Variety is at the heart of the all-new Marketplace dining hall, where Fordham students can choose among food options for every palate and watch as meals are made to order.
Campus dining has changed.
The renovated Marketplace opened in the McShane Campus Center at Rose Hill on September 3, unveiling brand-new menus, food stations, and a variety of seating options to create a dramatically improved dining experience. The renovation was supported in part by a $5 million grant from New York state.
Here’s a taste of what students are experiencing.
Vegan and Vegetarian Options
The first thing visitors encounter is the vegetarian and vegan station, which sets the tone for the new Marketplace. By using fresh ingredients that have a low impact on the environment, the station is designed to help Fordham lower its carbon footprint.
“Students are really gravitating towards more plant-based options,” said Deming Yaun, Fordham’s dining contract liaison. “It’s a statement of freshness that the station is making that is carried through the whole facility.”
Space for Everyone
Seating arrangements are diverse: booths, tall tables, long tables, and benches are situated throughout, welcoming everyone from single diners looking to work through lunch to teams and other big groups gathering for a communal meal. One dining room can be sectioned off for private gatherings. Altogether, the space can accommodate nearly 800 diners.
Chef’s Table
The chef’s table adds a bit of culinary theater to the dining hall, offering a front-row seat to cooking demonstrations and a chance to order from a seasonal menu featuring special tastings.
Restaurant Row
Diners can choose from the Iron Skillet, featuring made-to-order meals all day; Trattoria Italian Kitchen, with hot-from-the-oven pizza; Ignite grill; and Sweet Nothings, with house-made desserts.
Halal Station
New York City is known for its halal carts, and now Rams can get an authentic version of this street food without leaving campus. “It’s nice that it’s going to be an everyday option,” said Andres Perez, a Fordham senior and a pitcher on the baseball team whose go-to halal meal is chicken and rice with a salad. The Marketplace also offers kosher meals upon request.
Sustainable Eating
Several meals in the Marketplace are certified climate-friendly by the World Resources Institute. They’re marked with a badge so students can easily identify items that have a low environmental impact.
