1930's trend makes a comeback at DS slider bar
In the 1930s, the White Castle fast-food chain introduced its trademark Slyders - small square hamburgers that were then priced at 5 cents each.
The Slyders have been an essential part of the company ever since, and today other restaurants are using their idea of featuring small burgers on their menus as well. And since their debut of the Slider Bar on Friday, Concordia Dining Services is giving their guests an opportunity to try them as well.
For dinner one night last week, the Slider Bar in Anderson Dining Center allowed guests to choose either chicken or beef to put on their sandwich, with an assortment of toppings to add on their own.
Concordia Dining Services Marketing Supervisor Sabrina Whiting, who was in charge of promoting the event, foresaw the Slider Bar as being well-received among guests because the small sizes of the hamburgers give them an opportunity to either eat them along with other foods, or to eat a hamburger and a chicken burger in the same meal, without getting too full.
The small portion sizes of the burgers also display Dining Services’ initiative to help guests eat healthier. In this case, guests can still eat their favorite foods, but are given the option to eat them in smaller portions.
Meredith Wagner, the residential dining supervisor, saw the uniqueness of serving sliders as an exciting aspect of the idea.
“It’s a novelty item,” Wagner said, “because it’s different, something out of the ordinary.”
Sophomore Devon Rudolph also liked the idea of the Slider Bar, because it not only helps Cobbers keep their New Years resolutions to stay healthy, but it keeps guests from throwing away food, since the burgers are small and easy to finish eating.
Concordia Dining Services has been doing its best this year to provide many new options for students throughout the year.
The frequency of special nights and events depends upon what holidays fall in each month, and how busy Dining Services is at the time. For every holiday, Dining Services does something special to celebrate, and no matter how busy they are they try to give variety in the everyday meals, too.
“Even when it’s not a special night, we try to throw in as much variety as we can,” Wagner said.
Because of the especially cold weather last week, for example, Dining Services set up a Hot Chocolate Bar in Anderson Commons.
Student input also helps Dining Services make special nights happen.
“The more requests we get, the more we’ll do,” Whiting said.
Dining Services has found many ways to gather opinions from their guests.
Along with the Dining Services Input Group on Facebook, Student Government Association representatives are also very active in telling Dining Services employees what they’ve heard their peers saying around campus about the food.
Student employees at Dining Services also contribute their opinions on what they like about Dining Services, and about what Dining Services should do differently.
“People who work here are our keys to what’s going on,” Wagner said.
