And he’s already looking ahead to how he can make his mark on the student dining experience.
“We found that we wanted to find ways to accommodate students who are hungry after hours,” he said. “Now, you can use your meal plans at Table Rock.”
Rather than a declining balance, students can use two of their meal plan meals a week to get a meal – or a late-night snack – from the grill.
Tompkins has already begun looking at expanding the Commons offerings for students with dietary restrictions and allergies. New this year are gluten-free huli-huli chicken, mojo tuna and tso shrimp, as well as vegan jambalaya, tofu vegetable teriyaki and ranch fries.
“The most important thing is that we’re feeding everyone,” he said. “People realize that some foods don’t make them feel good, and we’re going to make those accommodations.”
And drawing from his time as the dining director at Bennington College, he’s considering implementing more custom options. “The students there had a stir-fry station, but they cooked their own food,” he said. “It was a huge hit. We might try it here!”
But for those who might not be in the mood to cook, comfort foods, he reiterated, will always be available. “The chicken nuggets are just as awesome now as they were when I was here,” he said. “They’re not going anywhere.”
And he may bring back some comfort food from his early days on campus. “The breakfast cook, Judy, used to make ‘Aunt Martha’s company casserole’,” he said. “As soon as I started, I asked if we still made it. We don’t – but we just might start again.”
Commons Hours
Breakfast
Mon – Fri 7:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Sat – Sun 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Lunch
Mon – Fri 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Dinner
Mon – Thu 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Fri – Sun 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
All Day
Mon – Thu 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Fri 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Sat – Sun 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Table Rock Café
Mon – Fri 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Sat – Sun 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM
John Christopher Café
Mon – Fri 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
