The University of Texas at Tyler will continue to enhance its tradition of providing a vibrant student life by offering several new dining options in the upcoming fall semester, Gregg Lassen, vice president of business affairs, announced.

A temporary restaurant-like dining facility with 180 seating capacity, an outdoor food kiosk and an indoor convenience store will be added.

The opening of the dining facility, Metamorphosis Cafe, coincides with the completion and occupancy of the Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Z. Ornelas Residence Hall, and will serve as a temporary dining facility until the university center addition is completed in the fall of 2007.

The Met is located on the first floor of the UT Tyler Physical and Health Education Building, and is scheduled to open Saturday, Aug. 19. Hours of operation will be 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Aramark has been selected as UT Tyler’s food service vendor.

“A committee of UT Tyler faculty, staff and students chose Aramark in spring 2006 for its outstanding reputation in the food service industry, partnership capabilities and high-quality products,” said Lynne Culverhouse, UT Tyler assistant vice president of business affairs. “We are looking forward to a long-term relationship with Aramark, and know they will be a great partner for our future.”

A variety of food will be provided by Aramark through a new culinary revolution called Real Food on Campus.

 “The Met will feature restaurant-quality food through Aramark’s Real Food on Campus, which brings the food preparation process out of the kitchen as much as possible,” said Shannon Mariani, food service director. “There will be six different food stations providing fresh, made-to-order meals that students and faculty and staff will find satisfying.”

The six food stations include a home cookin’ station, which will provide a meat and two vegetables; a bakery station, offering freshly baked desserts, homemade waffles and cereals; a pizza and pasta station, offering different styles of pasta, sauces and pizza made-to-order; an exhibition cooking station with different themes each day such as Asian stir-fry or breakfast omelettes; a produce market station, an upscale salad bar with a variety of salads made fresh; and a deli station, which offers sliced meats and cheeses for your made-to-order sandwich.

“We are also planning an outdoor food kiosk near the newly constructed deck located on UT Tyler’s Harvey Lake and a convenience store in the university center that will offer snacks, beverages, batteries, cameras and health and beauty items,” said Culverhouse.

UT Tyler’s other dining options include Subway, Grille Works and Blends and Brews and Liberty Station cafes and coffee houses.

Dining memberships for on-campus dining is available to all UT Tyler faculty, staff and students. Each membership includes dining dollars, which work like a bank debit card and can be used at all on-campus dining, coffee or convenience store locations. All dining locations also accept the Patriot Power card, cash, checks and credit cards.

For more information, contact Mariani, 903.566.7074.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service.  More than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 5,700 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.