Something good is cookin' at UB

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - The new Crossroads Culinary Center, or "C3," isn't like the food service facility that you may remember from your college days.

"It celebrates both the diversity of cultures and diversity of the UB community members who dine here," said UB President Satish Tripathi, who was among the representatives from the University of Buffalo and various contractors as the ribbon was cut to the new center Wednesday afternoon.

According to UB student Leila Albert, "Having a place to dine on great food and in a highly desirable atmosphere is going to be a huge positive change for students. C3 is going to be the new place to be, 100 percent."

The latest state-of-the-art, Marche-style eatery features food stations offering a diverse menu that will appeal to a wide range of tastes and enhance the university experience.

"The University of Buffalo has done a tremendous job out-sourcing local producers from sausages to the the China and silverware," added Alan Archer, an Executive Chef with the Nestle Corporation, who was brought in as a consultant on the project.

The culinary center will rely on produce from local growers, and products from local food artisans and manufacturers, including such food providers as Eden Valley, Upstate Farms, Rich Products and Rosina Foods.

"We employ 500 people in the local area and people know the brand name and it was good for us to be involved in this with UB," said Frank Corigliano from Rosina Foods.

UB is adding 15 new positions for the facility, and has doubled student positions to 120. This is just another step in the UB2020 strategic plan that has the institution adding 250 new faculty and breaking ground on the new medical campus next year with a targeted completion date sometime in 2016.