Author: Megan Weinstein

College Fresh has successfully operated with a simple premise: providing exceptional food service focused on delicious, customizable meals created by professional chefs and supported by the best, most responsive staff in the industry. Today, we are thrilled to announce an exciting new chapter in our journey: College Fresh has been acquired by Upper Crust Food Service.

Through this acquisition, we combine operations to create an even stronger dining experience for our clients nationwide. This partnership brings together two industry leaders under one shared vision: to provide exceptional food service to fraternity and sorority houses, as well as camps, nationwide. Together, we will now serve partners across 45 states and more than 100 college campuses, supported by our dedicated team of over 2,000 food service professionals.

Leadership for a New Era

As part of this transition, Adam Guy, CEO of Upper Crust Food Service, will continue to lead the combined organization, and Jack Dawson, former College Fresh president, will act as the new president and shareholder of the combined company. Jack’s extensive industry expertise and leadership make him an invaluable addition to our growing team.

Adam Guy shared his enthusiasm for this new chapter:

“We are excited about the opportunity to add the College Fresh team to the Upper Crust Food Service family. I am especially thrilled that Jack Dawson will join us as President of the company, providing great industry experience and leadership to our team. This transaction is a great opportunity for our growing number of employees and will provide countless benefits to the clients that we serve.”

Jack Dawson echoed these sentiments:

“This transaction marks an incredible opportunity for our industry and partners. I am excited to join the Upper Crust team in a leadership role and look forward to making an impact on behalf of our employees, vendors, and the amazing partners we serve.”

What This Means for Our Clients

By uniting our resources, expertise, and commitment to excellence, we are better positioned than ever to provide unparalleled service to our clients. This collaboration will allow us to offer more innovative dining solutions, enhance operational efficiencies, and expand our reach to better serve our partners nationwide.

While this marks a new chapter for College Fresh, our dedication to exceptional food service remains unchanged. We are proud to join forces with Upper Crust Food Service and look forward to serving our partners with the same passion and commitment that have always defined us.

Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. We can’t wait to show you what’s next.

To celebrate the 4th of July, we have prepared two mouthwatering recipes that embody the essence of the holiday. Get ready to savor the flavors of summer with our delectable Strawberry Shortcake and our refreshing Tomato Cucumber Salad! Enjoy!

Do you know the history of St. Patrick’s Day? What’s the story with all the snakes? Are leprechauns real?! And most importantly, what all can you do with corned beef? Well, you’re in luck 😉 because I have all those answers and more to share with you today! Check it out below!

Important St. Patrick’s Day Facts:

1. St. Patrick’s Day is a rich mix of folklore and legend. Historians believe St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Britain (not Ireland) near the end of the 4th century. He was kidnapped by Irish raiders and sold as a slave to a Celtic priest in Northern Ireland. After working as a shepherd for six years, he escaped back to Britain only to return to Ireland later as a Christian missionary. St. Patrick died in the 5th century and St. Patrick’s Day marks the anniversary of his death.
2. There were no snakes. Many people believe the legend that St. Patrick banished snakes from Ireland. Snakes never existed on the Emerald Isle. Researchers believe this legend isn’t meant to be taken literally and that the snakes were a metaphor for banishing evil from the country.
3. Leprechauns are based on Celtic fairies that use their magical powers for good or evil. Leprechauns are notoriously ornery and cranky, but are said to mend the shoes of other fairies and to hide gold at the end of rainbows. Awwww.
4. The shamrock, or a three-leaf clover, was considered a sacred plant in Ireland for centuries that symbolized the arrival of spring. According to legend, St. Patrick used the plant as a visual guide when explaining the Holy Trinity.
5. The first St. Patrick’s Day in America took place on March 17, 1601 in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. The colony’s Irish vicar organized the first celebration, and thanks to him, we continue to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day all over the United States today!

Now let’s talk about food.

I was today years old when I found out that corned beef and cabbage is not a traditionally Irish meal. While ham and cabbage were eaten in Ireland, corned beef was a cheaper substitute for poor Irish immigrants living in New York. They would purchase left over corned beef from the ships returning to port. The prepared it by boiling it three times, the last time with cabbage.

Our Chef Charles at Alpha Omicron Pi at Western Michigan University has shared with us his favorite St. Patrick’s Day foods, including delicious corned beef recipes and beautiful rainbow sugar work. You can easily recreate your own version of Chef Charles’ dishes for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration!

Photo 1: Irish “Sushi” – Cabbage, Rice, Corned beef, Carrot, Corned Beef Confit, and Wasabi Potato Puree

Photo 2: Soda Bread Pocket – Corned Beef, Swiss Cheese, Cabbage Leaf and Horseradish Cream

Photo 3: Soda Bread Bowl with Tomato and Cabbage Soup, Corned Beef Pancetta and Cabbage Leaf Garnish

Photo 4: Irish Hush Puppies – Potato, Corned Beef, Swiss Cheese, Carrot and Worcestershire Ranch

Photo 5: Sugar Rainbows – Cherry Flavor

Photo 6: Mint Irish Sugar Rose

Photo 7: Rainbow Irish Rose

Photo 8: Dark Chocolate Bonbons – Mint Ganache and Raspberry

We hope you have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day! Have fun and be safe! Now, I leave you with this lovely Irish blessing: May good luck be with you wherever you go, and your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. May your days be many and your troubles be few, May all God’s blessings descend upon you, May peace be within you, May your heart be strong, May you find what you’re seeking wherever you roam.

Source: https://www.history.com/news/st-patricks-day-facts

Our chefs have been busy cooking up beautiful meals for our partners. Check out this gallery for just a few of the delicious creations by our talented team members this past month.

We are so excited to be back in the kitchens cooking delicious meals for our member partners! As you move back into your house or residence hall, we want to ensure your nutritional needs are met. If you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, we encourage you to talk to your College Fresh chef and kitchen team. They are trained and knowledgeable on various food restrictions and are prepared to create a meal the fits your diet.

If you’d like to learn more, our team has prepared informational packets on common Food Allergens, Kosher, Halal, Vegan/Vegetarian, Sesame Allergy, and Gluten Free diets. Click here to request an informational packet or further discuss your needs with our team.

We are happy to be back to school and At Your Service! Have a great semester!