Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.—OLILO, a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant offering exclusive, signature recipes developed by Jackson native and global restauranteur Cat Cora, is among the new dining locations opening this spring on Mississippi State’s Starkville campus.
Occupying the former home of the university’s State Fountain Bakery in Colvard Student Union, OLILO will offer cooked-from-scratch, customizable meals featuring Cora’s signature Mediterranean tastes and flavors.
“OLILO will deliver on students’ request for a healthy dining option,” said Andi Pichardo, marketing manager for MSU Dining-Aramark.
State Fountain Bakery, a decades-old tradition featuring a wide selection of freshly made cakes, pies, cookies, donuts, breads and MSU ice cream flavors, will continue its legacy in an updated space beside the Starbucks location inside the Union.
“We will make our decorating process a visual experience inside the bakery,” Pichardo said. “There also will be new displays to showcase items more effectively.”
MSU Dining Services also plans to continue operation of the Provisions on Demand (P.O.D.) Mobile Cart that was introduced during the fall 2018 semester. Offering an array of options from the campus’s existing P.O.D. markets and select retail locations such as Einstein Bros. Bagels, the cart can be found on weekdays at Dorman or Walker halls. Items currently available include biscuits, pizza by the slice, sandwiches and wraps, and a variety of beverages including water and energy drinks.
“We really wanted to reach those students who might not have time between classes to stop and have a sit-down lunch, so we decided that a mobile cart would be a good option,” said Josh Christopher, retail food service director for MSU Dining-Aramark. “We hope that the students also will offer their suggestions as to what they would like the P.O.D. Mobile Cart to carry, so we can best cater to their needs.”
Plans for a new sushi location also are in the works, and installation of an exterior door leading to The Village dining location at Griffis Hall is slated for completion in mid-February. Students will have improved access to purchase snacks, drinks and full meals while remaining close to their residence halls.
“These initiatives from MSU Dining are a direct result of student feedback and emphasize the importance of offering new and innovative approaches to healthy and convenient food choices,” said MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt.
For more on MSU Dining Services, including locations, hours of operation, menus and meal plans, visit www.msstatedining.com.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.