Testimonials

I cannot tell you how wonderful the event was today at the Zimmerli. It was perfect. First of all, Cathy and Donna were so organized and a pleasure to work with. The guests were so pleased! Also – guests, myself and team included, LOVED the menu so fresh, delicious and just wonderful! Excellent preview for the fall. I’m so excited!! 

– Lindsey

On behalf of the planning committee, we want to thank you so much for the wonderful food and service for all of our guests.  So many of our Big Ten colleagues complimented you and your staff for how wonderfully fed and treated we all were.  It was awesome!  You absolutely made Rutgers shine brightly!

We (Rutgers) all loved the food as well and it will now be difficult to go back to eating anywhere other than with you!  I just want you to also know that my office is at 4 Huntington Street next to Alexander Library.  I am telling you this just in case some of the bread pudding bites happen to make their way to my office, I will care for them and keep them safe…just saying…

Thanks again for everything!
Jon L. Oliver
Assistant Dean for Information Technology
Chair, Rutgers University Senate

“We hope you had a wonderful weekend! We hope all is well. We would like to send out a heartfelt thank you to all of the Rutgers Dining and Catering Services Crew. We would like to thank everyone involved with making this event a reality. A big thanks to you, Chef Pete, directors,servers, and all staff that helped make this event a success. Without the amazing hospitality of everyone, we would not have been able to pull off such an amazing event for 100+ people. We were told that this was the first large student event in two years at the Zimmerli and we were so glad that we were able to host it at the museum and to have Rutgers Catering provide the meals was perfect. We have always had a great experience working with Rutgers Dining and Catering Services and we got tremendous praise from students about how much they enjoyed the food. Again, a huge thank you to everyone who made this event special for us and allowed us to celebrate the collaboration between our organization and the Make-A-Wish Foundation and most importantly make a difference in the lives of children who are less fortunate. Thank you and we hope to continue our partnership in the years to come!”

– Rutgers Business Governing Association

“Thank you so much for your help, delicious food and top notch staff last week. Conference attendees were thrilled and everyone was raving about the food. We appreciate everything you all do and love having you as partners. Please pass along our thanks and gratitude to everyone.“

–Kara Cafasso, Director of Development Events, Donor Relations

“I was blown away by your staff. They were so warm, polite, and knowledgeable. From the beginning to the end of the reception they were a pleasure to work with. I was most impressed by two things, first, they were all very responsive and I definitely felt like they cared about my event. Second, the food was delicious. Our staff and guests raved about the quality of services. I want to personally thank Irma, Dynalee, Abreya, Susan, and Nakia for their excellent service. Thanks to them, I can’t wait to have our event next year. Again, thank you.”

-Trudy-Ann Hewitt

“I am writing to thank you and your staff for their wonderful work on Sunday. The GSNB Convocation was a great success and the role that Dining Services played was significant. THANK YOU for your hard work and dedication.”

-Barbara E. Bender, Associate Dean, Graduate School-New Brunswick

“Dear Maren & Chef Pete, my apologies for getting these accolades to you ten days after our events held at the Livingston Dining Hall, but please know that we are still on a high. From the planning of our two event through the serving of the home-made fresh fruit cake, we experienced Rutgers at its best!

Firstly, our SAI board members, many of whom dined at The Rutgers Club in the past, praised the menu selections, food display and service at our dinner meeting. The offerings were a delightful treat, if not a treatment. From that point we went into the Atrium room that was set up perfectly, and helped speaker-to-student interactions that were ideal. Everything went off without a hitch!

Please accept these accolades for great preparation and fine delivery of catering services on 22nd February 2012—and most importantly share them with the staff who worked behind the scenes to ensure success. We will most certainly share our praise of Rutgers Dining Services with our colleagues and our associates outside of the Rutgers community.”

– Dr. Darren Clarke, Executive Director, Continuing Education & Global Programs
Rutgers Graduate School of Education

“I wanted to thank all of you for your incredible efforts last night in moving us from the Livingston Dining Commons over to the Livingston Student Center.  It was a formidable effort and great to see how everyone pitched in and got the job done without a complaint.  I’m sure you are all used to sudden surprises coming up, and the true sign of a great team is when everyone goes right along with a change in course and keeps the ship moving forward.  It was fantastic to see so many people pitch in to have our events take place so smoothly.    All of the food was amazing, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious.  I’m glad I was able to sample almost everything.  I did have stop at the fifth dessert item, though.

Thank you for giving all of the members of the governing boards, the administrators, and their guests a wonderful send off for the year.  Despite the heat of the day, the sudden change of the venue, everyone had a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the conclusion of another year.  I appreciate everything you did to make it possible, and demonstrating again your inspiring “whatever it takes” attitude.  Please be sure to thank all of the people who contributed to the success of the evening.“

– Christopher R. Retzko, Manager, Special Events & Programs

Office of the Secretary of the University

“It is with great pleasure that I write this letter on behalf of the Graduate School of Education’s South Africa Initiative (SAI). We are “over-the-moon” with praise for your team assigned to our recent event. Under the incomparable leadership of Susan DiMaio, acting catering manager, the event held at the President’s House was a grand success! From the initial logistics meeting with Ms. DiMaio, to the recommended menu items, perparation and creative service of such the event bespoke of class and purpose.

Many of our attendees (donors, alumni RU administration & faculty), shared kind praise over the quality, presentation and layout of the food and the elegant manner in which it was served. And while our corporate partner, 57 Main Street Imports provided the samples of “high-end” wines & spirits for tasting, your staff served the offerings with such style and grace.

We’ve often used RU Dining Services for our South Africa Initiative events at the GSE which showcase our program and will no doubt continue to do so confidently under the remarkable leadership and talent of Susan DiMaio.

Thank you for the opportunity to work with such a talented team of individuals at RU Dining Services.”

-Dr. Darren Clarke, Executive Director of Continuing Education & Global Programs

“Thank you all so much for all you did to make the December diversity conference, “The Future of Diversity and Opportunity in Higher Education”, such a huge success. As you know, the conference generated lots of positive media attention due to its important subject matter, but also demonstrated to a national audience that Rutgers is a place where important conversations take place, and where one can host a major conference with a great deal of class and panache. We are personally extremely proud and grateful to you for your significant efforts in making that possible, and there is no way we could have done it without you.

Thank you again.”

-Jonathan Alger, Senior Vice President and General Counsel

-Karen R. Staubus, Associate Vice Preisdent for Academic Affairs

“Joanna and I thank you and your entire staff for a wonderful dinner and reception last night. We were very pleased as were all the dinner guests. Everything was wonderful– the food was exceptional and truly delicious, the service was outstanding, and it was a wonderful visual presentation. The menu selections worked out perfectly. People talked about the dinner and reception all evening–and you have now set a new goal post for dining services! Thank you so much to all (and this is including the reception after the talk–and thanks also to Chef Julian Brown). All dining services efforts to make this event special are truly appreciated.

Thank you!

Joanna and Maryella “

-Maryella Hannum, Senior Program Administrator, Global Initiative

-Joanna Regulska, Professor of Women’s Studies and Geography Dean of International Programs

“I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful event you planned for my retirement party. Everything was fabulous. Even some of the fussy people here were complimenting the food and all the arrangements. We all had such a good time that we didn’t want to leave. Thank you again.”

-Kathleen R. Kronemeyer, Administrative Assistant, Graduate School – New Brunswick

“I want to thank you and the Dining Services staff for the delicious barbecue they prepared for us in front of Old Queens. Everyone did a wonderful job, in very high heat, to keep the crowd well-fed and refreshed. Special kudos to Susan DiMaio, who worked with Carol Koncsol, as they have done so many times in the past, to ensure a very successful and enjoyable event.

For all that you and Dining Services do for the Rutgers community, I am deeply grateful.“

-Richard L. McCormick, Former Rutgers President

“Susan, m’dear, you absolutely outdid yourself.

What a great night Tuesday was, thanks to you. And, interestingly, I think most folks (at least those at my table) were so excited and delighted by the appetizers that it might have been better to go with your first idea and do a Russian main course.

None-the-less everyone loved the food and drink (the red wine was especially nice I think; I didn’t have any white so I can’t comment on that) and the service was exemplary, just fabulous.

It is such a pleasure to work with you, Susan, you know how to do things right and we are grateful. .”

-Marti Mayo, Zimmerli Art Museum

“Please accept my enduring gratitude for all your contributions to the success of the University Commencement. So many months of planning, and so many people lending their expertise and dedication, yielded a joyous and meaningful celebration of the proudest day on the Rutgers calendar. To know that so many people sacrificed their Mother’s Day to be there only adds to my appreciation and affection for an incredible team effort.
For all you did to ensure an exceedingly well-organized and successful Commencement, and for all you do for Rutgers throughout the year, I thank you.”

-Richard L. McCormick, Former Rutgers President

“Thank you for all the help right from selecting the location to helping me with food choices for my Conference. All our guests were highly appreciative of all the food choices and the Conference room at Livingston. Everything was in place at the right time and in the right quantity. My guests loved the lunch at Winants Hall and take away lunch bags that were handed out today.
A special thanks to Nancy – who helped at Winants Hall and Joan who helped me today at Livingston. Last but not the least a huge thank you to Maren, who patiently answered all my questions and helped me with every single thing that I asked for always with a smile. I am so glad that I had this opportunity to work with such a great group of people who supported me to make this event a huge success. Looking forward to working with you in the future. Thanks once again.”

-Nirmala Sundaram, Office of Budget and Resource Studies

“Thank you again for a wonderful catered dinner! The set-up, service, and food for the Symposium Speaker’s Dinner was another success. All of the invited speakers and guests were very impressed and gastronomically delighted. The NJ Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health looks forward to our continued relationship. You are all first class! Many thanks again.”

-Peter Gillies, Ph.D; Director of IFNH

“Thank you so much for all your hard work behind the curtain. You and your team worked to take care of each and every detail so perfectly that everyone who came will remember this meeting for a very long time. Everything worked out so perfect. Your attention to details from past few weeks and on that day, made me so relaxed and confident that it was right choice to stay at the university. Please convey our regards to Chefs, Managers, helpers, servers, and everyone who was part of the event.”

-Charanjeet Kaur, MBA;
Associate Director/Administrative Director of NSF Engineering Research Center for Structured Organic Particulate Systems

“Thank you so much for all your help with the School of Social Work’s Alumni Reception!  The alumni could not have been more pleased with the food & the flower arrangement was absolutely beautiful!  Thanks for making our event a success!”

-Danielle Chirico

“Just a quick note to express my gratitude for the expeditious, efficient, and exceptional manner in which you handled the Muschinske memorial reception. Your recommended menu was perfect, and the servers were exceptional. Thanks for your sensitivity and responsiveness on such short notice.”

-Dr. Kenneth J. Breslauer, Linus C. Pauling Professor Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology Dean and Vice President, Life and Health Sciences Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey