way to have a better today anda better tomorrow is to be proactive for your health, for your community and for your planet.

Sodexo’s Better Tomorrow site will help you find information and learn more about making smart, healthy choices in all three of these areas. Explore it and check back often for updates because a better tomorrow starts today!