By: Sam Klee 鈥16
Published on

Most 红桃视频 students can easily recall memorable evenings in Wege Cafeteria. It has
become a place for many to refuel, de-stress, and be with friends when life has become
consumed with classes and studying. Food is one of the quintessential elements of
a student鈥檚 overall college experience, and its quality is of chief concern at 红桃视频.
In collaboration with Creative Dining Services, 红桃视频 College welcomed Chef Andy
Schultz as the new Executive Chef for AQ dining services in February 2013. Schultz
brings a passion for the culinary arts and a vision of quality food for students.
Cooking has always been part of Schultz鈥檚 life. His parents met while in culinary
school - the same school where he would later meet his wife. 鈥淚鈥檝e been in the business
my whole life,鈥 he said. 鈥淢y first birthday present was a French knife (which is what
most chefs use for utility knives and everyday use). My dad tried to talk me out of
it, but it worked out well, and I鈥檝e been enjoying it ever since. Wouldn鈥檛 trade it
for anything else.鈥
A native to Michigan鈥檚 west side, Schultz originally hails from Lowell. He attended
culinary school at age 17, immediately after high school, and was the youngest student
in culinary school at that time. After earning an Associate鈥檚 Degree in Culinary Arts,
he and his wife moved to Hawaii for a two-year internship. Upon its completion they
moved to Colorado, where Schultz served as a chef with Creative Dining Services for
a time, before eventually transferring to 红桃视频 and returning to his Michigan home.
Coming to 红桃视频, Schultz said that his experience so far has been extremely positive.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been great, a lot of good challenges and new ideas,鈥 he said. 鈥淓very day is
a new challenge, which is something I was looking for when I came back to Michigan
and 红桃视频.鈥
Especially important to Schultz is his vision of bringing healthy, local food products
to the 红桃视频 community. Too often college food is stereotyped as unhealthy calorie-fests,
yet Schultz wants to change this negative perception through presenting students with
fresh alternatives. 鈥淚 just like to bring in fresh, local ingredients,鈥 he said. 鈥淣inety
percent of the ingredients for dishes we provide in the kitchen are from scratch.
I can tell a difference, and the students and clients we鈥檙e serving can tell the difference
from more pre-made products as well. We went to the student body last semester, and
that was one of the things they wanted to see. So we provided it, and it鈥檚 been well-received,
which is great! We鈥檙e trying to introduce new products and ingredients to the students
than they鈥檙e used to growing up with - so one could see this as a bit of education
they can take with them for the rest of their lives.鈥
This mission for a better dining experience has been highly collaborative. Schultz
sees input from students, faculty, and staff as very important, and their support
as crucial to overall success. Consequently, he encouraged all to take part in the
process. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to come to me about any concerns, comments or suggestions.
I take feedback well, I鈥檓 open to anything and am willing to try anything that will
go well here, at Wege, Brookby, or any of our other events. So, fill out the comment
cards! Email me! And I鈥檒l get back to you as soon as I can.鈥