Rollins Dining Mixes Fresh Flavor, Friendly Rivalry in Semester Finale

Smoothies, gelato, boba tea—and a head-to-head cooking challenge between campus leaders. Rollins College Dining is wrapping up the semester with bold new offerings and a full slate of high-energy events designed to keep students fueled, focused, and having fun.

At the Cornell Campus Center, students can now grab a freshly blended smoothie weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The upstairs deli station features two rotating flavors, giving students a quick and refreshing option between classes.

Over at Fox Lodge, dessert just got a tech upgrade. A new Solato gelato machine—operating like a Keurig, but for frozen treats—lets students choose a flavor pod and enjoy creamy gelato in under a minute. Vegan and reduced-sugar options are available, and each serving is just $5.

But the biggest showdown may be in the kitchen.

On Tuesday, April 29, President Grant Cornwell and First Lady Peg Cornwell will square off against Student Government Association President Joseph Poole and Vice President Eltavious Johnson in a “Dueling Dishes” cook-off. The competition begins at noon, and students are invited to watch the action unfold—and see who walks away with bragging rights.

April also brings a packed calendar of themed dining events, celebrating everything from Earth Day to French cuisine to student-athletes. With changing menus, surprise treats, and special campus pop-ups, Dining Services is ending the academic year on a high note. Students can find updates on My Rollins, Get Involved, and @rollins_dining_services on Instagram.

A campus favorite also returns next week: Midnight Breakfast is back on Thursday, May 1. From 10 p.m. to midnight, students can head to the Campus Center for an all-you-can-eat breakfast spread—served free of charge as a celebratory send-off to the semester’s final stretch.

To keep the coffee flowing on Reading Day, The Grind café inside Olin Library will stay open late on Wednesday, April 30, extending its hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The café will serve drinks and snacks to support marathon study sessions.

Another buzzworthy addition at The Grind: a new high-capacity boba machine that can whip up over 15 drink combinations—including boba teas, smoothies, and lemonades. Students can customize sweetness levels, and drinks range from $4.98 to $5.99.

In addition to the new features, Dining Services recently wrapped its semiannual survey, with hundreds of students offering input on food quality, service, and campus dining experiences. Many responses highlighted the warmth and dedication of dining staff—a sentiment echoed by the department.

Two lucky students also walked away with major prizes this month, winning a $100 gift card and a new iPad through a campus giveaway. Dining Services plans to bring back the sweepstakes this fall with even more chances to win.

From new flavors to fierce (but friendly) kitchen battles, Rollins Dining is ending the semester with momentum—reminding students that even during finals, there’s always time for great food and good company.