Celebrating Black History Month
February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories as well as acknowledge the important contributions of our Black and African American communities.
read moreChartwells Higher Education Wins 16 Recognitions for Culinary Excellence in National Best Sandwiches Competition
The 2025 FoodService Director “Best Sandwiches” contest recognizes Chartwells’ commitment to fresh, authentic, and handcrafted meals across college and university campuses nationwide
Chartwells Higher Education, a recognized leader in contract foodservice management, is proud to announce 16 mouth-watering creations have landed top spots in FoodService Director’s 2025 Best Sandwiches contest. This substantial tally underscores Chartwells’ passion for culinary excellence and commitment to delivering fresh, authentic, and handcrafted meals that resonate with today’s discerning students and their ever-changing taste buds.
FoodService Director’s Best Sandwiches contest is a prestigious annual recognition of non-commercial culinary prowess, judging the nation’s top sandwiches on innovation, narrative, and flavor profile. Chartwells’ accolades across 15 campuses nationwide showcase its commitment to using wholesome ingredients to create elevated dining experiences that surpass traditional campus fare.
“Our goal has always been to prove that dining on a national scale can still be authentic, fresh, and deeply personal,” said Joe Labombarda, SVP of Culinary, Chartwells Higher Education. “Having 16 winning creations across 15 locations is a tribute to our chefs who prioritize flavor, function, and flair in every concept and dish. We are proud to show that high-quality ingredients and bold, global flavors are exactly what the modern student is looking for.”
The 2025 winning concepts illustrate Chartwells’ ability to blend fresh culinary techniques with global inspiration. Notable award-winners include:
- The Maque Choux (Texas State University): Meaning “mock cabbage” in French, maque choux is a popular Cajun dish featuring corn and cabbage, brought to life at TSU with zesty seafood flavors.
- The Banh Mi (Cal Poly SLO): This concept, co-created with international students, features a blend of pork, spices, cilantro, Thai basil, and spicy aioli on a French baguette.
- The Korean Cowboy (Trinity University): South Texas smokiness meets Korean savoriness in this statement of a sandwich that features a signature avocado burger bun.
- The 1845 Sushiritto (Baylor University): A unique blend of sweet and spice from sweet chili marinated salmon, jalapeño slaw, and togarashi.
Chartwells Higher Education’s award-winning track record reflects the culinary philosophy at the heart of its “Crafted by Chartwells” dining portfolio. This approach empowers local culinary teams to source fresh, regional products while maintaining a focus on developing nutritious and wholesome menus. By utilizing findings from nearly 100,000 students in its annual Campus Dining Index (CDI), Chartwells ensures that every handcrafted recipe meets the evolving dietary and flavor preferences of today’s college students.
The full list of 2025 Best Sandwiches contest winners from Chartwells Higher Education’s partner campuses includes:
- Adelphi University
- Baylor University
- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
- Catawba College
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Radford University
- Southeast Missouri State University
- Texas A&M University
- Texas State University
- Texas Woman’s University
- Trinity University
- University of Florida (x2)
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Wichita State University
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
For more information on each winning sandwich, see FoodService Director’s Class of 2025 Best Sandwiches champions here.
