Gustavus Adolphus College is a small, Lutheran and Swedish school located in the quaint town of Saint Peter, just 60 miles south of the bustling Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. To arrive on campus, you must first make the trek up a steep hill on College Ave, but when you do you’ll find some of the best college cafeteria food, arguably in the world. The Marketplace, or more commonly known as “the caf”, boasts not only a wide variety, but a quality selection of food for its undergraduate students to choose from, just check out their regularly updated menu, or continue reading for my personal testimony as to why Gustavus is continually ranked in the top 20 against other college campuses throughout the U.S., in no particular order.
1. Hours
The importance of the food is considerable as the caf is the sole "dining hall" on campus and has the important responsibility of feeding nearly all of Gustavus' student population (~2,400) as well as the numerous professors and employees (and the occasional townie that makes their way up the hill). You see, Gustavus is a residential campus, meaning that the vast majority of its students live on campus property, and thus rely on the marketplace for 2-3 meals each and every day of the week. It is for this reason that the caf is open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday as well as 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sundays. So whether it's breakfast before your 8am class or dinner after a late club meeting, they've got you covered!
2. Environmental Protection & Sustainability
Twin Cities Pioneer Press noted how Gustavus dining services continually work “with the Campus Greens to decrease the amount of waste produced. [Stating that] the college instituted a program called “Gustieware” where reusable containers replaced the bulky disposable ones.”
Dining Service transitioned to fair trade coffee and bananas because of student input. Gustavus was "the first college or university in Minnesota to be designated a Fair Trade College/University by Fair Trade Campaigns , an organization consisting of fair trade groups from across the globe. Gustavus is the 30th college/university in the United States to earn the designation.
3. Fresh (& Seasonal) Produce
4. Dietary Alternatives
Whether you are gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan, Gustavus has options for you to chose from. GF chicken strips, tofu offerings, and a soy milk machine are all examples of the commitment GAC has to provide food for everyone. There's even a toaster, microwave, freezer and rack dedicated to gluten-free students.
5. Flexible Meal Plan
Food is a la carte style, meaning that you pay for what you eat. This reduces waste and in the end, saves money for everyone. Meal plans are based on dollar amounts to spend within the month and a small shop called "the courtyard cafe" makes up coffee drinks which can be paid with a student ID. Grocery options are scattered throughout the Marketplace for students to eat on the go or keep in their dorms.
6. Variety in Daily Offering
Each day, all of the sections in the marketplace mix up their offerings. For example, Mondays are Caeser salad, Wednesdays are noodle bowls, Thursday mornings are omelets made-to-order and Fridays are gyro day! These options are (almost) always make-your-own style so that you always end up with exactly what you want in your tummy.
7. The Staff
Okay, I didn't take a picture for #7, but the staff members are awesome! They have a lot of work to do to make sure all of the stations are always fully stocked and warm. They complete their tasks with a smile on their face and the ladies at the register are always welcoming and friendly, telling you to have a great day.
Steve Kjellgren, a Gustie grad of 1986, is the man in charge of dining services, among other things. He's always open to new ideas from students and cares about his co-workers and students alike. Also, a shout-out to Chef Jake for taking feedback from the many dining in his cafeteria and implementing new recipes every week!
8. Most Importantly: The Waffle-Makers
Anyone who knows me won't find this final attribute surprising. The Gustavus-emblem waffle iron is a signature meal, any time of the day.
And there you have it! As if you needed another reason to LOVE Gustavus, now you have 8 that all have to do with the food up here on the hill, now if you'll excuse me, I need to go grab a waffle!
