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Rice University introduces Plant-based Meals & Cheese for Students
Rice University wants students to know that dorm food doesn’t have to be a culinary and dietary challenge for those trying to avoid the “Freshman 15”.
Rice University has taken a huge step forward in its plant-based journey with the introduction of a meat-and-dairy-free charcuterie program in its student serveries. The menu of from-scratch vegan meats and cheeses is the first of its kind in the nation when it comes to on-campus dining.
Senior executive chef Roger Elkhouri recently debuted a full lineup of plant-based lunch meats that include turkey, corned beef and roast beef and cheeses such as provolone, smoked cheddar and dill havarti. On special days, Elkhouri serves plant-based barbecue brisket or Italian sausage with peppers and onions.
All of it is made on-site using unique, individual recipes created by Elkhouri over the course of a year’s work in the kitchen. Each of the charcuterie items is entirely vegan, although Elkhouri prefers the inclusive term “plant-based” to the “vegan” label, which implies his creations are only meant for a subset of students.
Many industry advocates of a plant-based diet are saying that the term “vegan” carries too much baggage, especially in regions away from the Coasts, and a complete rebranding of the concept is needed.
“A plant-based diet is good for everybody,” Elkhouri said, “and it’s good for the environment too.” In fact, a recent study from the University of Oxford published in Science found that consumers who switch to a plant-based diet drastically reduce their individual carbon footprint.
In addition to turkey and brisket, Elkhouri has also created plant-based versions of pastrami, pepper jack and even a paprika-spiked “cheese ball” with the same spreadable texture and sharp bite of the original. Just like real meats and cheeses, each can be cut thin on a deli slicer; each also has a weeklong shelf life.
The “meats” are made using a proprietary blend of vital wheat gluten, powdered mushrooms, liquid smoke and other ingredients designed to mimic the taste, texture and appearance of deli meats. The cheeses primarily incorporate coconut milk instead of nut milks, more conventional vegan alternatives.
Students have responded enthusiastically to the new offerings, especially those with dietary restrictions. “When I was talking to the students, they were very happy,” Elkhouri said. “I saw a spark in their eyes that somebody was listening to them and hearing their needs.”
“You’re dealing with extremely talented and sophisticated students here,” Elkhouri said. “They’re always asking questions and you have to be on your toes, so what we try to do is get out ahead of them.
“Four or five years down the road you’ll be seeing ‘plant-based’ everywhere. We’re pioneers.”
MORE INFORMATION
For more about Rice’s plant-based foods, follow hashtag #ourplantbasedjourney on Twitter and Instagram.
For more about Rice Housing & Dining, visit http://dining.rice.edu
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Madame Tussauds San Francisco Unveils Virtual Reality Adventure Experience
The Virtual Room at Madame Tussauds San Francisco
Madame Tussauds San Francisco unveils a new interactive live experience for visitors to “Be a Hero” in the city’s first team-based virtual reality (VR) adventure.
The year is 2217. A team of time-travelers have disappeared and a temporal rift has been detected in the past, risking humanity’s disappearance from the Earth – forever. The mission: save Earth from its dystopian future. Journey through history to solve puzzles and challenges. Unlock the secrets of Ancient Egypt. Repair the moon lander. Fight dinosaurs before they hunt you down. Dive to the bottom of ocean. All of this to correct the mistakes of the past before it destroys life as we know it. Each player will have his/ her own dedicated room, specifically designed and equipped with the latest virtual reality gear.
Developed in partnership with Virtual Room USA, the collaborative virtual reality experience allows groups of 2-4 people to participate in up to four 15-minute timed challenges all while communicating with their teammates.
The Virtual Room is a separately priced attraction from Madame Tussauds with tickets from just $10. The experience is designed for players ages 12 years and up and perfect for groups of friends, family, team-building, birthday parties and more.
ABOUT MADAME TUSSAUDS SAN FRANCISCO
Welcoming a fabulous 10 million guests though our world-famous doors every year, Madame Tussauds gives you the chance to experience the ULTIMATE fame experience. We have nearly 25 unique locations around the world, from New York to Shanghai, Amsterdam to Sydney – and, of course, London, where the story began. Throughout our 250+ year history, Madame Tussauds has brought to life thousands of celebs, stars and heroes – in mind-blowingly accurate detail – giving visitors the opportunity to brush shoulders with their idols and LITERALLY reach for the stars! Truly immerse yourself in our famous worlds and get a taste of life of the rich and famous, as in 2018, the opportunity to become the star continues! Through a combination of our historic artistic methods (that date back centuries, by the way!), immersive sets and pioneering modern tech – guests can experience fame and get closer to the action like never before. Madame Tussauds San Francisco opens daily at 10 a.m., 365 days a year and is located on Fisherman’s Wharf at 145 Jefferson Street. Find on Facebook: @MadameTussaudsSanFrancisco and Instagram and Twitter: @TussaudsSF.