At the prestigious RISD, just as much care is given to the dining program as the curriculum. Run by the school instead of an outside company, RISD’s dining services offer four main venues as well as a bakery, and all recipes use local, seasonal, and fresh ingredients. There’s a nutritional education program called Eat + Learn that brings together the entire Providence community to celebrate local food, as well as an annual event called Eat the World where international students play a role in developing a menu of global dishes.
Over the past year, RISD has added online ordering, as well as the ability to use Dining Points at vending machines. To combat food insecurity, it has also instituted the Swipe It Forward program. Also now available on campus is a make-your-own smoothie station, customizable pizzas, and organic and customizable grain bowls.
Every Monday is Meatless Monday, and their annual 100-Mile Dinner uses only ingredients sourced within 100 miles of campus. The school takes sustainability very seriously; initiatives include recycling and composting, serving only humanely raised beef and all-natural chicken, and exclusively using Energy Star equipment and biodegradable cleaning solution. They also don’t sell any bottled water, have removed trays from dining venues, and recycle their frying oil with Newport Biodiesel. RISD’s largest dining venue, The Met, has recently undergone a thorough renovation, and their student-operated coffee house, Carr House, offers organic coffee, cupcakes, calzones, and other locally sourced treats. In the past few years, additions to their dining program have included a crêperie, a Jamba Juice, and even a Game of Thrones-themed dinner. Pizza is also available for delivery to art studios until 12:30 a.m.