When the Geneva community gathers over a meal these days, they swallow hospitality bite by bite, cooked up by Pioneer’s Executive Chef Tom Schlotter.
Meals at Alexander Dining Hall and the many banquets on campus are made with the diners in mind – colorful, nutritious, creative food served in a welcoming atmosphere.
Chef Tom has been busy updating existing recipes with more handmade, homemade ingredients and making Geneva guests happy with an enhanced menu that includes dishes like Chicken Scaloppini with roasted tomatoes, artichokes and peppers; Herb Roasted Prime Rib; Grilled Portabella with sauteed red peppers, spinach and risotto; and Asiago Chicken Farfalle.
“Vibrant hospitality makes me think of exciting presentation – a ‘wow’ factor,” he says. “I take pride in adding some pizzazz to everything from the simplest meal to a presidential dinner or outside function with guests. My staff, Jim (Nescot), Pam (Veon), Clayton (Cappellanti), and I like to go all out for banquets. The whole staff cares about each dinner and wants to make every meal something special.”
Hospitality is also a matter of efficiency, and Chef Tom’s new systems of working are delighting hungry guests. New plating options improve service.
“For our banquets, we got metal lids so now we can prepare up to 50 plates in advance and keep them warm, which means guests get hot, fresh meals quickly,” he says.
Sunday evenings get special attention for students and guests with themed dinners like breakfast for dinner or Italian night. In its second year, Chef Tom will introduce an expanded approach to make everyone feel right at home. He calls it “Sunday dinner at grandma’s house,” suggesting with a smile that the meal end with cherry pie.
While Chef Tom has been focused day-to-day on improving the quality of meals, he’s also been noodling in his head about expanding the menu, making each food station a destination. He hopes to increase the variety of world cuisine with a habanero station, meat-filled steamed buns, adding pad thai to the noodle bar and introducing Korean and Indian selections. He sees mealtime as an extension of the education available in Geneva classrooms and invites the Geneva community to the feast.
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This post is part of a series highlighting Geneva College’s Core Values and the people in the Geneva community who bring them to life. It was originally published in the Spring 2018 edition of Geneva Magazine.
Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. To learn more about resident life as an undergraduate, contact Admissions at 800-847-8255 or admissions@geneva.edu.
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Feb 11, 2019
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