'Berg to welcome Parkhurst as new food service provider

Starting this fall, students and guests who dine at Heidelberg will have greater flexibility and new meal options based on a fresh, made-from-scratch, high-quality approach to food preparation.

President Rob Huntington announced on Friday, Feb. 10, that Heidelberg has partnered with Parkhurst Dining to manage all of the university’s food service and catering operations, beginning June 1, 2017.

With a restaurant mentality, Parkhurst chefs will prepare and serve scratch-made foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner and on-the-go. Students on a Heidelberg meal plan will be able to come and go as their schedule permits and eat as much or as little as they like throughout the day. Parkhurst will expand the hours of operation in Hoernemann Refectory until 10 p.m. seven days a week.

“This is a big deal and we’re really excited about it,” President Huntington said. “While food is the centerpiece, this partnership is about building relationships, too.”

Since board rates for 2017-2018 have already been announced, there will be no change in the price students and families pay for meal plans. We will share more details about meal plan options and costs as soon as they are finalized.  

Additionally, Parkhurst will offer opportunities for student employment, both in dining services and catering, as well as opportunities for student internships with their company.

One of the reasons Parkhurst was chosen is their commitment to bring to campus authentic culinary experiences focused on delicious food, using locally sourced ingredients (at least 20%) as often as possible. They will offer a creative mix of nutritionally balanced entrees prepared with grilled vegetables, lean proteins and healthy grains, vegan entrees, multicultural choices, an extensive salad bar and soups made from homemade stock, among other featured stations. If you would like to learn more about Parkhurst, visit their website here.

“Embracing scratch-cooking methods and flexible meal plan options will improve the quality of life for students on our campus,” President Huntington said. “We look forward to Parkhurst’s culinary energy and passion for food service.”

“With everything from comfort foods, culturally diverse selections to on-the-go, students will experience a variety of healthier, innovative and progressive dining and catering options that provide excellent food service to the Heidelberg University campus community,” said Bill Albright, Parkhurst vice president of higher education dining.

Parkhurst also has committed to a significant contribution to upgrade and renovate the university’s dining hall and eateries.

“Parkhurst is eager to breathe new life into dining and catering at Heidelberg, and we look forward to collaborating with them. We welcome them to the Heidelberg family as we harvest a better eating plan together,” President Huntington said.