It is going to be super time ahead…
The Super Bowl is today and the sun is nice and bright, and yet I feel a bit of the winter blahs, since my favorite teams are not playing and it’s really pretty chilly outside. This is February, the shortest month of the year and yet seems to be the longest and some call it the cruelest time of the year. It’s a time that’s all about the cold weather and lack of day light. It’s always hard to get out of bed when it’s dark and cold outside. I never was a winter person, after living in Canada for 15 plus year, I should have nothing to complain about. My wife reminds me daily to just bundle up and enjoy the outdoors. I really don’t mind the cold weather, but the wind-chill does get to me; now I wear a hat and a scarf to keep me warm, and I am not complaining as much.
There are many other ways to keep warm, including the use the food and beverages. Last week, when we were in Toronto, Ontario, I noticed just about every other person had a cup of Tim Horton’s coffee in their hand, on their way to work; something just to keep their hands warm perhaps, and believe me, I had three cups in the morning while I was there and I usually drink just one cup of coffee before I go to work.
For UMass Dining, we have several ways to help you beat the weather the winter blahs. Our special event manager Martha has cooked up several events just for you. Hopefully, these events give us all something to look forward to and provide a means to socialize with others and invigorate ourselves.
We just ended Black History Month with a special that featured great dishes such as Peanut Soup, Dora Watt, Carthaginian Flank Steak to Sweet Potato Pies; I tried a little of each and every one of them and they were delicious! – we will try to roll out more Soul Food and African dishes next year.
1. This week we will have a New England Harvest Dinner on Wednesday night, featuring many comfort foods from local free-range turkey, cod and squash, etc. My favorite will be the Strawberry Short Cake made with local frozen strawberries. Don’t miss it.
2. Be Mine Valentine Special will be on Sunday, February 14, 2010. You will enjoy the chocolate fondue, red velvet cake and more chocolate cake, plus a chance to win a gift basket for your loved one.
3. Chinese New Year Special will be on Feb 16, just two days after the Valentine’s Special. We will celebrate the Year of Tiger with an array of 12 gourmet dishes from Peking Duck, Suckling Pig, Shrimp with Cashew, Spicy Orange Chicken, Longevity Noodles, etc. You will all be able to eat like a “King”, not to mention, to enjoy the Lion Dance and some Lucky Money.
4. Frost Your Own Cupcake will be back on February 24, with Dede Wilson as the guest chef. This is always one of the most popular specials.
5. The Dine and Win Contest will start on February 15; with a chance to win a flight for you and your guest to fly anywhere in the Continental North America, plus, $500 spending money. The winners will be announced on March 5, just in time to enjoy the Spring Break. This promotion is a partnership with Coke and UMass Dining; all UMass students are eligible to enter.
6. The Visiting College Chef Series will resume at Berkshire with 4 schools. This time it will be more of an Iron Chef-like competition and the students will decide the winners. You will be able to sample cuisines from four regions of the country and each school’s favorite.
Watch for more information through facebook, website, fliers and ads. It is going to be an exciting time, with super weeks ahead, and before you know it, it will be spring time. We look forward to celebrating the arrival of spring, and then I can finally pack up my complaints, about the cold winter weather.
This is Ken Toong and thank you for keeping UMass Dining at the top.
Ken Toong
Director
Contact Ken at ktoong@mail.aux.umass.edu
You can follow Ken Toong on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/KenToong