On Jan. 9, South replaced its previous Crossroads cafeteria format with a new program called Taste 4. Salem-Keizer schools now have all of their on site-meals provided by the French multinational service company Sodexo. Last year, Salem-Keizer high schools began adopting Sodexo’s new cafeteria style known as Taste 4,originally introduced at McNary in September of 2018. Sodexo serves thousands of meals to South students every year, so it is a notable event when it changes its style. This time around, many students have noted the new setup.
“I guess people were just too crowded, so I think they made it more organized,” David Flores Lopez ‘20 said.
Introduced nearly a month ago, Taste 4 brings a variety of changes to the table. It adds a few new choices of food, many of which are based on other cultures, as well as continuing to offer classics like pizza and burgers.
“Taste 4 is a new national program. It was developed after many student surveys were conducted asking what students would like to see in an eating establishment,” Sodexo Food Service Director Mac Lary said.
The program primarily focuses on customization alongside an expanded menu that each individual student can tailor to themselves. New sauces were introduced to further customize dishes.
“The difference between Taste 4 and the prior Crossroads program format is reflected in bolder flavors and more customizable stations, as well as more menu rotation so students don’t experience repetition of food choices,” Lary said.
The ‘Adventure’ section, according to a news release on Sodexo’s website, is “a weekly rotation of 12 branded concepts to provide a street, retail experience. Student diners will experience something new every week for 3 months as they are treated to brands including Beale Street BBQ, Overslept, Sub Culture, Country Comfort, TaterTemptations, Chopsticks, Glorious Grilled Cheese, Canal Street Mac Attack, Fiesta, Strutters, Sunset Strips and Favorites. Artwork reflecting the diversity of the flavors and freshness of the food helps tell the culinary story of each meal.”
Some students have an unchanged opinion of the food itself.
“I think it’s pretty much the same,” Whittney Mullins ‘19 said, “I don’t feel anything has changed. I think they’re just trying to enforce taking the healthier foods.”
Whether or not the new system is ultimately successful is up to time. The new system has only been in place for around a month, so it is difficult to tell how successful Taste 4 will be.
