Medieval Feast and Faire held by dining services garners national honors

Virginia Tech's Housing and Dining Services was recently awarded a 2008 Best Concept award by Food Management Magazine, a gold medal, and the grand prize Loyal E. Horton award for special event catering by the National Association of College and University Food Services for the Medieval Feast and Faire dinner.

The Medieval Feast and Faire, held in Owens Banquet Room and Hokie Grill & Co. on March 30, 2008, featured authentic medieval decorations, games, fortune-tellers, and a menu of foods true to the period. The event was held to offer students a fun alternative to the typical collegiate dining experience, as well as to thank the dining plan holders for their loyalty.

The best concept awards are presented each year by Food Management Magazine in recognition of outstanding foodservice innovations, with winners selected over a series of elimination heats by the magazine editors. The award will be presented to Rick Johnson, director of Virginia Tech Housing and Dining Services, during the 2008 Food Management Ideas Conference in Las Vegas, Oct. 28 through Oct. 30.

The grand prize Loyal E. Horton award for special event catering, which is designed to recognize exemplary menus and special event planning, was presented at the National Association of Collge and University Food Services 50th national conference, held on July 14 in Washington, D.C. The Loyal E. Horton awards contest, a highly competitive and prestigious peer recognition program, is open to all active members of the association.

Loyal E. Horton grand prize-winners for each category are selected from that category’s gold award winners.

In addition to the grand prize Loyal E. Horton award, the National Association of College and University Food Services also awarded a silver and a bronze Loyal E. Horton award to housing and dining services for their “Road trip” and “Breakfast at Brennan’s” special events, respectively.

Virginia Tech holds numerous special dining events throughout the school year.

• Learn more about special dining events.
• Learn more about Housing and Dining Services tradition of award-winning programming, venues, and service.

Written by Chris Gustin.