Metz Culinary Management’s (Metz) dining team served up more than delicious food to the students of Arcadia University recently. They took the students on a trip down memory lane through a creative dining promotion called Lunc
hbox Time Machine. Designed to recreate the childhood cafeteria experience, the event featured classic school-day favorites, playful activities and an atmosphere brimming with nostalgia.
Metz provides dining services for the private university in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Led by General Manager Kelli Johnson and District Chef Tim Morris, the Metz crew developed a menu inspired by childhood lunchroom staples. Among the student-approved selections were:
- Dino nuggets
- Fish sticks
- Grilled cheese
- French toast sticks
- All-beef hot dogs
- Mozzarella sticks with marinara
Rounding out the menu was the ever-iconic square pizza, crafted in-house with Metz’s scratch-made dough and sauce.
“We’re always looking for creative ways to engage students and enhance their dining experience,” Johnson said. “When Chef Morris suggested a throwback menu featuring childhood favorites, we knew it would be a hit. We asked our staff to share their favorite school lunches. From there, we built a menu that resonated with students and sparked fond memories for everyone.”
To add to the authenticity, meals were served on disposable compartment trays reminiscent of traditional cafeteria lunch trays. The dining hall also featured interactive activities, including a textbook-wrapping competition—a nod to the days of covering books in paper bags and doodling on them. The friendly competition awarded prizes, with the first-place winner receiving an Oculus headset, and runners-up receiving nostalgic insulated lunch bags. Other throwback activities included games of MASH (Mansion-Apartment-Shack-House), paper fortune tellers and paper football challenges.
“The Lunchbox Time Machine event was a fantastic way to bring students together for a lighthearted and interactive experience,” said Dan Callen, Metz District Manager. “It was great to see so many students reliving their childhood memories while enjoying a well-prepared meal.”
Promoted through social media, digital signage and on-campus marketing, the event generated strong participation and enthusiasm from the students. While currently a one-day promotion, Metz is open to revisiting the concept in the future based on student feedback and interest.
Due to its popularity at Arcadia, the Lunchbox Time Machine has found a home with Metz’s 62 higher education accounts across the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, Southeast, South, and Midwest regions. It’s a great example of the company’s continuing efforts to innovate dining experiences for their guests.