Hey everyone! I hope this post finds you well. Today, I’m excited to take you behind the scenes of a space many of us visit daily but rarely think about beyond the food on our plates—Valentine Dining Hall, better known as Val. I recently(few weeks ago haha) had the chance to tour the facility and gain a deeper appreciation for the people and systems that keep Amherst well-fed.
🚚The Import Station
Our tour began at the import station, where all ingredients first arrive. It’s a lively space—delivery trucks pull up outside while staff unload food into the building. Once inside, everything is immediately sorted into appropriate storage areas. One thing that really stood out was Val’s commitment to safety and inclusion: items for students with dietary restrictions are stored separately in clearly labeled refrigerators, ensuring allergen-free zones for those who need them.
🥤Inventory & Athletics Support
We then moved into the inventory area, where I saw shelves filled with ingredients and supplies—including a dedicated section that supports Amherst’s athletics department. From sports drinks to high-protein snacks, these supplies are used daily to fuel our student-athletes. It’s a subtle but powerful reminder of how dining services support not just hunger, but performance and wellness across campus (including this year’s men’s soccer championship!!!).
🍰 Sector-by-Sector: Sweets, Salads & More
As we continued through the facility, I got to peek into the different food prep sectors—salads, desserts, hot entrees, and more. Whether it’s the fresh fruit in the morning or the cookies that vanish by dinner, each dish is thoughtfully prepared in its own space. It gave me a whole new appreciation for how much coordination it takes to feed hundreds of students, three times a day (actually four if including late night), every single day.
🍽️ Events & Celebrations: The Catering Team
Here’s something many students might not realize: Amherst Dining also includes a dedicated catering team, responsible for feeding our community beyond Val. They handle everything from department receptions to large campus-wide events like “Be A Mammoth”. While they’re not the same team serving us at Val, they’re part of the larger dining operation that helps Amherst run smoothly—from open houses to senior dinners to club banquets. Their work often happens behind closed doors, but it makes a big difference in how we experience events on campus.
🛠️ What’s Ahead: Planning for the Future
Finally, we visited a planning room used by the Val team to design future dining spaces and improve operations. One wall was covered in blueprints and sticky notes—ideas for improving crowd flow, incorporating sustainability, and enhancing efficiency in a new dining facility currently in the works. It was inspiring to see how much thought goes into every bite we take today—and tomorrow.
Final Thoughts/Appreciation
This tour reminded me that Val is more than a place to grab food—it’s a complex, community-centered operation powered by passionate staff who care deeply about our health, experience, and future. Whether you’re an athlete, have specific dietary needs, or just love that occasional late-night cookie, there’s someone behind the scenes making that possible.
So next time you’re at Val, take a moment to look around—and maybe offer a thank you on your way out. Thank you Val!!!!
As always if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at ttanaka28@amherst.edu!