Saint Ursula Academy Dining Commons: Behind the Scenes

Behind the swinging doors of the kitchen, the cooks are hard at work serving hundreds of Saint Ursula Academy faculty and students. 

The North Wing of the Dining Commons. Photo by Isabelle Winchester

By Isabelle Winchester and Caroline Ryden
October 6, 2025

Toledo, OH - The Dining Commons is a space for gathering, eating food and enjoying company for Saint Ursula Academy students. It is more than just a lunch room, it is a place where students create community. 

The Dining Commons serves just under 700 people every day with a variety of choices including a grill, salad bar, pasta bar, and the signature meal, which is the main dish prepared for the day. A weekly schedule of this and the grill is available to faculty, staff and students 

A lot of work goes into creating that much food in a couple of hours. In addition to the daily meal the cafeteria staff also provided ‘grab and go’ options include chips, yogurt and pizza. For those who want meat in their diet, the Grill and Signature Dish typically provide this. 

Food preparation begins at 6:30 a.m., before school doors open. From 8a.m. to 10:30 a.m., they cook the food to have it ready to serve before the first lunch block.

Food portions are measured based upon prior sales and trial and error. 

“We’ve got it pretty narrowed down to a science,” said Matthew Groen, Chef at SUA. 

When food goes unpurchased, the staff tries to recycle as much as possible. 

“We try to repurpose what we can, and for the things that we can’t repurpose, it goes into the Labre donation piles,” said Mr. Groen. 

“I buy around three times a month,” said Loren Gasser, Department Chair for Health and Wellness. The price of the food does not play into this amount. Some of her personal favorite dishes include Arrow Bowl and the Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup. 

Both students that pack their lunch, and those who do not, have the opportunity to gather with their friends and classmates to encourage sisterly bonding.