Rhoda Rondestvedt, right, of Aramark Corp., helps out a customer at the newly remodeled Sweet Shoppe in the Otowi Building Cafeteria. In addition to a fresh look, the Sweet Shoppe now features new menu items including Freshens' Smoothies and Frozen Treats as well as an expanded offering of Starbucks coffees.

What's cooking these days at the Otowi Cafeteria?

There is more than good food on the menu at the Otowi Building Cafeteria these days. Lab workers who haven't visited the cafeteria lately may want to drop by and check things out. In addition to several new menu items the facility is getting a visual makeover.

From colorful graphics to distinctive signage, the face of the cafeteria is changing. The changes aren't just visual, but functional as well.

"We started the cafeteria makeover about three months ago," said David French, Aramark Corp. food services director for the Laboratory cafeterias in the Otowi Building at Technical Area 3, the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) at TA-53 and at TA-55, "and in that time we've remodeled the Sweet Shoppe, completed the deli station and are working on the other food stations."

"When you are open five days a week, it is takes a little longer to complete the remodeling because all the work has to be done on the weekends when the facility is closed," noted French. "Of course there are always the little things that pop up, like ensuring the wiring is in place and up to par for the new equipment and making sure all the finishing touches are complete and in place. We are getting there and it's starting to look pretty nice."

Marie Trujillo, left of Aramark Corp. prepares pasta-to-order while customers wait at the new "Benne Great Pasta," which is part of Aramark Corp.'s newly remodeled pasta/pizza food station in the Otowi Building Cafeteria. Photos by Ed Vigil, Public Affairs

In addition to the new look and feel of the cafeteria, some new food items have been added to the menu. In the Sweet Shoppe, Laboratory personnel can now buy Freshens Smoothies and Frozen Treats along with a full menu of Starbucks coffee products.

"We've expanded our Starbucks offerings and have just about everything that you would find at the downtown Starbucks except for the frozen drinks," said French, "and we've filled that niche with our Freshens' product."

In addition to the Starbucks and Freshens offerings, there also are plans in the works to offer fried chicken, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza by the slice and barbecue entrees.

"Our plans are to offer our customers a variety of choices and things to eat that aren't readily available elsewhere in Los Alamos," said French.

Once the Otowi Building cafeteria makeover is complete, Aramark plans to update its cafeterias at TA-53 and 55. "It has been a few years since the last cafeteria remodel, so we figured now was a good time to update our look and bring in some new products for our customers to enjoy," French added.

The Otowi Building cafeteria is open for breakfast from 6:30 to 10 a.m. and serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Sweet Shoppe is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays.